The Omen for a New Millenium

The original was a creepy, and moody, classic, with a wonderful music score to match.

Gregory Peck was excellent, as was Lee Remick, Patrick Troughton as Father Brennan, and Billie Whitelaw as the protective Nanny ( Did you know Billie was a Quaker? hee, hee ).

Little Harvey Stephens was a true find.

So I was curious to see what would be done here, and was pleasantly suprised.

The best thing going in was knowing that the original screenwriter was on hand to handle the remake.

There were a few changes in plot to bring it into the 21st century, but for the most part the major touchstones in plot from the original are re-done, with a modern take.

This time Thorn is the Ambassadors #2, before, um, being thrust into the top job by circumstance.

The worst thing about the film was that the creepy music of the original is absent, until the closing credits.

The music used was moody, but not the best choice.

The film gets its "Armageddon is nigh" point across right off the bat with a nifty Priestly Powerpoint Presentation for the Pope that uses recent events as harbingers. ;-D

I did not find myself comparing how each plot developement in the re-make compared to the original, and so was able to enjoy this film in its own right.

Of all the deaths the finest moment comes with the most original decapitation in film history. ;-D

The death of Father Brennan comes in a close 2nd.

As for the Acting:

Liev Schreiber, as Thorn, is no Gregory Peck, but he is not the wooden actor some critics claim he is here either.

By having him not start out as the Ambassador they handle the age difference nicely.

His acting becomes more expressive as the plot developments pile up, and I found that a plus.

Julia Stiles, as Mrs. Thorn, is no Lee Remick, but she still does a decent job in the role of a mother who realizes too late that her boy ain't exactly "right".

Pete Postlethwaite is flat out wonderfully fanatical as Father Brennan, and steals every scene he is in.

Mia Farrow, she of Rosemary's Baby fame, in an inspired bit of stunt casting, plays Mrs. Baylock with a wonderful, scene stealing, gusto, and has a scene that is one of the most erotic, and creepy, sequences ever filmed.

David Thewlis, and that odd looking face of his, is the photographer, and is good.

I liked the way he played the role better than the version of the original.

I also think that Michael Gambon was the better Bugenhagen.

Little Shamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, is very good, but not near as creepy, as the new Damien, and truly creepy was what was needed.

In a way I think this impression is due to the difference in music.

In a film like this the music truly matters, and I think they missed a beat by not using the original score, or some variation on it.

Speaking of the original Damien... In a very nice touch Stephens is here in a brief role as a Tabloid Reporter.

As for the cute little Rottweiller that is the family, um, pet.... what happens to him is funny, yet embarrassing to all Rotties everywhere. ;-D

An 8 out of 10.

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