sapphirewillow
Being Who I Wanna Be!
EWWWWWWWWWWWW 
I'll stick to the oldies, don't have the stomach for the new stuff
I'll stick to the oldies, don't have the stomach for the new stuff
The Omen 6-6-06
- Thread starter Somdmommy
- Start date
DotTheEyes
Movie Fan
From what I've read, it seems to be a scene-for-scene version of the original, with the only differences truly being the more advanced special effects and the faces of the actors.
I have mixed feelings as to whether or not I want to see it. I am interested as a horror fan, but I am so incredibly tired of seeing every other horror classic being remade. Sure, redos of horror/suspense classics can be great (Cape Fear, Dawn Of The Dead, The Hills Have Eyes), but, more often, they're mediocre-to-awful (The Amityville Horror, Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Then again, it's nice to see it's rated "R," so it won't be yet another horror film pandering to the teenage date crowd. I might go see it, I might wait for DVD... we'll see.
I have mixed feelings as to whether or not I want to see it. I am interested as a horror fan, but I am so incredibly tired of seeing every other horror classic being remade. Sure, redos of horror/suspense classics can be great (Cape Fear, Dawn Of The Dead, The Hills Have Eyes), but, more often, they're mediocre-to-awful (The Amityville Horror, Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Then again, it's nice to see it's rated "R," so it won't be yet another horror film pandering to the teenage date crowd. I might go see it, I might wait for DVD... we'll see.
Could not have said that any better!!DotTheEyes
Movie Fan
A critic for Horror.Com, the #1 site for the genre online, enjoyed this new version of The Omen. Here's her review...
Directors of remakes have pretty thankless jobs. If they make to-the-letter reproductions of beloved fright films (a la Gus Van Sant's Psycho), they are blasted for having no imagination. If they veer totally off the page and do their own thing (like Jaume Collet-Serra's House of Wax), they're taken to task for being irreverent hacks.
I've said it before and I'm saying it again: The Omen (1976) didn't need to be remade. It's a solid movie with nothing missing. It's not dated. The story is still relevant. Damien is an indelible character. But the reality is these "old" movies, according to the studios that own the rights, all need dollars-and-cents resuscitation. You can give a little mouth-to-mouth with an anniversary re-release like they did with The Exorcist, but that barely registers a pulse. The thing that really gets studio suits' hearts racing are remakes. Better yet, reimaginings!
So if it's inevitable, then at least director John Moore should get a pat on the back for walking the fine line between faithfulness to the source material and a nod to the new guard of horror fans who demand a little extra in their Rated-R entertainment.
The Omen, which follows the original screenplay by David Seltzer (and indeed credits him), takes us through the early childhood of Damien Thorn (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick), who was switched at birth in Rome with the murdered infant of an esteemed American diplomat. Robert Thorn (Liev Schreiber), believing his baby died of natural causes, decides to conceal the truth from his wife, Kathy (Julia Stiles), letting her believe that Damien is her own flesh and blood. They move to England, and look forward to a life of privilege.
The tide turns when, during Damien's ostentatious fifth birthday, his nanny (Amy Huck), commits suicide in plain view of all the party guests. This opens the floodgates for evil, and the revelation that Damien, who was born on June 6, at 6 a.m., is the Antichrist.
Needless to say, Robert doesn't believe it at first — he never tells Kathy, even though she is haunted by the strange little boy without knowing why — when he finally does, it is too late. When Kathy dies after an unfortunate accident, Robert finally takes matters into his own hands and resolves to kill Damien before the boy can destroy the world.
Robert is goaded into his crusade by Father Brennan (Pete Postlethwaite) and a local photojournalist, Keith Jennings (David Thewlis); while they give him important guidance, the truth is that Robert must act alone. Standing in his way are all the forces of evil — and Mrs. Baylock (Mia Farrow), Damien's demonic new nanny.
With the exception of Postlethwaite and Thewlis who play them true, the remake cast completely reinterprets their roles. Kathy is a more involved mom, and her inner-conflict is given visual life in the form of sinister dream-sequences. Robert is still upstanding, stiff and dignified, but the 30-something Schreiber makes the action sequences more believable. Mrs. Baylock is not as frosty and impertinent as she was in the first Omen movie, but Farrow adds a sickly sweetness to the role that makes it her own. The ferocious Rottweilers — one who stays with Damien, and others who act as minions to thwart Robert's efforts — serve the same purposes.
