In keeping with this issue's impending apocalypse theme over in the video section I chose the Demi Moore/Michael Biehn vehicle, The Seventh Sign, to review. I point this out because its theme is strikingly similar to that of The Omega Code. The biggest difference being that The Seventh Sign is actually a good movie.
Motivational speaker Gillen Lane (Casper Van Dien) is having a hell of a year professionally, but his personal life is falling apart. A dynamo in front of a crowd or a camera selling his basically atheistic spiel, he becomes a wishy washy moron when it's just him and his estranged wife. Enter Dominic (Michael Ironside), right hand henchman of Stone Alexander (Michael York), who invites the suddenly devoted family man to Rome to take part in HISTORY! It turns out that Alexander is using The Bible Code (a study of the Torah in purely mathematical terms in order to discover predictions for the future hidden inside) to raise himself to power and bring about the end of the world.
I have to admit I was a bit surprised to see leaders of just about every major religion/denomination (minus Protestantism) depicted as mindless sheep bowing and scraping to the Anti-Christ, but considering that Trinity Broadcasting Network was listed as one of the production companies involved in the film, I probably shouldn't have been, huh? My biggest complaint though was the fact that the Anti-Christ's right hand man was a former Catholic priest. Then again, I've always considered it a sort of privilege to be tagged a heathen Catholic by my Christian broadcasting brethren so...
So Lane is told by a pair of prophets (which immediately made me think of Jay and Silent Bob from Dogma -- and I haven't even seen that movie yet) that he must combat the Anti-Christ by having the faith of a child. The only problem is that while he was raised by a mother with strong religious beliefs, her death when he was only 10 years old left him disbelieving in a God of mercy and love. There are some generic special effects sequences of Lane experiencing visions of disaster and demons, but to tell you the truth, they add nothing to the advancement of the plot and serve as distractions more than anything else.
Eventually, of course, Lane tosses away his deeply held atheist convictions and returns to the fold. I won't tell you how though cause I still feel dirty after having seen it. In truth, I feel duped. I paid $7.50 to be preached at and didn't even come away half as entertained as I was during The Apostle. Oh well, at least no one passed around the collection plate.
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I paid $7.50 to be preached at and didn't even come away half as entertained as I was during The Apostle.
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This movie is so bad that I found myself picking nits with even the production values. To say that The Omega Code is a frighteningly dull (when it's not being offensive) and amateurish production is an understatement. The lighting is unimaginative when it's not downright silly (Ooooo! Menacing shadows!). The sets seemed to be parodies ranging from Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous to Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Alexander's company logo looks like the biggest chunk was lifted right out of Star Trek (The Anti-Christ belongs to the Federation? Huh?). Then in an important car chase scene the same powder blue, 70's era pimpmobile shows up at least twice after it has supposedly been blindsided by another car.
I pity the entire cast. They all deserve so much better. Especially Michael York who once enthralled me in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet as the King of Cats himself, Tybalt.
You want an end of the world story with good special effects, strong characterization, and lacking in insults to different religions and denominations? Go rent The Seventh Sign. Hell, for that matter, go rent Omen III: The Final Conflict. Trust me. You'll be better off.
DROOL FACTOR: If AryanLoveToy Casper Van Dien floats your boat, then you have my permission to drool. Personally I just think that prominent chin makes a hell of a target.
GROSS-OUT FACTOR: The disrespect shown to other religions and denominations.
STRONG CHICK FACTOR: Not a Goddamn one. Seriously.
-- Linda M. Najera
The Omega Code is now playing.
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