The Omen Collection [Blu-ray]

The Omen Collection [Blu-ray] Review

It's Halloween time so I've been watching more horror then usual, which isn't saying much, and I've watching as much new horror as old ones. I recently purchased the Blu Ray version of The Omen series. It's a four disc set that includes The Omen, Damien: The Omen II, The Final Conflict: The Omen III, and The Omen remake(2006). Nope, for some reason this Blu Ray box set didn't include the fourth Omen picture, which you can buy seperately on DVD, and did come in the DVD version of The Omen box set. I seriously doubt anyone in their right mind will be crying in their sleep over this ommission. Sure, if it was included I woudn't have minded,and I might even have popped it in to watch it once more for posterities sake, but I'm okay if I never have the chance to see it again. It's a pretty bad, Showtime Original Movie. But I did hear that if the TV movie had done better Showtime had planned on producing an Omen TV series. Oh well, maybe it's all for the best based on the final result of The Omen IV: The Awakening. For the first three Omen pictures the special features are all the same. The Omen actually gets a couple of new special features. One being a new, third commentary track with film historians including screenwriter Lem Dobbs(The Fugitive). This new commentary focus's heavily on Jerry Goldsmith's score and the films general influences before and after it was made. We also get a new picture in picture feature that most Blu Rays seem to have. The second and third film only come with the previous release's trailers and commentaries. The remake disc is the same as the previous DVD release, but for some reason it ommitts one of the DVD release's special featurette's Omenisms. Why, I don't know. I thought Blu Ray not only made the sound and picture better but also could hold more info on a single disc then DVD. Whatever.

THE OMEN(1976): This is a landmark horror film. It, along with Jaws and The Exorcist, help knock Roger Corman and Hammer films out of their markets. Hollywood took an interst in making genre pictures, films that Corman and Hammer had been doing forever, and doing them on a grand scale with known actors and movie stars. This film stars Gregor Peck(limited range but great imposing, quiet screen presence), Lee Remick(underrated, never got the credit she deserved in her short career) David Warner(c'mon, if you're a genre fan you know this guy, and if you don't you should be ashamed of yourself). This film isn't particularly frightening honestly, but it's very entertaining and exciting. The performances are all grounded and the direction is very stylish but restrained in the vein of Hitchcock. Richard Donner had directed every Tv show known to man at this point in his career(everything ranging from Maverick, Gilligans Island and Wild, Wild West). This was the film that legitimised him and its success led him to getting the gig of directing Superman: The movie. On his commentary track, he has two--one with editor Stuart Baird and one with screenwriter/director Brian Helgeland, he states that the trick to The Omen working is that he never thought the child was the actual son of Satan. He directed it as if everything in the film was just horrible coincidence, an the guilt of Gregory Peck's character over lying to his wife about the baby swap influences what he thinks and his sanity. It's a smart move. It keeps the film honest and not over the top. Apparently, the original screenplay by David Seltzer(wront John Frankenheimer's underrated horror film The Prophecy) had demon creatures popping into the film. The film also has a dark sense of humor in its grand gugnol, Rube Goldberg inspired death scenes. The most famous being how David Warner's head loses touch with his body. The disc also has retrospective documentaries, interviews one on one with David Seltzer and Richard Donner, and most intersting, a one on one with the late great composer Jerry Goldsmith----who one his only Academy Award for his score in this film. There's also pictures and stills, and the trailers. A very good loaded package and if you didn't like the other films this set up would keep you busy for at least a day.
5 out of 5 stars.

DAMIEN: THE OMEN II: Oh boy, what a terrible movie,and an even worse sequel! Not only is this sequel a pale imitation, it's really boring. Omen producer Harvey Bernhard came up with the story for this sequel and it was rushed into production. Sure, the deaths, espeically one involving an elevator, are more elaborate, but so what? Richard Donner's The Omen was so much more then gruesome death scenes. This sequel seemed to only latch onto that aspect of the original. The only neat thing this sequel does is set up where Damien is going in the future and alludes to what Satan's ultimate plan might be. The disc has the trailer and a commentary track by writer/producer Harvey Bernhard. Haven't listened to it as I don't care, but one of these days I might give it a spin. Jerry Goldsmith returns to score the film and supply it with its only admirable trait. There are scenes in this film involving attacking ravens that are too hyterical to describe and may be worth watching this film for some unintentional humor.
2 out of 5 stars.

