The Prophecy
~~~~~~~~~~
Director: Gregory Widen
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Running Time: 98 Min
Cretification: 18
Released:1995
The Cast
~~~~~~
Elias Koteas: Thomas Daggett
Virginia Madsen: Katherine Henley
Christopher Walken: Archangel Gabriel
Eric Stoltz: Simon
Viggo Mortensen: ... Read review
A prime candidate for cult status (it even spawned a sequel),The Prophecyis a 1995 ... more
apocalyptic horror flick that belongs in the darker corners of the comedy-horror sub genre alongsideBuffy the Vampire Slayer,MimicandPhantoms--and like those movies it's...
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Christopher Walken leads an extraordinary cast including Eric Stoltz, Virginia Madsen, ... more
Elias Koteas, Amanda Plummer and Viggo Mortensen in a terrifying, supernatural thriller of heavenly war waged on Earth by renegade angels. When Thomas Daggett (Elias...
A prime candidate for cult status (it even spawned a sequel),The Prophecyis a 1995 ... more
apocalyptic horror flick that belongs in the darker corners of the comedy-horror sub genre alongsideBuffy the Vampire Slayer,MimicandPhantoms--and like those movies it's...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Christopher Walken leads an extraordinary cast including Eric Stoltz Virginia Madsen ... more
Elias Koteas Amanda Plummer and Viggo Mortensen in a terrifying supernatural thriller of heavenly war waged on Earth by renegade angels. When Thomas Daggett (Elias...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
When the prophetic writings of sixteenth-century apothecary Nostradamus begin to ring ... more
alarmingly true Payne and Jones find themselves in a life-or-death race across the world to stop those who would use the French seer's predictions for their own dark purposes.
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based on the worldwide best-selling novel by James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy is the ... more
story of John Woodson who, through a mysterious set of coincidences, finds himself on an adventure to Peru in search of ancient scrolls, known as the Celestine Prophecy. The scrolls predict a new awakening that redefines human life and provides a glimpse into a completely spiritual culture on earth. Resistant at first, skeptical and unsure, John finds that each step he takes, each person he encounters leads him to a new awakening. It is only in letting go completely that he finds his destiny and comes to understand the meaning that had escaped him when his adventure began.
A deadly conspiracy! An ancient prophecy! A race to prevent Armageddon! A thrilling ... more
high-octane race to save civilisation that will engross fans of Dan Brown and Sam Bourne. When ex-SAS operative Ben Hope decided to give up rescuing kidnap victims in favour of the Theology studies he abandoned years before he should have known that fate would decide differently. Searching for missing biblical archaeologist ZoA" Bradbury Ben finds himself embroiled in his riskiest mission yet. What is the ancient secret that ZoA" uncovered? And just who is willing to do anything to protect it? The investigation leads Ben from Greece to the American Deep South and the holy city of Jerusalem and he soon discovers that it's not just his and ZoA"'s lives on the line but those of millions threatened by a fundamentalist plot to gain ultimate power. The stakes are terrifyingly high as Ben races to prevent a disaster that could kick-start apocalyptic events as foretold by the Book of Revelation...
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History is being made and Miles Lord has a ringside seat. The people of Russia have voted ... more
to bring back the tsar a ruler to be selected from the distant relatives of Nicholas II who was murdered along with the rest of the Romanov family in 1918. Miles has been asked to run a background check on one of the candidates. But excitement turns to terror when Miles is nearly killed by gunmen. Suddenly he is racing across continents with only a cryptic utterance by Rasputin made at the time of the Romanov massacre as his guide. The implications of this prophecy are earth-shattering - not only for the future tsar and mother Russia but for Miles himself.
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===The Cast===
~~~~~~
Elias Koteas: Thomas Daggett
Virginia Madsen: Katherine Henley
Christopher Walken: Archangel Gabriel
Eric Stoltz: Simon
Viggo Mortensen: Lucifer
===The Film===
~~~~~~~
... ...thriller/ fantasy.
The film initially centres around Thomas Daggett, who is in the process to be ordained as a priest. However whilst he is going through the initial process he starts to become restless and acting out very disturbed. Just as he is to go through the final process he screams out and falls to the floor wailing and suddenly we are given a visual representation of what Thomas sees in his mind as he is having visions of ... more
~~~~~~ Elias Koteas: Thomas Daggett Virginia Madsen: Katherine Henley Christopher Walken: Archangel Gabriel Eric Stoltz: Simon Viggo Mortensen: Lucifer
The Film
~~~~~~~
The Prophecy is often placed in the category of horror, although I disagree with this and firmly believe it to be more thriller/ fantasy.
The film initially centres around Thomas Daggett, who is in the process to be ordained as a priest. However whilst he is going through the initial process he starts to become restless and acting out very disturbed. Just as he is to go through the final process he screams out and falls to the floor wailing and suddenly we are given a visual representation of what Thomas sees in his mind as he is having visions of a huge bloody battle field, littered with tens of thousands of dead or dying…….Angels!
