Unless a movie is being remade because the original was made before sound, or was made so long ago that the acting has become antiquated, I usually don't see the point in 'remakes'. The majority are not as good as the originals. Not so with this 2006 version of THE OMEN. It is as good, and in some ways better than the 1976 one.
Beautiful cinematography of overly dramatic background settings with lots & lots of thunderous downpours, there is also the subtle but effective music supplied by Marco Beltrami on Jerry Goldsmith's scoring. The by now familiar storyline of a politically prominent couple who unbeknown to them are raising the anti-Christ grabs the viewer's attention from the beginning and keeps you entertained throughout.
One of the things that I found preferable to the original was casting the more age appropriate JULIA STILES and LIEV SCHREIBER as the parents. STILES particularly. She gives the role of 'Katherine Thorn' both a likability as well as fragile vulnerability. SCHREIBER doesn't possess the command of role predecessor GREGORY PECK, but does well enough. I hadn't seen MIA FARROW in a film in some time and she is excellent as the specious new nanny, 'Mrs. Baylock'. Actor David THEWLIS is good as the photographer 'Keith Jennings' who finds that some of the pictures he takes are predictions of the impending deaths to some of those in Damian's way or need for sacrifice. SEAMUS DAVEY-FITZPATRICK is not as effective as HARVEY STEPHENS was in the original. DAVEY-FITZPATRICK looks grumpy rather than menacingly evil. The film though moves consistently and with continuity. Worth watching and every bit as good as the original !
Beautiful cinematography of overly dramatic background settings with lots & lots of thunderous downpours, there is also the subtle but effective music supplied by Marco Beltrami on Jerry Goldsmith's scoring. The by now familiar storyline of a politically prominent couple who unbeknown to them are raising the anti-Christ grabs the viewer's attention from the beginning and keeps you entertained throughout.
One of the things that I found preferable to the original was casting the more age appropriate JULIA STILES and LIEV SCHREIBER as the parents. STILES particularly. She gives the role of 'Katherine Thorn' both a likability as well as fragile vulnerability. SCHREIBER doesn't possess the command of role predecessor GREGORY PECK, but does well enough. I hadn't seen MIA FARROW in a film in some time and she is excellent as the specious new nanny, 'Mrs. Baylock'. Actor David THEWLIS is good as the photographer 'Keith Jennings' who finds that some of the pictures he takes are predictions of the impending deaths to some of those in Damian's way or need for sacrifice. SEAMUS DAVEY-FITZPATRICK is not as effective as HARVEY STEPHENS was in the original. DAVEY-FITZPATRICK looks grumpy rather than menacingly evil. The film though moves consistently and with continuity. Worth watching and every bit as good as the original !