The Omen

Rating:
Summary: This is Scary.
Review: The Omen was my second horror film. This is real horror. Valentine and Scream are not. Horror films talk about things people are afraid to talk about and make you feel uncomfortable, they are not some guy walking around a dumb mask slashing people up. The sound track is great. Yes the acting is great. When the people who gave this movie 1 star, they obviously knew nothing about this movie. Here is a dead giveaway, if someone says it has bad acting, poor effects,bad editting,etc... and go on about things they know nothing about. These people, just didn't get it. That's all they had to say. Now this movie doesn't even compare to the biblical story, which is much scarier, but it's still good. They made some mistakes in the biblical prophecy, and should have paid attention more. If you think the prophcies in the Bible are just a bunch off bologna, then let me quote one of last verses of Revelation 22:18, I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. So I dare any of you people who don't believe to do so. But then again, we will never hear from you again. The person who did this movie wrote a story based on a prophecy in this book, not the actual prophecy. You can't say anything bad about this movie, if this bad acting, I have yet to see good acting, and would like to know were I can see good acting. Ignore the sequels, just get this one. Oh buy the way, the Exorcist is better. The other prophecies in the Bible were forfilled, and so will this one.

Rating:
Summary: Not The Best You Can Buy
Review: "The Omen" is a supposedly scary film released in the late '70s which kicked off what was supposed to be a four-part franchise detailing the life of Damien, who we meet in this first movie.

The movie's plot is rather lame: Gregory Peck, playing an ambassador, is convinced by a priest to switch his wife's stillborn (as far as he knows) baby with another baby, born June 6th at 6 a.m. Peck raises the baby as his own. Life goes on, but on Damien's 5th birthday, things occur that slowly convince Peck that his little devil actually is the Antichrist. The rest of the film details Peck's quest to learn more about Damien and questioning whether his precious little baby boy could actually be the spawn of Satan.

If this sounds interesting, trust me it is not. It's all pieced together with choir music of the damned, as well as some hammy overacting, mostly from the maid and a Father who travels all the way from Italy to warn Peck of his son's quest. There's also some points about Peck's wife and her feelings toward the baby, but it's ignored later on. The film is about Peck and it belongs to him. I kind of feel sorry for this much-respected actor to appear in this film. Damien, on the other hand, is actually not really in the film that much, and if he is, it's just to stare at a dog or thrash about madly. The scenes of death and horror that occur are standard - there's the beheading, the flailing jump out a window, and such. And the whole plot seems tame compared to today. "The Omen" is no great scarefest.

Rating:
Summary: 6......siCk.........6........sTarS!
Review: Move over Raggen(from the "Exorcist") the real evil is stepping in to chill your bones. In 1975 and of now. It is still reconized by many as the tour de force it really is. In my opinion Richerd Donner should have stuck to horror movies(with the exeption of The mighty "Lethel Wepon" seires)
The Omen is done in the very best way possible, and if you like horror or Si/Fi films and have not seen this movie yet then watch it or buy it and waste time no more.

Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING GOTHIC THRILLER...
Review: This is a first class, gothic thriller with an outstanding cast, a riveting story line, and a musical score that will make the viewer want to sleep with the lights on! A first rate film, it had audiences riveted to the screen when it was first released in the mid nineteen seventies. I know. I was one of that audience. This film has withstood the test of time, as it is as gripping today, as when it was first released.

Katherine (Lee Remick) and Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) are a wealthy, older American couple. Katherine is pregnant and, while in Italy, gives birth to an ostensibly stillborn boy, a fact that is kept from her. Knowing how much his wife wanted the baby and the difficulty that she had in conceiving, Robert agrees to have the dead baby supplanted by a living newborn whose mother died in child birth, keeping this information from Katherine. They name this baby Damien.

All goes well for the prosperous Thorn family, until Damien turns five. A series of dramatic, unusual events begin to occur around the Thorns, all seemingly stemming from Damien. Well guarded by a self sufficient, somewhat creepy nanny (Billie Whitelaw), there are those who would believe him to be the Antichrist. By the time that Katherine and Robert begin to realize who Damien may truly be, their lives are out of control. With the aid of an inquisitive photographer, a repentant priest, and an archaeologist who holds the key to the destruction of the Antichrist, Robert Stone becomes a man with a mission. Will Damien let him complete that mission? Watch this movie and find out. You will not be disappointed. I guarantee that you will be sleeping with the lights on and the covers over your head.

