I originally saw Omen when it was first released in the movie theater. Being that the movie was based on a very popular ealier version of the movie, the release was fairly highly anticipated, but for myself, I feared it would just be another over hyped Hollywood release, much like Snakes on a Plane.

When arriving at the movie theater, it was extremely packed. It was the first day of the movie, and everyone was expecting a lot more, than I believed the movie could deliver. I figured it would be at least mildly amusing, but didn't have any real hopes for the movie going into it. Much like most of the other releases based on previous movies, I figured the hype was over done substantially.

The cast
Predrag Bjelac .... Vatican Observatory Priest (as Pedja Bjelac)
Carlo Sabatini .... Cardinal Fabretti
Bohumil Svarc .... Pope

Liev Schreiber .... Robert Thorn
Giovanni Lombardo Radice .... Father Spiletto
Baby Zikova .... Damien - Newborn
Baby Morvas .... Damien - Newborn
Baby Muller .... Damien - Newborn
Baby Litera .... Damien - Newborn

Julia Stiles .... Katherine Thorn
Tomas Wooler .... Damien - 2 Years Old
Rafael Sallas .... Rome Embassy Marine

Marshall Cupp .... Ambassador Steven Haines
Martin Hindy .... Haines' Limo Driver (as Martin 'Mako' Hindy)
Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick .... Damien

The Plot line
In order to keep from ruining the movie, I will give only minimal information about the movie in order to preserve it's integrity, as I always do. If you are looking for a more in depth review that covers every aspect of the movie, so that you can live vicariously through the reviewer, this is not your review... so move along little donkey... but if you want just enough to make an informed decision... please carry on...

The movie is basically takes advantage of every parent's worst nightmare, a less than normal child. The basic idea is that a couple has a child in a hospital, but something isn't right. This child is definitely different than the other children. Whenever people are this child, bad things start to happen. The parents never truly trust the child, and never really understand why these strange things happen. His blank stares often cause great worry and slowly the child begins to erode away at the couple's relationship.

A host of nanny's are brought in, with each one essentially going crazy in the process of caring for this devil child. Then finally one is brought in, that seems absolutely perfect, but soon the couple will find out, that she is working for the devil to ensure that this child is cared for to his liking.

Throughout the movie, the child attempts to kill his mother through a variety of different methods, however she is seen as insane. She tries to get her husband to understand, and slowly he comes aound, until eventually he's on a quest to do whatever he can to stop his own son.

The actors
I was very suprised by the peformance of Seamus Davey Fitzpatrick, who played Damien, the devil child throughout the majority of the movie. He seemed very much in command of the role, and seemed to BECOME Damien. It felt all too real when you watched this young child playing this demonic role in such a way that you would believe, he wasn't acting it out... he was real.

The other actors did a great job of supporting the plot, regardless of how weak it was at times. Julia Stiles was probably the standout in this movie, delivering a convincing performance of a distraught mother, that feared her own child, who she had raised his entire life. You could see the fear in her eyes and hear the strain in her voice as she spoke. Definitely an excellent performance on her part.

All around the acting was great. You couldn't have asked for a better cast to make this movie. Unfortunately, it was the movie that ultimately falls short, not the acting.

The Plot Line
The plot was pretty pathetic by today's standards. The movie really never went anywhere. It used basic fears, but it really didn't expand on anything. It seemed more like a dark action movie, than the horror movie that it was touted to be. The movie spent more time chasing around the leads, than it really did anything else.

The only thing redeeming about the movie were the plot points that you really didn't see coming, that added several twists to the movie, that you wouldn't have predicted. Unfortunately, these are the same plot twists, that make the movie more about following the characters around in a very short period of time, accomplishing far more than is reasonable for that period.

The characters seem to know far more than they should about everything. I know if I were to have a devil child, I wouldn't have a clue where to start, regardless of who is helping me out. It would be far more confusing, far more complicated, and take a hell of a lot more time for the events to unfold in reality and I think the speed at which the movie unfolded, mostly due to time constraints, I'm sure, took away from the overall effect and feel of the movie.

Because the movie had so many different things happening in order to make the plot at least somewhat usable, there was never any real character development, outside of the mother. And I don't think she was really developed as much as she could have been, but the excellent performance by Stiles truly lended to making her stand out.

Final Thoughts
Personally, this movie wasn't for me! It's definitely not one that you would want to waste your time and money on in a movie theater. It has a storyline that you can follow and it does have some interesting points to it... but you soon find out, that the movie starts increasing in speed so fast, that it becomes extremely unreastic and regardless of how fictional the concept might be, I think a little more realism in the area of time and space management is important, especially since Damien hasn't altered space and time. I think this made the movie far too fake, and didn't allow me to believe in the storyline and get into the movie, which I believe is the most important thing a movie has to accomplish, regardless of it's theme.

If you are looking for a movie download on Vongo, or Netflix, then check this one out. If you are actually going to pay for this title... then I wouldn't waste your time. There are far better movies out there, that accomplish much more for your senses, than this movie ever will.

Recommended: No

Movie Mood: If Your First Choice is Sold Out
Viewing Method: Studio Screening/Premiere
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Pacing