"The Omen"

[Alexander]

Warning...Spoilers ahead...

As it happened, I didn't have a subbing gig today, so I went to see the new version of "The Omen" (just had to see it on 6/6/06). Having seen the original in bits and pieces over the years on countless late shows, I was already very familiar with the story when I finally saw the original on the big screen several years back when I was living in Rochester. The point being that even though it's been five or six years since I last saw it, the original is pretty fresh in my mind, and I was able to draw comparisons between the two films. I would like to start off by noting that I'm not a purist or a devotee of the 1976 film, and was probably a bit more receptive to the idea of a remake than many critics. That said, I liked the remake quite a bit. I thought the cast (with the possible exception of Julia Stiles, whose chubby face always makes me want to pinch her) was of extremely high quality. Liev Schriber is much younger than Gregory Peck and doesn't have half of Peck's charisma, but he certainly plays the role of an American Ambassador with the kind of easy charm one comes to expect from career politicians. The British actors (including Pete Postlewaite and Michael Gambon (doing one hell of a Leo McKern impression)) are all extremely good and chew the scenery as only highly talented Brits slumming in American films can (ask Ian McKellen, who seems to have cornered the market on such roles), adding a good deal of class to the proceedings. Stealing the show, however, is Mia Farrow in the role originated by the great Billie Whitlaw. Nowadays evil nannies are a dime-a-dozen, and the only way to set THIS evil nanny apart from her post-"Hand That Rocks the Cradle" sisters is to cast none other than Rosemary herself in the role (I was suprised at how little reaction her appearence on the screen generated in the theater. I suspect that I was the only person in that showing who had seen "Rosemary's Baby"). She oozes menace, especially when she talks about how much she loves children. What really sets this "Omen" apart from the 1976 film is improved special effects. In the original film, when David Warner's head is lopped off, it takes a lot of willing suspension of disbelief to forget that what's rolling accross the floor is clearly the head of a mannequin. Here, all of the nasty demises take place on screen and look disturbingly real. Whether this is an improvement over the original is a matter of personal taste, of course. I know I enjoyed seeing decapitiations that LOOKED like decapitiations, but everyone may not agree. Finally, there is the boy. I thought he put in a good performance, but I have to wonder why ALL evil children in movies have bowl-cuts?

The thing I missed most from the original was the score. The 1976 film has great music, almost all of which is performed by a choir in Latin (but with approprately evil lyrics). It really adds to the twisted liturgical ambiance of the film. This film has fairly anonymous music, which hardly detracts from the film, but it doesn't add to it either. Some critics, too, have lambasted the film's Czech locations (substituting for London and Rome), but I honestly didn't notice. (I also had no problem with Prague "playing" Vienna in "Amadeus," so why should I complain here?) In short, I thought the film succeeds. Indeed, any film that succeeds in killing off Julia Stiles is OK in my book. Recommeded for those who like this sort of thing.

Edited June 6, 2006 by Alexander

[Big Al]

Indeed, any film that succeeds in killing off Julia Stiles is OK in my book. Recommeded for those who like this sort of thing.

I was gonna say something to the effect of "How much further can her career sink," but I think you may have nailed it.

[BruceH]

Indeed, any film that succeeds in killing off Julia Stiles is OK in my book. Recommeded for those who like this sort of thing.

I was gonna say something to the effect of "How much further can her career sink," but I think you may have nailed it.

But she's very pinchable.

This is one of those remakes of an original which I avoided like the plague. I've heard that the remake is rather better than the original, which doesn't surprise me, but I still don't want to see it.

(Now if they remade Charley Varrick...well, that would stink because the original is perfect just the way it is.)

[Johnny E]

Finally, there is the boy. I thought he put in a good performance, but I have to wonder why ALL evil children in movies have bowl-cuts?

Any questions?

[Alexander]

I was thinking more along the lines of these kids...

[Johnny E]

I was thinking more along the lines of these kids...

Ahhh, what's a matter with these kids? They look like sweethearts.

[7/4]

They look like they need sleep.