Well, it gets released this weekend. I dread it but curiosity is getting the best of me. I hope it’s at least better than THE OMEN remake (it can’t be worse!).
Some good news- Robin Hardy is supposed to start filming early next year of his new WICKER-MAN-ish film project, unfortunately titled COWBOYS FOR CHRIST (formerly MAY DAY, and originally RIDING OF THE LADDIE) in which a young U.S. Christian couple (hoped-casting: Sean Astin & Leann Rhimes) go to Scotland to share the Gospel with the “heathens” only to find out these Scots are more heathen than they bargained for, as led by High Priest Christopher Lee & Priestess Vaness Redgrave.
Also, Hardy is working to adapt THE WICKER MAN as a stage musical in Scotland.
This weekend I saw the original for the first time, so… no. How is a remake going to measure up to that? It’s hard for me to picture a movie without Christopher Lee being as good as one with him, plus there’s the shock of seeing the ending. Cowboys for Christ, or whatever, I might see.
I caught the trailer for the new one and had to watch the original again to cleanse my eyes. What’s the betting that they change the ending in the new one?
Rocketeer’s Law of Movie Advertising states that quality and number of TV ads are inversely proportional. And Wicker Man has been saturation-advertised on Fox this past two weeks, so…
I not all that fond of the original, but at least it’s not all Evil Pseudo-Wicca Matriarchy-ey. And, of course, they have to trot out the pentacles. Good lord, if Hollywood bastardized the Cross like they do MY religious symbol…grumble, grumble, grumble…
Still, I’ll probably go see it some point just for the jolt of righteous indignation.
The director is Neil LaBute, of the incredibly caustic In the Company of Men and Your Friends and Neighbors. So while I expect the ending to be somewhat different, I would be shocked if it’s all fuzzy kittens and rainbows.
The fact that LaBute is the director is the sole reason I have even a smidgen of interest in this.
I’m going to see it. I love the original, bowdlerized as it is, and have no illusion that anyone’s going to top Woodward and Lee. However, the story is so compelling that I don’t see how anyone can completely blow it, and besides, there isn’t much competition out there for my movie dollar.
I misread the OP as “Nick Cave’s”, and immediately got excited at the brilliant cross-genre striding of someone who’s artistic temperament and vision would do perfect justice to the mood of the original film, becoming one of the most looked forward to critical adventures in years.
Then my brain reviewed the post…
[Con Air]
“Put the bunny back in the box”
[/Con Air]
Background…I like the original movie quite a bit (especially Willow girl crush) and own the limited edition box of the DVD.
DING DING DING DING DING!! We have a winner folks. Thank you Cervaise. Why is it, everytime this movie is brought up, people treat it as if it’s just another remake? Is Neil LaBute and his prior movies THAT obscure to you people?
Neil LaBute directing. Angelo Badalamenti’s music. Oh god, I am so there it’s not even funny.
I’d heard tons of praise for the original, and although I liked it well enough, it just wasn’t what all I’d hoped it would be (IE: more similar in tone to Picnic at Hanging Rock, which for some reason, scared the bejebus out of me). I loved the atmosphere, the potential that the story had and the subtext to the whole town, but… I dunno. However, since I’m willing to sit through almost anything (like a really bad SciFi original movie!) even remotely described as horror, I’ll be seeing this too. Just probably not until it comes out on DVD.
On the other hand, I really do like LaBute but not Cage. Decisions, decisions.
My favorite thing about the original is how appealing Summerisle is… right up until the very end, you’re thinking about what a nice place it would be to live, despite the fact that there is something sinister going on…
From the previews, it looks like the director is dumping that in favor of “Witches evil! Women Scary!”
So I guess I’ll stay home and watch the original again, instead.
However, since I’m willing to sit through almost anything (like a really bad SciFi original movie!) even remotely described as horror, I’ll be seeing this too. Just probably not until it comes out on DVD.