I had no problem with any of the casting, except for Damien… I hope I'm not giving a budding child actor a complex here, but Davey-Fitzpatrick looks and acts too malevolent much of the time. Damien's cutesy, chubby-cheeked, sweet-faced façade in the first movie is what made him so damn scary… no one would ever suspect him of being the Antichrist. The new black-haired, angular Damien is often insolent, brooding or scowling. Still, technically as an actor, Davey-Fitzpatrick is good.
Fans of Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-wining score are likely to be disappointed. Although Italian composer Marco Beltrami has a lot of genre experience and he does a competent job, it's not a scary score… there are little-to-no Latin phrases or choral singers, for instance. It's a slicker, more modern score in the "thriller" vein.
People who are familiar with director Moore's previous movies needn't worry too much about his trademark "shaky-cam, just-because-I-can" intruding on the somber feel of the film. There is one incongruous quake-like scene, but it's thankfully short-lived. The movie employs some quick cuts, but it's nothing like the ocular assault that was Behind Enemy Lines. (By the way, I liked Moore's remake of Flight of the Phoenix, but I think The Omen is a much better effort.)
The Omen is a close recreation but in general, there's more set up and suspense to the scenarios — for example: when Robert and Jennings pay a visit to the priest who arranged Damien's adoption, they don't just show up there by car. They are ferried across a lake that brings to mind a glassy River Styx; they're rowed in the canoe by a somber, hooded monk in white robes that compliment the falling snow; an aerial shot leads to the remote seminary where the mute, badly-burned priest awaits them. It's a lusher, prettier, artier looking pic than the original. Some purists might take exception to the embellishments, but I liked them.
The new The Omen is not scarier or even more memorable, but in many ways it is more shocking and suspenseful than the original. The death scenes are more intricate and macabre; and while not necessarily bloody, they are pretty appalling. I'm usually rock-solid during any movie, but I did jump twice in this one — to physically move me is a mean feat for any filmmaker!
All in all, it's a classy remake.
Maybe this will be a good film. I might give it a shot Tuesday night, hoping for the best.
Directors of remakes have pretty thankless jobs. If they make to-the-letter reproductions of beloved fright films (a la Gus Van Sant's Psycho), they are blasted for having no imagination. If they veer totally off the page and do their own thing (like Jaume Collet-Serra's House of Wax), they're taken to task for being irreverent hacks.
I've said it before and I'm saying it again: The Omen (1976) didn't need to be remade. It's a solid movie with nothing missing. It's not dated. The story is still relevant. Damien is an indelible character. But the reality is these "old" movies, according to the studios that own the rights, all need dollars-and-cents resuscitation. You can give a little mouth-to-mouth with an anniversary re-release like they did with The Exorcist, but that barely registers a pulse. The thing that really gets studio suits' hearts racing are remakes. Better yet, reimaginings!
So if it's inevitable, then at least director John Moore should get a pat on the back for walking the fine line between faithfulness to the source material and a nod to the new guard of horror fans who demand a little extra in their Rated-R entertainment.
The Omen, which follows the original screenplay by David Seltzer (and indeed credits him), takes us through the early childhood of Damien Thorn (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick), who was switched at birth in Rome with the murdered infant of an esteemed American diplomat. Robert Thorn (Liev Schreiber), believing his baby died of natural causes, decides to conceal the truth from his wife, Kathy (Julia Stiles), letting her believe that Damien is her own flesh and blood. They move to England, and look forward to a life of privilege.
The tide turns when, during Damien's ostentatious fifth birthday, his nanny (Amy Huck), commits suicide in plain view of all the party guests. This opens the floodgates for evil, and the revelation that Damien, who was born on June 6, at 6 a.m., is the Antichrist.
Needless to say, Robert doesn't believe it at first — he never tells Kathy, even though she is haunted by the strange little boy without knowing why — when he finally does, it is too late. When Kathy dies after an unfortunate accident, Robert finally takes matters into his own hands and resolves to kill Damien before the boy can destroy the world.
