Good Guy versus Bad Guy (The Prophecy (DVD))

Member Name: DancingCopper

Product:	The Prophecy (DVD)
Date:	09/12/08 (168 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quirky story, excellent performances

Disadvantages: Take away the subject and its a little formulaic

Occasionally a film comes along that does not fit into any of the boxes we like films to fit into. Frequently these films are dire, bursting at the seams with their own sense of self-importance, tedium being passed off as art. Sometimes, however, you find something special.

For me, The Prophecy fits into this category. At the time of writing, a series called Apparitions on the BBC tells the story of the tangible conflict between God and Satan on Earth. It is a clever and frightening program which I immediately compared favourably to the ideas in The Prophecy. And here we are.

The Prophecy, released in 1995, tells the story of a war in heaven spilling over onto earth. Surprisingly, it is not Lucifer and the legions of hell waging conflict, it is rather a civil war between those angels loyal to God and a breakaway faction led by the archangel, Gabriel.

At the beginning of the film, the two sides are locked in a stalemate, and both send angelic soldiers to Earth. The main figure, loyal to God is Simon (Eric Stoltz - Two Days in the Valley, Rob Roy). He reveals much of the back-story to the film through narration and interaction with Thomas Daggett (Elias Kotas - Zodiac, The Thin Red Line). Daggett is a police detective and former trainee priest, who withdrew from a religious life because of the terrifying visions he saw of angels massacring each other.

Shortly afterwards, Gabriel arrives. This is not the golden-haired stereotype depicted in a multitude of icons. This is a vengeful, merciless and obsessed individual, brilliantly played by Christopher Walken (Things to do in Denver when you're dead, Antz). There is something on Earth that he needs to break the stalemate in the heavenly war and he will stop at nothing to find it. With Simon and Daggett attempting to follow, a chase ensues across Arizona.

The reason I can watch The Prophecy more times than I can watch other films is because it appeals to me on different levels. First, it is a simple story of good versus evil, with the two sides battering each other in frequent, violent skirmishes.

Second, this simple story is developed in an unusual way. I always loved the rich imagery in John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost, and The Prophecy creates something similar for the silver-screen generation.

Third, the central performances are excellent. It would be very easy, given the subject and characters, to create something over-the-top and grotesque - with Good versus Evil as blindingly obvious as Peter Pan and Captain Hook. The characters are however played with layers of complexity, having strengths and weaknesses. The performances are honest, with no attempt to play on stereotypes. This restraint, combined with the pace at which the story progresses creates an engaging film and the scenes where the two sides come into conflict are superb.

Walken reprised his role in two sequels and there have been two additional films made without his character.

RRP: £14.99 (4.98 from Amazon)

The trilogy is also available for £13.99 or £12.67 from Amazon.

Summary: Civil war in heaven has two armies of angels converging on Earth