David Seltzer wrote a terrific screenplay. This first class production, which is deftly directed by Richard Donner, is played with straightforward sincerity by its outstanding cast. The casting of Gregory Peck and Lee Remick was pure genius, as their distinguished reputations infused the movie with a believability not thought possible, given the theme of the script. Playing it straight, as a couple caught in a vortex of events over which they have little control, they sweep the viewer along with them. Supported by a fine cast, there are notable performances given by Billie Whitelaw, as the nanny with a mission, David Warner, as the photographer who begins to notice that something odd seems to be going on, and Harvey Stephens, as Damien, whose angelic countenance belies his satanic nature.

This is a riveting, subtle film that, with a few well planned, shocking moments, and an effectively creepy musical score that builds suspense to a crescendo, manages to thoroughly engage the viewer. If one is looking for a blood and gore fest, there is really none of that here. Instead, look to be scared out of the seat of your pants by a superb script, wonderful acting, deft direction, and a musical score that will long linger in one's memory. It is little wonder that Jerry Goldsmith, the composer of the original score for The Omen, won an Academy Award for his efforts.

The DVD is a loaded DVD with a lot of interesting features. It provides a forty six minute documetary on the making of the film, which is quite interesting., as well as a director's commentary. There is a also an intriguing, six minute short on some of the pitfalls that beset the cast and crew during the filming of the movie. The composer also has a small segment of his own. There are the other standard features, such as theatrical trailers, interactive menus, and scene selections, as well as crystal clear visuals and audio. This is a first rate DVD of a film well worth having in one's collection. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: Evil doesn't getter any better
Review: The Omen is a ground-breaking, cinematic work of art. Whether one considers this film horror, suspense, or thriller doesn't matter, as it is all of those descriptions and more. The acting talent commissioned for this film is of the highest quality one will ever see in a film of this type. Jerry Golsmith's score is phenomenal and ground-breaking and terrifying. Other than the fact that it was released in 1976, there is nothing dated about this film: The Omen with its superior ingredients in all of film's mediums stands well above any horror/suspense/thrillers that have come out since or before.

I highly recommend the DVD of The Omen over the video. Sure, widescreen is good; but for many films widescreen doesn't make the viewing all that much better. Why I recommend the DVD is for the bounty of extras. The extras are very insightful and informative regarding the casting, the special effects, the controversy surrounding the story, and the music of the film, as well as the tragic and bizarre incidents that occured whilst making it. And while it can be said that "behind the scenes" and "making of" extras are revealing "spoilers" that spoil a film's mystery, the extras on the DVD version of The Omen do nothing short of enlightening without spoiling.

Superb!

Rating:
Summary: Woofties!
Review: "You know, you may be too sexy for the White House" Thorn tells his wife after arriving at their British residence. Rest assured, Mrs Thorn, that history has proven that you are positively chaste as far as the Oval office is concerned. He is your husband after all....BR>Chuckles and chills galore in this dated 70's hokum about the AntiChrist. Basically a morality tale on the importance of telling the truth to your loved one's, the film makers hokey attempts to psyche out the audience tends to obscure this point. There is much stilted bathos but the business of the photographs is still a masterstroke that gives one the creeps. But why didn't Thorn receive any photographic warnings? The photographer had taken his picture and he was on the prominent hit list as prophesied by the dodgy priest. Instead, the devil goes for the minor bit players and doesn't even bother with Bugenhaggen until the next picture, long after he's given Thorn the daggers that cause his son to come within an inch of unfulfilling his destiny of world domination. Thanks a lot, dad. Also, if you commit a murder it is best not to leave the evidence lying around in marked and easy to open graves. This is what happens when you subcontract. Luckily for the world, the devil continues his bungling throughout the series.
There are some sweet doggy woof-woofs in this film. Rotweillers have had a lot of bad press because of this film which has never really abated although I can relate a story I read once where a Rotweiller rescued a drowning boy. Mind you, he was probably the AntiChrist. You will also thrill to Gregory Peck hanging off some railings while being assaulted by glove puppets. Top entertainment in any age!

