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Member since:27.10.2006
Reviews:289
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Review rated by 31 Ciao members on average: very helpful
Film only review.
I am not a lover of Horror films as I am such a squeamish baby. However the Omen, released in 1976, was one of that genre of films which I quite enjoyed. It has plenty of suspense and the violence is not that all bloody, brutal stuff that horror films today are made of. With an all star cast the film certainly was a success and it certainly left its mark.
Sitting down to watch The Omen, 2006 version, last night I wondered if this remake would live up to the original. I have to say the answer was no.
For those who have never seen the original I guess it would be a passable film. The cast contains a few well known faces such as Pete Postlethwaite, Mia Farrow, David Thewlis and Michael Gambon, and in general the acting was pretty good. In fact many of the main characters were played by people who looked very similar to the original cast. However this film just failed to have the intensity of the original Omen.
The plot was faithful to the original film but somehow the suspense was lacking. I am sure that was not because I had seen the original but just a combination of some factors. The musical score of the original, which is taken from a well known classical work, just seemed so atmospheric and fitted the happenings so well. The Omen 2006 just had what sounded very ordinary music to accompany the action. The Omen 2006 was also filmed differently and although I suppose this was designed to make the film more atmospheric it did not succeed.
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For anyone who knows nothing of The Omen here is a little of the plot. As they say in quiz shows on television 'Look away now if you do not want to know the answers'.
American Ambassador Thorne and his wife are saddened at the death of their new born infant. This was to have been their first child. With only a little persuasion Mr Thorne agrees to adopt an orphan baby. However he does not share any of this information with his wife who believes that the orphan, Damien, is her own child.
It soon becomes apparent that Damien is a special little boy and tat there is a sinister side to him. A series of deaths happen to various people associated with Damien and eventually his adoptive parents question their adoption. Is Damien really the son of the devil?. Is he evil?. Will he kill all who stand in his way?. If so to what ends.
The original Omen had sequels which answered some of the questions left unanswered by the first film. I suppose that the Omen 2006 will have sequels also.
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The child actors who played Damien at different ages had all the innocence hiding evil which the original Damien managed to portray.
However I guess part of the problem is that this remake is fairly faithful to the original. As such it all seemed a little pointless. The Omen 1976 has not dated at all and is far superior to the later version of the Omen, This means that if you want to watch the definitive Omen you need to watch the 1976 version. Do not get me wrong this film was ok but as there is a better original on the market why go for sloppy seconds.
te of the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil as foretold in the Book of Revelations will begin with the birth of the son of Satan - in human form...
![The Omen [2006] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78474724.jpg)
by (6%):
15.12.2008 21:15
I like both versions, but like you can't really see why they remade it!
15.12.2008 21:00
I didn't even know they'd remade it!
15.12.2008 17:51
Great review, I still refuse to watch this film, im a scaredy cat! x