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The Omen(1976); One hell of a movie...literally speaking
Topic Started: Jul 25 2006, 08:38 AM (1,354 Views)
KaijuFanatic
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I first saw this film way back in '78 on HBO and immediately loved the film. This film isn't the 'in-your-face' kind of horror that many fans prefer.....it's more of a subtle at times horror, where you suddenly feel the hair on the back of your neck come up or you feel that ever-so-slight tightness in your chest during certain scenes. The cast is absolutely fantastic...Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner, Martin Benson, Patrick Troughton and Billie Whitelaw, jsut to name a few.

I love this film, it's done so well and it's done in a very believable way, I feel. Peck and Remick do a wonderful job in their roles of the unkowing parents to the 'antichrist'. The supporting cast is much more than a 'supporting' cast, any one of them could have been thrust into a main role and done a wonderful job as well. I'm not sure that this film was ever expected to do as well as it did, I think it was somewhat of a surprise to the studio, as well.

Yesterday I sat and watched the bonus disc for the special edition release of the film and it's a most interesting set of bonus features. Plenty of insight to how the film came to be as well as the sequels that followed.
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The DVD of this film is a welcome member of my DVD collection. The Omen(1976) is one hell of a film...literally tongue-1 .

The cast is stellar, in particular Gregory Peck as the ambassador who learns his son is the Anti-Christ. As you mentioned Kimi, this film does not rely on gore or extreme over-the-top violence to convey it's dread, relying instead on the actors(imagine that), the sets, and imagery. Regarding the latter there is plenty of disturbing imagery in this horror film-the woman hanging herself to please Damien, or Damien's reaction as the car he is in pulls up to the Church. Lest we not forget the rottweiler who keeps a watchful eye on this hellified(pun intended tongue-1 ) lad.

This film did not scare me like The Exorcist(1973), but it came close. thumbs up

Pictured: Gregory Peck(left) and David Warner(right), in the middle of skullduggery-from The Omen(1976)
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Ro-Dan
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I can't believe Hollywood remade a horror classic like THE OMEN. As if Richard Donner didn't do a good enough job with the original. I'm glad the remake tanked.
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Ro-Dan
Jul 25 2006, 08:18 PM
I'm glad the remake tanked.

As so many seem to do. It seems to me Dan that common sense has been replaced by greed in Hollywood.

The film: one of my favorite scenes in this movie was the priest being impaled by the cross(?) that flew off the top of the Church. Intense. freak out
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I was watching the bonus feature disc of the CE, yesterday and didn't realize that Peck almost wasn't asked to do the film. Charlton Heston and William Holden had both been asked and turned the role of Robert Thirne down! Peck was considered, but his son had very recently committed suicide and it was thought to be a little less than classy to appraoch the gentleman about doing a film so soon after his son's death, but I believe Peck's agent suggested they go ahead an approach him and Peck jumped at the film.

Troughton as Father Brennan was very good and the impalment scene was rather gruesome. Also, the scene where Jennings (David Warner) met his end was quite shocking to me as a teen. I guess from the bonus features, Warner wouldn't even watch that scene being filmed, it bothered him so much.

While I am always very much against any remake of a classic film, I will admit to being slightly curious regarding the new remake, but heard so much negativity, I decided against even checking it out. I always say, how can anyone expect to imrpove upon a classic and usually folks will throw back in my face that the love I hold for all Hamemr films all began with their remakes of the Universal classics and that's true to a degree, but I also feel Hammer Studios made enough changes that quite often, they were very different end result films.
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I have not seen the remake of The Omen(1976). I know that Liev Schrieber, a solid actor in his own right, plays the ambassador, and Julia Stiles tongue-1 his wife. Stiles is very attractive but I have never been impressed by her acting. I have not seen much of Mr. Schrieber either, except as one of Ben Affleck's deputies in 1997's Phantoms and as the physicist in Sphere, a sci-fi film released in 1997 and based on the book by Michael Crichton. I have been told by two people I know that have seen both "Omen" films that the special effects in the remake are more visually interesting, but that the acting and overall atmosphere of the original 1976 film is still far better. Based on that I will not buy the remake, or rent it.
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Quote:
 
I have been told by two people I know that have seen both "Omen" films that the special effects in the remake are more visually interesting, but that the acting and overall atmosphere of the original 1976 film is still far better. Based on that I will not buy the remake, or rent it.


I'd have been surprised if the special effects weren't more interesting, but if this is a scene-for-scene remake, I see no sense in watching the new film. I'll simply enjoy the original for all it offers. My roommate has never seen this film and has offered to watch it, so perhaps I'll introduce her to the film, today. Mr Green
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From what I have read from reviews and and individuals on the internet who have seen the remake it does indeed parallel very closely the 1976 original.
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From what I have read from reviews and and individuals on the internet who have seen the remake it does indeed parallel very closely the 1976 original.