I don't know which is more shocking. The film itself or the commentary in which the film makers talk with glee about the distress little Harvey Stephens went through while filming the baboon attack...

Rating:
Summary: "THE MARK "666
Review: WHEN I RENTED THIS MOVIE I EXPECTED IT TO HAVE BLOOD AND STUFF LIKE THAT.BUT IT WAS MUCH BETTER WHITHOUT IT!THE STORY STARTS IN ROME ON JUNE 6TH AT 6AM.ROME AMBASSODOR ROBERT THORN AND HIS WIFE WERE EXPECTING A BABY TO BE NAMED DAMIEN.BUT AFTER THE BIRTH THE BABY DIES!THE WIFE DIDN'T KNOW,INFACT NEVER KNEW.SO HE GOES TO A CHURCH AND ADOPTS A CHILD WHO HAS AN UNBELEVABLE RESEMBLENCE TO THE ORIGINAL DAMIEN.THEN THE PREIST SAYS TO MR.THORN, "TODAY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A CHILD."THEN MR.THORN HAS BEEN APPOINTED AMBASSODOR TO GREAT BRITAIN.THEN THE STORY TAKES OFF TO THE NEW HOME TO THE FAMILY.THEN MYSTERIOUS THINGS OCCOUR...IF YOU SEE THE DVD EXTRA FEATURES.YOU WILL HEAR SOME FRIGHTENING THINGS.LIKE ONE OF THE DIRECTORS WAS IN HIS CAR WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND THEY HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION.WHEN HE WOKE UP HE SAW A SIGN SAYING SOME TOWN AND HOW FAR IT WAS THE SIGN SAID THE TOWN WAS 66.6KM.FREAKY!LOOK AT DAMIEN'S BIRTHDAY JUNE 6TH AT 6AM,666.
THE PEOPLE MAKING THE FILM REALLY BELIEVED THAT THE DEVIL DIDN'T WANT THEM TO MAKE THE FILM.WITH ALL THESE FREAKY COINCEDENMTIAL THINGS GOING ON!YOU WANNA BE FRIGHTENED!GET THE OMEN!!

Rating:
Summary: Need a better sound restoration
Review: This and the other parts of this title needs a full 5.1 sound restoration. Fox need to see the godfather trilogy, Paramount is good for their full 5.1 restoration of old titles. The Omen trilogy needs to get the respect like the Godfather trilogy has. The classic Jerry Goldsmith music sound horrible and need a 5.1 mix for this DVD. Fox need to talk to Paramount on where they mixed the Godfather trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece on the Suspense Supernatural Thriller.
Review: When an Middle-Age Politcian (Gregory Peck), who discover that his Wife (Lee Remick) give birth to thier Son has Died. When the Head Priest convinces him to keep it a Secert from his wife and he adopts a Infant Baby to keep his wife Happy. Five Years Later, On Damien`s (Harvey Stephens) Birthday, A nanny (Holly Palance) kills herself on that day, Since that Day alot of Strange Things has Happen, things are not that normal, the Parents of Damien are unaware of the Child`s Satanic Origins.

Directed by Richard Donner (Superman, The Goonies, Ladyhawke) made his Standout Suspense-Thriller with This. Written by David Seltzed (The 13th Angel) has wrote, one of the best Scary films ever with a Terrific film Score by Jerry Goldsmith (who did win an Oscar for his Score). DVD has an clean anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an Digitally Remastered newly mixed Stereo Sound and also on it`s Original Mono Soundtrack. DVD Extras are:An running Commentary Track, which is often Funny and Informive by Director:Donner and Editor:Staurt Baird. A 46 Minute Documentary with the Filmmakers. A 6 minutes featurette on the Strange Going-On of Making of the Film and Original Theatrical Tralier. This a Strong film, that is Absolutely Riventing. Followed by Three Sequels. Panavision. Grade:A.

Rating:
Summary: Truly a horror classic!
Review: This movie, i.e., The OmenVHS ~ Gregory Peck is one for the ages. The acting is stupendous (Gregory Peck), the special effects are very well done and the story in itself is quite unsettling. The musical score is a master piece and the atmosphere has not been matched by many other horror movies. The gore of modern movies is missing but the atmopshere is quite creepy and very unsettling. Highly Recommended.