So we see Thomas a short time later he has lost his faith and now works as a police officer. He is investigating a murder that we the viewers already see happen. Two men with great abilities fighting to the death with one a remarkable feature, they have no pupils the eyes are just black. Eventually one lays slain, crushed against a wall by a truck but before his killer leaves he destroys the dead persons eyes to hide this unique feature……Why is this so important. In little time at all we become aware that for some reason Angels are among us and ironically they are divided and killing each other.
Christopher Walken is the Archangel Gabriel, god's right hand and leader of all heavens angels. Now he is on earth the mightiest most powerful angel but he's not on our side. You see Gabriel is bitter and twisted. He resents gods love for mortals which Gabriel refers to as monkeys. He sees how god as given us souls, made us in his image, hears our prayers, and gives us free will etc and frankly Gabriel hates it. His jealousy has consumed him and he lead and army of Angels against god and his loyal Angels in heaven to which their was horrific carnage, {This is the visions Thomas saw} Gabriel and his minions lost so now he is on earth with one purpose. He is questing to find the most evil soul on the planet for he wants it, to infuse him with the power to defeat heaven and the loyal Angels. In a twist of irony Thomas as not forgot his visions and starts to discover the possibility of Angels on earth as events continue, but he knows not of the purpose.
A loyal angel, Simon gets the evil soul but is wounded. Gabriel finds him and shows little mercy when he discovers that Simon no longer has the soul, for reluctantly he has handed it to a little girl, out of necessity. All things begin to come together as Thomas must protect the girl somehow against a seriously pissed off Archangel along with her teacher {Madsen}. The only problem is that a new player gets involved in the troubles and that is the fallen Angel himself Lucifer. In a twist he is set to assist humanity but not how of a sense of kindness, but because as Lucifer says himself " There is only room for one hell, and I'm running it" Lucifer knows that if Gabriel succeeds he will even be far more powerful than himself.
The negative
~~~~~~~~~
Some may be dissuaded by the biblical overtones to the movie but this film is in no way religious. Yes it is set around the concepts of Christianity but the movie is no Sunday morning sermon, on the contrary. Bitter twisted Angels, Angels that are supposed to be beautiful, greater than mortals, brutally killing each other, and all for the sake of wanting to personally have gods ear again. God is also portrayed with having some faults and Christianity is look at in a more humanistic manner. This may actually offend some people of a religious disposition.
Secondly some may not like the fact that this is a 'head film' in as much as it as a deep, rich enveloping storyline. It is not just violence, gratuity. It aims to grip you and give the perspective of all sides and let you judge for yourself, is Gabriel justified in his actions and resentment, since he gives a convincing argument and you feel yourself starting to empathise with him. Yet you get the perspective of the loyal Angels also and can also relate to them, and this also extends to Lucifer too. Now for me I think this is a great thing but some may not want to have to think too much, preferring mild easy going laid back entertainment, very little plot. Strangely even Lucifer is portrayed in the way I would envision him to be. Not apparently evil but like Gabriel a little misguided and misunderstood. You have to remember that Lucifer is an Angel and to gain support for heaven and to lead people away from the lure of Lucifer, religion portrays him falsely.
A further criticism is this film needed to be longer and I believe that was the realisation of the director and the functionality of two follow up films. There is so much beautiful plot and character development that it did not all fit in this first one and it ends where there was a dire need for more! The two sequels truly are sequels and keep the story going to a sufficient and satisfactory conclusion.
The Positive
~~~~~~~~~I adore the concept of the Angels themselves. I feel the director was a genius in this film for the way that he portrays them. I believe vehemently that if Angels existed they would be just like the Angels in the film in their mannerisms, their dialogue and all the idiosyncrasies, etc about them. I love the way they just perch on the edges of rooftops like gargoyles, and the fact that the way that if seen in their natural form, meaning their wings displayed etc it makes mortal men and women that see it openly weep for the sheer beauty to gaze on is that captivating you cannot do anything other than weep. I cherish the actors bloody amazing skill of playing them and making you the viewer understand them and actually feel pity for them as you can relate to their issues. This film is one of the greatest I have ever seen and it is very special.
classic film quotes:
Doctor: This person is asexual Cop: Asexual?? Doctor: Male and female reproductive organs Cop: Great they can be frigid and impotent at the same time!
Lucifer: Thomas all those years you hid under thee cover anf thought that i was there in the dark Thomas: YES!! Lucifer: I was
Advantages: Great Plot and Christopher Walken Disadvantages: Low budget shows through occasionally
...very busy few years in the early 1990s, releasing no fewer than six movies in 1995 alone, of which five saw him doing what he does best - playing the villain. One of those movies, as you have no doubt guessed by now, was The Prophecy, written and directed by Gregory Widen (The Highlander, Backdraft), and though filmed on a modest budget, is one of the most entertaining black comedy/horror movies in recent years. War in Heaven provides the plot, with ... ...against the other (loyal) half in a war that has killed millions and millions on Angels both sides, with humanity at the center of it all. When God gave man a soul, he raised him above all other of his creations, including the Angels. Since that time, the Angels have been locked in conflict, neither side able to gain the upper hand over the other. That is, until now. The 23rd chapter of Revelations (fictional) tells of this second war in Heaven, ...