Robert is goaded into his crusade by Father Brennan (Pete Postlethwaite) and a local photojournalist, Keith Jennings (David Thewlis); while they give him important guidance, the truth is that Robert must act alone. Standing in his way are all the forces of evil — and Mrs. Baylock (Mia Farrow), Damien's demonic new nanny.
With the exception of Postlethwaite and Thewlis who play them true, the remake cast completely reinterprets their roles. Kathy is a more involved mom, and her inner-conflict is given visual life in the form of sinister dream-sequences. Robert is still upstanding, stiff and dignified, but the 30-something Schreiber makes the action sequences more believable. Mrs. Baylock is not as frosty and impertinent as she was in the first Omen movie, but Farrow adds a sickly sweetness to the role that makes it her own. The ferocious Rottweilers — one who stays with Damien, and others who act as minions to thwart Robert's efforts — serve the same purposes.
I had no problem with any of the casting, except for Damien… I hope I'm not giving a budding child actor a complex here, but Davey-Fitzpatrick looks and acts too malevolent much of the time. Damien's cutesy, chubby-cheeked, sweet-faced façade in the first movie is what made him so damn scary… no one would ever suspect him of being the Antichrist. The new black-haired, angular Damien is often insolent, brooding or scowling. Still, technically as an actor, Davey-Fitzpatrick is good.
Fans of Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-wining score are likely to be disappointed. Although Italian composer Marco Beltrami has a lot of genre experience and he does a competent job, it's not a scary score… there are little-to-no Latin phrases or choral singers, for instance. It's a slicker, more modern score in the "thriller" vein.
People who are familiar with director Moore's previous movies needn't worry too much about his trademark "shaky-cam, just-because-I-can" intruding on the somber feel of the film. There is one incongruous quake-like scene, but it's thankfully short-lived. The movie employs some quick cuts, but it's nothing like the ocular assault that was Behind Enemy Lines. (By the way, I liked Moore's remake of Flight of the Phoenix, but I think The Omen is a much better effort.)
The Omen is a close recreation but in general, there's more set up and suspense to the scenarios — for example: when Robert and Jennings pay a visit to the priest who arranged Damien's adoption, they don't just show up there by car. They are ferried across a lake that brings to mind a glassy River Styx; they're rowed in the canoe by a somber, hooded monk in white robes that compliment the falling snow; an aerial shot leads to the remote seminary where the mute, badly-burned priest awaits them. It's a lusher, prettier, artier looking pic than the original. Some purists might take exception to the embellishments, but I liked them.
The new The Omen is not scarier or even more memorable, but in many ways it is more shocking and suspenseful than the original. The death scenes are more intricate and macabre; and while not necessarily bloody, they are pretty appalling. I'm usually rock-solid during any movie, but I did jump twice in this one — to physically move me is a mean feat for any filmmaker!
All in all, it's a classy remake.
Maybe this will be a good film. I might give it a shot Tuesday night, hoping for the best.
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They make re-makes because they offer no better ideas than the 10 for a nickel chick flicks.DotTheEyes
Movie Fan
I wonder how long it will take Hollywood to get around to remaking the truly massive suspense hits of the '70s and '80s. Stuff like The Exorcist and Jaws.
Actually, lol, it probably won't be THAT long before we see a remake of Saw. Or a remake of The Ring (a remake itself, of an Asian film).
Actually, lol, it probably won't be THAT long before we see a remake of Saw. Or a remake of The Ring (a remake itself, of an Asian film).
DotTheEyes
Movie Fan
Jaws actually might be one that's never remade, the more I think about it. Spielberg would probably throw his considerable Hollywood clout in front of it.
DotTheEyes
Movie Fan
In most cases (not all, but most), things are much more frightening when you know just the barest details. For example, the film The Village with Joaquin Phoenix by M. Night Shyamalan. For the first hour and a half, it was an atmospheric, compelling, and suspenseful film, but then the twist ending hits and with it comes a boatload of explanatory exposition. By robbing it's central horrors of their mystery, it robbed them of a lot of their power to scare.
