NCGuy,
I also had many issues with the ANGELS film. While I'm glad a masterpiece was preserved, it lacks the wit, passion and urgency of the Broadway version. Not to mention it seemed drained of its gay sensibility (Kushner has talked about the importance of camp in the play -- it wasn't in the film). The whole enterprise seemed overly serious and ponderous and lugubrious. There was no spark to it. Part of it was Mike Nichols' direction (he seemed intimidated by the material as if he had to stamp every frame with the label "IMPORTANT" on it -- he managed to wring much of the humanity and spontaneity out of the play which was there in abundance in the stage version). Also part of the problem was the woeful miscasting of Justin Kirk as Prior (he was totally clueless as to how to play that part).
But, anyway, no need to rehash all that now .....
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney