I’m a big fan of the 72/73 version of The Wicker Man; so much so I have every release of the movie on DVD or Video in the UK since year dot! As well as some great releases from other countries. Like many people the prospect of a remake starring Nicholas Cage left a great big pile of sick in my mouth. But like pretty much anyone I was drawn to watch the movie to see if my idea’s met with the reality of the movie.
Let’s kick off with the cast as well as Nicholas Cage we also have Exorcist star Ellen Burstyn as not Lord Summerisle (as was the original) but Sister Summerisle. Molly Parker stars as Sister Rose/Sister Thorn, and is possibly one of the more menacing characters of the movie. The final worthwhile mention is Leelee Sobieski as Sister Honey, possibly the creepiest I have seen this actress since her career began some 15 years ago.
Edward Malus
is called to Summerisle by an old love, who explains that her daughter (and unbeknown to Edward, his too) has gone missing. Edward is a California cop, he takes his leave and heads for Summerisle an island forming part of the state of Washington. When there he finds the islands inhabitants behaviour unnerving, there are few men, the women all have the term Sister used before their name and more alarmingly nobody even claims to know the girl that has gone missing. As Edward digs deeper he finds that his enquiries are blocked at every stage, with a big festival underway Edward begins to suspect that the missing girl may be about to become a human sacrifice.
I know what you want to know….. How does the movie compare to the original? It does not compare, it’s just not in the same league. If however you have not seen the original watch this remake first and then view the superior original. As with most people I spent the entire movie making comparisons, regardless of how hard I tried I could not block out the original. I got quite annoyed when no catchy songs were thrust upon this audience of a new millennium.
The Wicker Man has that kind of Hollywood blandness that most of this style of movie embodies. It’s a bit naff and a bit fake, the plot twists that the producers try to steer you on (different from the original) are predictable on every level. In the original the characters although all a bit unpleasant were quite likeable, here they are just unpleasant.
The sets are beautiful, far superior scenery than the original, so there is the movies big plus point. I guess like the original to a certain perspective the lifestyle the inhabitants live on Summerisle may seem a little idyllic. The location crew must have spent a considerable time choosing this location. Unlike the original however this is not a proper settlement its a few log cabins scattered around a very steep hill, intermingled with woodland. The only “real” house is Summerisles alleged palatial spread.
The key downfall for old fans is that the “religious” mentality is forgotten here, where as Edward Woodwards Sergeant Howie was lured in for his views on certain things. Nicholas Cage’s Edward Malus is pulled in simply because his daughter has toddled off. The director fumbles with boring flashbacks to try and pull a “new order” approach to the movie; but this fails and pulls the movie back if anything else. In the original the people were ruled by the Lord and their religious beliefs, here the choices seem more like lifestyle choices than any belief.
The reason the original was so popular was due to the synergy of themes, it was a horror, a musical, a thriller, a comedy. This 2006 offering is a horror movie, everything builds up to the final traumatic event that most who have not seen the movie will know about. You don’t get time to know and love the characters like the original; and for this reason the movie fails. Its just high gloss trash, following in a line of nasty remakes another prime example being the 2004 version of The Fog.
If you have not experienced the original you may well come to love this Wicker Man as your own. But I very much doubt it will have the charm, while you may enjoy it you’ll probably only ever watch it once, and if you do watch it a second time you’ll either talk or read the whole way through it.
The Wicker Man: Directors Cut comes with no special features and is available from Play.com priced £7.99. I personally bought mine used from Ebay £1.21 including postage, I advise this purchase route.
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Making comparisons is inevitable with a remake. I think it's actually harder for me when I've read the Book first though. It is extremely difficult to get a good translation from one medium to the other. I've never seen this film though, so I'll follow your advice. Hopefully Netflix has the original so I can compare them later! Wishing you laughter
bigfatdogs 28.04.2007 17:51
Good review, however I just have to agree so much with the last comment, but then I really dont like cage
Tadders 25.04.2007 13:49
Being an avid fan of the original I just cannot bring myself to watch a remake with Nicholas Cage in it. I can't think of a less appropriate person for the role. The sets may be impressive, but I reckon the beauty of the original is in its simplicity which, along with the sacrificial element, is what makes it so scary. I imagine I would spend the whole movie shouting at the TV screen. Thanks for watching so I don't have to. x
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Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
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Advantages: At least it doesn't mess with the hero's fate Disadvantages: It's a terrible, terrible film that undermines what little faith I had left in the film industry
Advantages: At least it doesn't mess with the hero's fate Disadvantages: It's a terrible, terrible film that undermines what little faith I had left in the film industry
![The Wicker Man [DVD] [2006]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/74855197.jpg "The Wicker Man [DVD] [2006]")
Apr 19th, 2007
very helpful by (100%):
![The Wicker Man [2006]-DVD](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/103255229.jpg)