ILoveJackDaniels 21.03.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Prophecy (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic script and acting Disadvantages: None!
...you ever notice how in the Bible whenever God needed to punish someone or make an example of someone or needed a killing he sent an angel? Did you ever wonder what a creature like that must be like?" I like Christopher Walken. He's just one of those actors that captures my imagination. It comes as no surprise to read that he used to be a dancer and apparently his trademark is to work a dance into any movie he makes. He has grace and poise and that ... ...without being dreary, funny in the darkest of ways. It is perhaps for all these things he was chosen to play lead character Gabriel in The Prophecy - an extraordinary film in my opinion. Written and directed by Gregory Widen, The Prophecy has a great tagline - "There's a war in heaven and hell is about to break loose" Widen seems from his resume to have a career based on fantasy/horror films: movies such as the Highlanders, Tales from the Crypt and ...
Whitehorse 15.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Prophecy (DVD)
Advantages: makes you think, great acting Disadvantages: effects are a bit poor, but not enough to spoil it.
...tape. Mainly worn out to the amount of times I have watched it, as it is one of my favourite films. Imagine my delight when I saw this in the bargain basement of CD-Wow for less than £8. You of course can guess that I ordered it immediately and watched it as soon as it arrived .
Why is the film so good in my mind.. Well it is basically the story, the way the characters are played and of course it has Viggo Mortensen playing the devil :oP
The Story ... ...to a missing chapter of the bible the angels are at war over us. That is basically the whole premise of the film. God wants us in heaven and the angels don’t. Well not all the angels, of course there are ones on our side or they would have to be fighting god and that would never do. So the Arc Angel Gabriel has come down to retrieve something that has been prophesised in that missing chapter, the soul of a truly evil man, with which he can win the ...
SarahP 03.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Prophecy (DVD)
Advantages: Dark, original and disturbingly good Disadvantages: Low budget and often over-looked
What if the bible wasn't a story of the past but instead written as a prophecy that is slowly being fullfilled... The lastest verse in this tale of heaven's angels and the "monkey's" of the Earth see's the angel Gabriel sending an angel to Earth to find a soul to be claimed that will finally end the stalmate in Heaven...
Enter onto the scene Thomas Daggett a priest who lost his faith and turned dectetive... finding the angel Simon he searches for ... ...probably better known for writing the Highlander films and Backdraft delivered the the first of his quartet of films (with Revelation due out at the end of the year) with the same dark and compelling story as his other works.
Christopher Walkin provides an absolutely blinding performance in a role that could have turely been written for him as the evil and emotionless renegade angel Gabriel. A character stereotype that Walkin play so well...
Elias ...
kc_james 15.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Prophecy (DVD)
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Advantages: dark but enjoyable film Disadvantages: a bit to long
thought the disaster was going to happen at the big factory, just outside town but it happens on the ??????? watch and find out.
This film made £2.2m in the uk and $35m in usa.
DVD Extras
Behind the scenes documentary
Featurette on the film
Theatrical trailer
Documentary on the 'actual real life events' that inspired the film
Overall this film is very good and if you did see it at the cinema it is worth you buying the DVD because of the extras.
If you have not seen it and you like programs on the TV like the X Files you WILL love this so get it. ...
Advantages: Christopher Walken is a scary scary man Disadvantages: WOT No special features!!
The Prophecy is Christopher Walken relatively unknown series of films. And short may this continue.
I bumped into the first Prophecy film on a quiet Thursday night about 3 years ago and from the opening sequence you can tell the atmosphere of the film is of serious oppression and it is almost as if the weight of God looms large over this whole picture. But that may sound overly melodramatic at this stage.
STORY
The story briefly is that the Angel Gabriel (Christopher Walken) has fallen out with God and he wants to ruin the world to spite God (however like a good psychologist we discovered much later this is not the whole story)
The Prophecy
Setting the scene and characters with Gabriel attempting to annihilate God's Creation having been cast from Heaven
Prophecy II
Gabriel attempt to destroy a human / angel born child who ...
There is war in heaven when Archangel Gabriel (Christopher Walken) leads a revolt to unseat the usurpers of God's chosen: Mankind. But when a homicide investigation takes a turn for the Biblical, a cop (Elias Koteas) and a school teacher (Virginia Madsen) learn that they are not just dealing with a string of mysteriously mutilated bodies, but with saving the earth from becoming a suburb of Hell.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINM; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
"...THE PROPHECY has an odd appeal that keeps you engaged..." (Los Angeles Times, p.F6, 04/09/1995)
DVD Description
There is war in heaven when Archangel Gabriel (Christopher Walken) leads a revolt to unseat the usurpers of God's chosen: Mankind. But when a homicide investigation takes a turn for the Biblical, a cop (Elias Koteas) and a school teacher (Virginia Madsen) learn that they are not just dealing with a string of mysteriously mutilated bodies, but with saving the earth from becoming a suburb of Hell.
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