THE FINAL CONFLICT: THE OMEN III: Yes, we're back on track, and it's no surprise as Richard Donner returns to this franchise in an executive producer capacity. We finally move away from the evil child aspect that was beyond played out anc cliche'd by the time this third installment reached multiplex's. Sam Neil plays the adult version of Damien Thorn, in one of his first leading film roles. He is very good in this film. His portrayal keeps you glued to the screen. The actual character of Damien has never really been fleshed out in the previous installments. He was just kind of there and almost an innocent bystander to what was going on around him. At the end of part II we get to see him sort of accept his role. This film plays that to full effect and adds in all the politics and corporate endeavors you would assume the Devil would want to be involved in. The film has the style back from the original, and so sorrowfully lacking int he second. The ending is sort of abstract and with the new characterization of Damien has a bit of tragedy in it and it totally works even if it's mostly on an abstract level. Like the second film this one only comes with the trailer and a comentary track by the director.
4 out of 5 stars

THE OMEN(2006): Ah, in the decade of the remake did you really think that The Omen would be ammune? No way! The Omen dented into the subculture's zeitgeist and became a brand name, so this was perfect remake to have on your hands, especially if you want to assure you make some undeserved dough off of it. Though, out of the many remakes in the last ten years this one isn't awful. Though, that may have to do with the fact that it follows the original very closely. Hell, even the remake script was written, or rather re-written, by the original's writer David Seltzer. There are some obvious modifications in this remake. First off, Damien seems to be more aware of his evil. The way he is directed and played in this remake is more as a malevolent presence then the cute innocent in the original. In the first film we were never sure how much Damien knew until the last shot of him smiling as the film's closing. In this film director John Moore(Behind Enemy Lines, Max Payne) tips us off pretty early that Damien is aware of his destiny. The scene in the car when the Thorn's are on the way to the wedding Church, after Damien's freak out, Damien glares at his mother played by Julia Styles. Also, there scene in the monkey house(a riff on the safari trail scene in the original involving some very mad babboons) Damien glares at the animals and says, "They're afraid of me", very coldly. Also, the cast is made more age appropriate. I always had trouble with buying Gregory Peck as a new father to be. Liev Streiber takes over for Peck in this remake and does very well. He gives a very intricate and subtle peformance in this film. He helps keep the itnerest invested the whole time. Julia Styles does well too. She grounds her character. Mrs. Thorn is changed in the remake. She seems to doubt her son sooner and their relationship seems more combative. The final and most major change this remake does is the fact that it opens with the Vatican already expecting the arrival of the AntiChrist. They look on counting the signs or omens, if you will, of the coming of the apocalypse. Though, how tasteful showing and using imagery of 9-11 in a fluffy horror film like this is up for debate. Personally, it made me uncomfortable, but I understood what the filmmakers were trying to do. They were justifying their remake by making it relevant to the modern times. It's only half successful. The problem with this remake is that it's too much like the orignal. If you've seen the '76 version you'll get nothing new or exciting out of this remake. Yes, the acting is all quite good from Styles, Streiver to the supporting cast which includes Michael Gambon, Pete Postelwaite, David Thewlis, and the scene stealer Mia Farrow as nanny Ms. Blaylock. Farrow takes a different approach by playing Blaylock as a Stepford nanny, all smiles with something brewing beneath. Good casting, cool change, and very fun. Also, director John Moore over directs every scene like he's doing a big Bruckheimer action film as opposed to a Gothic horror yarn. All the death scenes are ramped up and over produced so they lack effect and just become spectacle on the level of the later Final Destination films.
3 out of 5 films.

So, this set is worth having. The picture is brilliant and the sound is even better. You get a decent amount of extras, especially on the first and best film, and you'll never feel compelled to sit through the ommitted fourth film. You get two really good films, one bad one, and one mediocre one. As much as I don't care for the sequel and the remake I will watch them each again so for me it's worth it. Happy Halloween and good luck at the next Saw film. My fingers are crossed.....

The Omen Collection [Blu-ray] Overview

Genre: Horror
Rating: UN
Release Date: 9-SEP-2008
Media Type: Blu-Ray

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