Blu-ray edition - not bad, considering the expectations
Added 11/1/2009
A somewhat subdued 'end of days' thriller, following in the footsteps of the terribly acted 1976 original, the 6/6/06 Omen is equally badly acted but that's okay because good acting would have spoiled its almost Greek tragedy texture. Actors wearing masks would have been more proper.
Sometimes crossing the line into 'exploitation' territory - suggesting that 9/11 and the last Space Shuttle crash were events described in the Book of Revelation - the Omen is someone one may want to watch on Halloween night after making sure that small children aren't present. There are no significant additions or innovations when compared to its 1976 predecessor other than a few CGI touches that make some of the more gruesome scenes look a little more 'real'. Other than that, Damien walks the exact same path and the movie ends with him exactly where we expected him to be, having watched the original release.
The Blu-ray treatment does enhance the viewing experience and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound is as good as it gets. Other Blu-ray enhancements include the "Devil's Notes" option which splashes little trivia notes on the screen, sometimes but not always related to what is being shown. We get to learn, for example, that the movie's first day earnings were a dollar figure that ended in 666, that Mia Farrow has several relatives named Damien, about the 6 classes of demons and their characteristics and a lot about various Satan-worshiping or admiring cults and movements.
Additional features include an alternate commentary sound track, a feature on the composing and performing of the lugubrious sound track music and a surprisingly long and generally boring 22-minute discussion where various authorities on the subject such as author Tim LaHaye, someone who was born on 12/6/66 and other people in the know tell us that 666 is a very mysterious and troubling number.
Overall, it's not a bad movie and it more or less met my expectations. The crisp Blu presentation and the modernized recreation of an old almost-classic earn it its 3 stars meaning "It's OK".
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Got a few spare brain cells you don't mind losing?
Added 9/30/2009
The year was 2006. They had already disrespected revered horror classics such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Dawn of the Dead with inferior remakes, but when they remade The Omen it was officially safe to say that the remake onslaught would know no limits.
Surprisingly of all these exercises in futility, this is one that follows the story line of the original the most closely. Almost exactly in fact. So what's wrong with this movie? Well just take everything you loved about the original Omen: The great acting, the dark ominous tone, the creative death scenes, Jerry Goldsmith's amazing msic score to name a few. Now toss all that out, and this movie would be pretty much what you'd get. Only it gets better because they also give it a modern day horror makeover: Loud noises, things jumping out at you, random "disturbing" images being flashed on the screen sporadically...
I really don't think I need to go on a tirade about how terrible this remake is as there are already 26 other one star reviews that have covered it quite well. But just to put things in perspective, lets just say that this is so bad that almost makes the original Omen look bad simply through association.
Don't waste your time and money on this worthless junk. Stick with the original classic.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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The Omen - a decent thriller with religious overtones
Added 9/14/2009
I remember seeing the original films back in the 90's while I was a teen, and they were good films indeed. That being said, I haven't really understood this antipathy that a lot of people seem to harbour when it comes to "re-makes". What is the problem, if they are true to the original story and spirit, yet update it with modern technology to make it visually more impressive? This film at times comes quite close to "blasphemy", in a way I can't really describe, might be the very "Jewish" feel to it (the cast and the creators) but not sure that it is. That being said, I think it is a quite well made film (judged on its own) that contains some very chilling scenes and ideas, as well as a relatively believable plot. I mean, would YOU have the guts to do what the main character is supposed to do to save the world? I think most of us would hesitate when the moment of truth dawned upon us!
As for the cast, Schreiber is a very good actor, and I positively detest Julia Stiles (probably due to her not exactly moral previous roles in various sickening movies which need no further description), but that will vary from person to person. The child does a wonderful role, and father Brennan likewise, along with the journalist. When it comes to the plot, I love the dark theme throughout the film, and the battle between occult forces of good and evil being waged, obviously unknown to most people, just as in "reality" (whatever that means, in these days of universal deception). Some scenes are absolutely brilliant; their visit to Italy, the birthday party and the priest's flight, among others. Worth seeing the film just for those scenes, if one is a horror-buff.
4,5 stars and basically a great movie, although Stiles really shouldn't have been in it.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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america's critic
Added 9/12/2009
remake that sucked the original wasnt that great horror films like this arent even scary they are just dull like the omen its pure dull
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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"An Excellent Remake"
Added 8/15/2009
What makes this newer version of 1976's "The Omen" so outstanding is that the producers wisely stuck pretty close to the original script that is nothing short of perfection. The original "Omen" has gone down in Hollywood as a classic so it was only a matter of time before it was remade for newer audiences. Another great thing about the remake is there are better production values in it including wonderful camera work, some new special effects, and innovative editing. The leads, however, are nowhere near as great as Lee Remick and Gregory Peck, but to their credit they do try their best. Mia Farrow is great as the nanny, but Billie Whitelaw who played Mrs. Baylock in the original, will always own the role as she displayed one of the best villins in 1970's cinema. I guess Mia, who I adore and love, just wasn't as scary as Whitelaw. I keep seeing Mia as the tormented Rosemary in "Rosemary's Baby" and Allison in "Peyton Place". Still, it was great to see Miss Farrow in a rare screen appearance.
