Hmm . . . I guess I was either dozing or not paying attention when the studio announced that "The Omen" is actually a remake of the 1976 supernatural thriller.
Apparently filmmaker John Moore is even re-using veteran David Seltzer's script for the original film, which was directed by Richard Donner.
All right, I knew about the film but was unaware it was going to be a shot-for-shot remake. That was, until I saw a new trailer that features snippets from a scene in which Julia Stiles takes a big tumble.
That sequence is one of the original film's best. Katherine Thorn, played by actress Lee Remick, falls off a chair, spilling backward over a banister in slow motion. She actually turns over and lands face down on a hardwood floor.
I have my doubts that Moore, who also directed the remake of "Flight of the Phoenix," can stage the scene any better. And to be honest, aside from its clever 666 release date (June 6, 2006 — get it?), there's nothing that gets me that excited about the new version.
In fact, in one shot, the actor who plays the evil Damien, newcomer Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, almost appears as if he's ready to laugh.
DO YOU THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE ORIGINALS LOOK BETTER?
The concept of supposedly "faithful" remakes is nothing new. In 1998, Gus Van Sant directed a shot-for-shot redo of the classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Psycho." Which promptly bombed. I'm just saying.
By the way, in case you've been dozing and somehow missed out on this year's crop of remakes, here's a round-up of what 2006 has offered so far:
"THE HILLS HAVE EYES"
Wes Craven's 1977 cult hit about killer desert dwellers hasn't aged well. Director Alexandre Aja's gorier version is considerably less scary.
"POSEIDON"
I hate to tell you, but 1972's "The Poseidon Adventure" is a pretty insipid film that's remembered as being better than it really is. No one will make that mistake with director Wolfgang Petersen's soggy version.
"THE SHAGGY DOG"
The recent Tim Allen hit wasn't based on the 1959 Fred MacMurray comedy, which did spawn a 1987 television sequel and a 1994 television remake.
It's actually a remake of the 1976 sequel, "The Shaggy D.A.," which starred Dean Jones.
"WHEN A STRANGER CALLS"
Again, the 1979 original wasn't a great movie. But it starred Carol Kane as the terrorized baby-sitter, who at least seemed believable.
The remake, on the other hand, seemed to concentrate on star Camilla Belle's caterpillar-like eyebrows. They are fascinating-looking, but that wasn't exactly great filmmaking.
Oh, and even the recent Amanda Bynes vehicle, "She's the Man," was a remake of sorts. It was very similar to 1985's "Just One of the Guys," which starred Joyce Hyser.
And as you might expect, there are loads more remakes coming our way. In addition to "The Omen," July finally sees the release of the long-delayed remake of the 2001 Japanese horror hit "Pulse."
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com