THE OMEN

It's been said that the '70s was the last decade of consistently good movies. As a disgruntled film freak (and '70s survivor), I'd say that assessment is a bit optimistic ... but that one of the greatest was Richard Donner's The Omen (1976), about a young boy who's really the Anti-Christ. So here comes an unasked-for and unnecessary remake, directed by John Moore. It's not as if you can improve on the original, so, really, what's the point? Still, Moore, with original screenwriter David Seltzer, and Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles in the Peck/Remick roles, have created a respectable, slickly produced copy. Moore's visuals are handsomely composed, Seltzer's script is as intelligent as the first one, and Schreiber and Stiles play with tons of conviction. While it's doubtful that, 20 years on, people will be saying: "Oh, I know, let's watch The Omen remake!" at least Moore and company haven't embarrassed themselves. In today's Hollywood, that's saying something. (TH)