On another note, another horror classic do-over has been announced: Dimension Films has hired musician-turned-director Rob Zombie to remake John Carpenter's Halloween for an October 2007 release. This actually might be interesting. I've always thought there was plenty of room for improvement with Halloween and Zombie's The Devil's Rejects was a very well-made horror film. Other films in production include a remake of The Hitcher, the hitchhiker-from-Hell thriller from the '80s. There's also a new Camp Crystal Lake-set Friday The 13th coming out, but I am not sure if this is a sequel or remake.
On another note, another horror classic do-over has been announced: Dimension Films has hired musician-turned-director Rob Zombie to remake John Carpenter's Halloween for an October 2007 release. This actually might be interesting. I've always thought there was plenty of room for improvement with Halloween and Zombie's The Devil's Rejects was a very well-made horror film. Other films in production include a remake of The Hitcher, the hitchhiker-from-Hell thriller from the '80s. There's also a new Camp Crystal Lake-set Friday The 13th coming out, but I am not sure if this is a sequel or remake.
Somdmommy
:Jeepin' in NC:
The Village was awesome ( The First Time) I cannot watch it anymore. Its just not the same at all!DotTheEyes said:
I hate Friday the 13th, Never liked any of them. I would watch a remake of it just to see what they do with it.
Halloween I like just they way it is. Again I would watch the remake just to see how it goes. Rob Zombie will do a good job i'm sure.
I like my classics, I will always want to see the remakes and I am sure I will buy them on DVD just because I love Horror, I just pray that they never mess with Nightmare On Elm Street. Wes Craven did a kick azz job ( for 1984) and I think they should be left alone. You cant really make them any better or worse.
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Somdmommy
:Jeepin' in NC:
"The ninth installment in the "Halloween" franchise will be "a bit of a prequel and a remake, combined," Zombie said. The film will be set before the events of 1981's "Halloween 2: Halloween Resurrection," and will focus on Myers' origins and development into a serial killer — his youthful years before his commitment to a mental institution"
So hes making a movie about Mike Myers as a child? I seem to remember, he killed his sister when he was about 5 and then spent the rest of his years in the hospital up untill he got out.
So hes making a movie about Mike Myers as a child? I seem to remember, he killed his sister when he was about 5 and then spent the rest of his years in the hospital up untill he got out.
LexiGirl75
100% Goapele Head!
I'm not big on horror flicks either.
I have not seen the originals or any remakes of either of those or the Exorcist or any movie like that. However, I always was curious about Rosemary's baby because some people said there was a version that showed the baby and others say the baby was never shown.
No chance of me even going to a horror flick with a guy because instead of burying my head in his chest I would probably freak out and think he is going to kill me.
Then I would be force to take out my hidden butcher knife and defend myself. 
Speedy70 said:I'm not much on the horror flicks. However, whenever I see the original Omen on t.v., I find myself watching it (I have to turn my head during several scenes; when the priest gets killed, the pack of dogs, etc). However, I will pass on the new one. I bet it's way scarier.
I wonder when they'll come out with a new Rosemary's Baby?
I have not seen the originals or any remakes of either of those or the Exorcist or any movie like that. However, I always was curious about Rosemary's baby because some people said there was a version that showed the baby and others say the baby was never shown.
No chance of me even going to a horror flick with a guy because instead of burying my head in his chest I would probably freak out and think he is going to kill me.
Then I would be force to take out my hidden butcher knife and defend myself.
Somdmommy
:Jeepin' in NC:
My hubby does not watch them, so your not alone!LexiGirl75 said:I have not seen the originals or any remakes of either of those or the Exorcist or any movie like that. However, I always was curious about Rosemary's baby because some people said there was a version that showed the baby and others say the baby was never shown.
No chance of me even going to a horror flick with a guy because instead of burying my head in his chest I would probably freak out and think he is going to kill me.
The only time he will watch them with me is when he can kill the monster or whatever it is with a shotgun!
I on the other hand can watch them all! Then go right to sleep
DotTheEyes
Movie Fan
I saw this new version of The Omen last night and was impressed. It follows the original extremely closesly, which was nice, and was overall a very atmospheric, intelligent, and thrilling horror film. The showing was close to sold out and it was very fun hearing people scream and all. A fun horror ride!
DotTheEyes
Movie Fan
Speedy70 said:
Because it's easier to dust off old (and proven successful) ideas and turn out new products based on them.