The DVD contains extended scenes and an extended ending, there is commentary by director John Moore, producer Glenn Williamson, and editor Dan Zimmerman. There is an informative featurette called "Revolution OOO".
This version of "The Omen" is also included in a fantastic boxset that includes all "The Omen" films that are usually reasonably priced.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Blu-ray edition - not bad, considering the expectations
Added 11/1/2009
A somewhat subdued 'end of days' thriller, following in the footsteps of the terribly acted 1976 original, the 6/6/06 Omen is equally badly acted but that's okay because good acting would have spoiled its almost Greek tragedy texture. Actors wearing masks would have been more proper.
Sometimes crossing the line into 'exploitation' territory - suggesting that 9/11 and the last Space Shuttle crash were events described in the Book of Revelation - the Omen is someone one may want to watch on Halloween night after making sure that small children aren't present. There are no significant additions or innovations when compared to its 1976 predecessor other than a few CGI touches that make some of the more gruesome scenes look a little more 'real'. Other than that, Damien walks the exact same path and the movie ends with him exactly where we expected him to be, having watched the original release.
The Blu-ray treatment does enhance the viewing experience and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound is as good as it gets. Other Blu-ray enhancements include the "Devil's Notes" option which splashes little trivia notes on the screen, sometimes but not always related to what is being shown. We get to learn, for example, that the movie's first day earnings were a dollar figure that ended in 666, that Mia Farrow has several relatives named Damien, about the 6 classes of demons and their characteristics and a lot about various Satan-worshiping or admiring cults and movements.
Additional features include an alternate commentary sound track, a feature on the composing and performing of the lugubrious sound track music and a surprisingly long and generally boring 22-minute discussion where various authorities on the subject such as author Tim LaHaye, someone who was born on 12/6/66 and other people in the know tell us that 666 is a very mysterious and troubling number.
Overall, it's not a bad movie and it more or less met my expectations. The crisp Blu presentation and the modernized recreation of an old almost-classic earn it its 3 stars meaning "It's OK".
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Got a few spare brain cells you don't mind losing?
Added 9/30/2009
The year was 2006. They had already disrespected revered horror classics such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Dawn of the Dead with inferior remakes, but when they remade The Omen it was officially safe to say that the remake onslaught would know no limits.
Surprisingly of all these exercises in futility, this is one that follows the story line of the original the most closely. Almost exactly in fact. So what's wrong with this movie? Well just take everything you loved about the original Omen: The great acting, the dark ominous tone, the creative death scenes, Jerry Goldsmith's amazing msic score to name a few. Now toss all that out, and this movie would be pretty much what you'd get. Only it gets better because they also give it a modern day horror makeover: Loud noises, things jumping out at you, random "disturbing" images being flashed on the screen sporadically...
I really don't think I need to go on a tirade about how terrible this remake is as there are already 26 other one star reviews that have covered it quite well. But just to put things in perspective, lets just say that this is so bad that almost makes the original Omen look bad simply through association.
Don't waste your time and money on this worthless junk. Stick with the original classic.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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The Omen - a decent thriller with religious overtones
Added 9/14/2009
I remember seeing the original films back in the 90's while I was a teen, and they were good films indeed. That being said, I haven't really understood this antipathy that a lot of people seem to harbour when it comes to "re-makes". What is the problem, if they are true to the original story and spirit, yet update it with modern technology to make it visually more impressive? This film at times comes quite close to "blasphemy", in a way I can't really describe, might be the very "Jewish" feel to it (the cast and the creators) but not sure that it is. That being said, I think it is a quite well made film (judged on its own) that contains some very chilling scenes and ideas, as well as a relatively believable plot. I mean, would YOU have the guts to do what the main character is supposed to do to save the world? I think most of us would hesitate when the moment of truth dawned upon us!
As for the cast, Schreiber is a very good actor, and I positively detest Julia Stiles (probably due to her not exactly moral previous roles in various sickening movies which need no further description), but that will vary from person to person. The child does a wonderful role, and father Brennan likewise, along with the journalist. When it comes to the plot, I love the dark theme throughout the film, and the battle between occult forces of good and evil being waged, obviously unknown to most people, just as in "reality" (whatever that means, in these days of universal deception). Some scenes are absolutely brilliant; their visit to Italy, the birthday party and the priest's flight, among others. Worth seeing the film just for those scenes, if one is a horror-buff.
4,5 stars and basically a great movie, although Stiles really shouldn't have been in it.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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