Angels among us on earth to win war in heaven (The Prophecy (DVD))

Member Name: bike-dude

Product:	The Prophecy (DVD)
Date:	22/09/08 (215 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plot, acting, characters, everything is solidly done

Disadvantages: May offend those of a religious disposition

The Prophecy- A review by Addy
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Director: Gregory Widen
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Running Time: 98 Min
Cretification: 18
Released: 1995

The Cast
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Elias Koteas: Thomas Daggett
Virginia Madsen: Katherine Henley
Christopher Walken: Archangel Gabriel
Eric Stoltz: Simon
Viggo Mortensen: Lucifer

The Film
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The Prophecy is often placed in the category of horror, although I disagree with this and firmly believe it to be more thriller/ fantasy.

The film initially centres round Thomas Daggett, who is in the process to be ordained as a priest. However whilst he is going through the initial process he starts to become restless and acting out very disturbed. Just as he is to go through the final process he screams out and falls to the floor wailing and suddenly we are given a visual representation of what Thomas sees in his mind as he is having visions of a huge bloody battle field, littered with tens of thousands of dead or dying.......Angels!
So we see Thomas a short time later he has lost his faith and now works as a police officer. He is investigating a murder that we the viewers already see happen. Two men with great abilities fighting to the death with one a remarkable feature, they have no pupils the eyes are just black. Eventually one lays slain, crushed against a wall by a truck but before his killer leaves he destroys the dead persons eyes to hide this unique feature......Why is this so important. In little time at all we become aware that for some reason Angels are among us and ironically they are divided and killing each other.

Christopher Walken is the Archangel Gabriel, god's right hand and leader of all heavens angels. Now he is on earth the mightiest most powerful angel but he's not on our side. You see Gabriel is bitter and twisted. He resents god's love for mortals which Gabriel refers to as monkeys. He sees how god as given us souls, made us in his image, hears our prayers, and gives us free will etc and frankly Gabriel hates it. His jealousy has consumed him and he lead and army of Angels against god and his loyal Angels in heaven to which there was horrific carnage, {This is the visions Thomas saw} Gabriel and his minions lost so now he is on earth with one purpose. He is questing to find the most evil soul on the planet for he wants it, to infuse him with the power to defeat heaven and the loyal Angels. In a twist of irony Thomas as not forgot his visions and starts to discover the possibility of Angels on earth as events continue, but he knows not of the purpose.

A loyal angel, Simon gets the evil soul but is wounded. Gabriel finds him and shows little mercy when he discovers that Simon no longer has the soul, for reluctantly he has handed it to a little girl, out of necessity. All things begin to come together as Thomas must protect the girl somehow against a seriously pissed off Archangel along with her teacher {Madsen}. The only problem is that a new player gets involved in the troubles and that is the fallen Angel himself Lucifer. In a twist he is set to assist humanity but not how of a sense of kindness, but because as Lucifer says himself " There is only room for one hell, and I'm running it" Lucifer knows that if Gabriel succeeds he will even be far more powerful than himself.

The negative
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Some may be dissuaded by the biblical overtones to the movie but this film is in no way religious. Yes it is set around the concepts of Christianity but the movie is no Sunday morning sermon, on the contrary. Bitter twisted Angels, Angels that are supposed to be beautiful, greater than mortals, brutally killing each other, and all for the sake of wanting to personally have gods ear again. God is also portrayed with having some faults and Christianity is look at in a more humanistic manner. This may actually offend some people of a religious disposition.
Secondly some may not like the fact that this is a 'head film' in as much as it as a deep, rich enveloping storyline. It is not just violence, gratuity. It aims to grip you and give the perspective of all sides and let you judge for yourself, is Gabriel justified in his actions and resentment, since he gives a convincing argument and you feel yourself starting to empathise with him. Yet you get the perspective of the loyal Angels also and can also relate to them, and this also extends to Lucifer too. Now for me I think this is a great thing but some may not want to have to think too much, preferring mild easy going laid back entertainment, very little plot. Strangely even Lucifer is portrayed in the way I would envision him to be. Not apparently evil but like Gabriel a little misguided and misunderstood. You have to remember that Lucifer is an Angel and to gain support for heaven and to lead people away from the lure of Lucifer, religion portrays him falsely.
A further criticism is this film needed to be longer and I believe that was the realisation of the director and the functionality of two follow up films. There is so much beautiful plot and character development that it did not all fit in this first one and it ends where there was a dire need for more! The two sequels truly are sequels and keep the story going to a sufficient and satisfactory conclusion.

The Positive
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I adore the concept of the Angels themselves. I feel the director was a genius in this film for the way that he portrays them. I believe vehemently that if Angels existed they would be just like the Angels in the film in their mannerisms, their dialogue and all the idiosyncrasies, etc about them. I love the way they just perch on the edges of rooftops like gargoyles, and the fact that the way that if seen in their natural form, meaning their wings displayed etc it makes mortal men and women that see it openly weep for the sheer beauty to gaze on is that captivating you cannot do anything other than weep. I cherish the actors bloody amazing skill of playing them and making you the viewer understand them and actually feel pity for them as you can relate to their issues. This film is one of the greatest I have ever seen and it is very special.

Classic film quotes:
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Doctor: This person is asexual
Cop: Asexual??
Doctor: Male and female reproductive organs
Cop: Great they can be frigid and impotent at the same time!

Lucifer: Thomas all those years you hid under the cover and thought that I was there in the dark
Thomas: YES!!
Lucifer: I was

Thanks for reading, Addy

© September 2008

Summary: Angels seek the foulest soul for power to overthrow heaven