Good (and not-so-good) Omens
Oct. 4th, 2005 10:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yendiAmazon is selling The Omen Collection for $14.99, which is a steal, averaging under $4 a movie.
The Omen is a true class. Not just because a severed head freaked out Harlan Ellison, either. It's got hellhounds, evil nursemaids, creepy kids, and all sorts of other nifty stuff. Some of the stuff is dated, but there are still some surprisingly creepy moments. The cast includes Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, and David Warner, all of whom put on a great show. The director was Richard Donner, who made us believe That a Man Could Fly and that Danny Glover is Too Old For This Shit.
And fans of Good Omens really do owe it to themselves to see this, as so much of it is parodied in that novel.
Damien: Omen II was more of the same, but still quite fun. It's got an early appearance by Lance Henriksen, and stars William Holden (far from his Oscar-winning days, but still a class act) and Lee Grant (not that far from her Oscar-winning days, and at least this hit her resume before The Swarm). This time, Damien's a teenager, and clearly discovering his own potential for evil, instead of letting others do all the work. There's nothing more amusing than an antichrist hitting puberty.
Omen III: The Final Conflict is the weakest of the originals, mainly because Evil is no longer as interesting when it's in the form of an adult. That said, the adult is Sam Neill, and he's hunting for the Christ-child while trying to avoid the Seven Holy Monks With Daggers (well, aren't we all?). It's a fun ending to the trilogy, if nothing else.
Omen IV: The Awakening (not based on anything by Kate Chopin) came out ten years later as a made-for-TV movie, and really isn't a part of the series (although there are a few references to Damien). It's more a remake of the first film, with evil in the form of a little girl this time. Not very good, but it's got Faye Grant (Julie from V) and Jim Byrnes for the Highlander fans. It's also only available in this set.
Overall, the box is an uneven set, but the first movie is worth $15 alone.
The Omen is a true class. Not just because a severed head freaked out Harlan Ellison, either. It's got hellhounds, evil nursemaids, creepy kids, and all sorts of other nifty stuff. Some of the stuff is dated, but there are still some surprisingly creepy moments. The cast includes Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, and David Warner, all of whom put on a great show. The director was Richard Donner, who made us believe That a Man Could Fly and that Danny Glover is Too Old For This Shit.
And fans of Good Omens really do owe it to themselves to see this, as so much of it is parodied in that novel.
Damien: Omen II was more of the same, but still quite fun. It's got an early appearance by Lance Henriksen, and stars William Holden (far from his Oscar-winning days, but still a class act) and Lee Grant (not that far from her Oscar-winning days, and at least this hit her resume before The Swarm). This time, Damien's a teenager, and clearly discovering his own potential for evil, instead of letting others do all the work. There's nothing more amusing than an antichrist hitting puberty.
Omen III: The Final Conflict is the weakest of the originals, mainly because Evil is no longer as interesting when it's in the form of an adult. That said, the adult is Sam Neill, and he's hunting for the Christ-child while trying to avoid the Seven Holy Monks With Daggers (well, aren't we all?). It's a fun ending to the trilogy, if nothing else.
Omen IV: The Awakening (not based on anything by Kate Chopin) came out ten years later as a made-for-TV movie, and really isn't a part of the series (although there are a few references to Damien). It's more a remake of the first film, with evil in the form of a little girl this time. Not very good, but it's got Faye Grant (Julie from V) and Jim Byrnes for the Highlander fans. It's also only available in this set.
Overall, the box is an uneven set, but the first movie is worth $15 alone.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 02:45 pm (UTC)Although the demonic glee club of the damned leaping out of the woodwork to bay "Scary! Scary stuff impending! Sanctus! Dominus!" every time some plot point was coming up was good for a laugh.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 02:54 pm (UTC)And yeah, not exactly the most subtle movie ever.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 03:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 03:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 03:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 04:14 pm (UTC)I believe Omen IV was directed by the same guy who gave us the worst Halloween sequel (numero cinco). I also believe he scurried back to obscurity shortly thereafter.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 04:22 pm (UTC)And Good Omens was fabulous. The Chattering Nuns just about killed me. And Dog. Gotta love Dog.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 04:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 04:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-04 05:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-10-05 02:45 am (UTC)