Well, then there's really no reason for me to watch the remake, I love the original and can't imagine anyone else in the roles of the original cast, so I'll stick with what I do know and enjoy. Mr Green
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KaijuFanatic
Jul 28 2006, 07:57 AM
Well, then there's really no reason for me to watch the remake, I love the original and can't imagine anyone else in the roles of the original cast, so I'll stick with what I do know and enjoy.

Same here. I have found most remakes I have watched to be disappointing. Most. There are a few exceptions. For me the one(exception) that comes to mind first is War Of The Worlds(2005), a film I absolutely enjoyed. Gene Barry even makes a short cameo at the end of this film. thumbs up

Topic: another hellified(pun intended tongue-1 ) scene from The Omen(1976) was Damien deliberately crashing himself into his mother(played by Lee Remick), causing her to fall over the banister. Boy, that was one evil little bastard, wasn't he? evil beaver
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packmule
Jul 28 2006, 04:34 PM
There are a few exceptions. For me the one(exception) that comes to mind first is War Of The Worlds(2005), a film I absolutely enjoyed. Gene Barry even makes a short cameo at the end of this film.  thumbs up


Don't forget Ann Robinson was in that scene too. I had to show my dad that scene because he was curious to see what they look like nowadays.

I do agree, Lee. Spielberg's War of the Worlds is a fantastic film. And it's very underappreciated too. Although I wouldn't classify it as a remake. It's merely another adaptation of a classic novel.
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Ro-Dan
Jul 28 2006, 09:34 PM
Although I wouldn't classify it as a remake. It's merely another adaptation of a classic novel.

I can accept that, kind of like 1982's gory The Thing, as compared to the 1951 classic The Thing(From Another World), both based on the same short story, but taking different approaches on the big screen.

Topic: I have the standard DVD release of The Omen(1976) but I believe there was a SE DVD of this movie released...right? eyebrow
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It's interesting, from what I've read and what I've seen, perhaps in the bonus features for Carpenter's remake of, The Thing, the 1982 film actually follows the story a lot closer than the original film, but I enjoy both efforts, actually.

I thought having Gene Barry and Ann Robinson in Spielberg's film was outstanding! thumbs up

Yes, there is a special 2-disc Collector's Edition out for the 1976 film, The Omen.
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Image---Au pair from hell: Damien's overprotective nanny, from The Omen(1976)
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Quote:
 
Image---Au pair from hell: Damien's overprotective nanny, from The Omen(1976)


Billie Whitelaw was outstanding in the original, she creeped me out and the one line she had that was fantasitc.....'Do not fear little one......I am here to protect thee!'. And she gave it her all!
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KaijuFanatic
Aug 5 2006, 06:44 PM
Billie Whitelaw was outstanding in the original, she creeped me out and the one line she had that was fantasitc.....'Do not fear little one......I am here to protect thee!'.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't she have some canine assistance, in this endeavor, from the rottweiler? eyebrow
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Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't she have some canine assistance, in this endeavor, from the rottweiler?


That would be correct.
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Kimi, I have to date neither bought nor rented the remake of The Omen(1976). Have you? I have passed it many times in the used DVD racks at Blockbuster Video. eyebrow
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Kimi, I have to date neither bought nor rented the remake of The Omen(1976). Have you? I have passed it many times in the used DVD racks at Blockbuster Video.


I have not rented or purchased the remake, either. I'm so uninterested, I ahven't even noticed it! However, with the nice re-release of the original to DVD, I have watched that several times. Mr Green
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KaijuFanatic
Sep 11 2006, 10:46 AM
However, with the nice re-release of the original to DVD, I have watched that several times.

I am going to watch the 1976 film again this week and post a review of it(of sorts). faster <!--emo&shifty eyes-->Posted Image<!--endemo-->
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Look forward to reviewing your thoughts/review, Lee. :)
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Sep 13 2006, 03:17 PM
Look forward to reviewing your thoughts/review, Lee. :)

Well, considering the subject matter of this 1976 film, it should be, good or bad, one hell of a review. tongue-1
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Quote:
 
One hell of a review.


:lol: I can live with that! ;)
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packmule
Jul 26 2006, 05:31 PM
I have been told by two people I know that have seen both "Omen" films that the special effects in the remake are more visually interesting, but that the acting and overall atmosphere of the original 1976 film is still far better.

When it comes to atmosphere it's hard to beat the films of the 70's. Particularly in the horror genre. The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Amityville Horror spring to mind.
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Ro-Dan
Sep 14 2006, 09:08 AM
When it comes to atmosphere it's hard to beat the films of the 70's. Particularly in the horror genre. The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Amityville Horror spring to mind.

There is a thread at the CHFB about favorite 70's horror films. All the ones you mention are good ones Dan. There is also Halloween(1978), Alien(1979), The Fog(1979), and also films like Don't Go In the Basement(1973), Prophecy(1979), and Silent Night, Bloody Night(1973) thumbs up
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