2008 Woodie Awards
Nicolas Cage Remake Lives up to Film's Legacy
Andrew S. Lay
Issue date: 9/6/06 Section: Entertainment
In "The Wicker Man," Nicholas Cage plays a small town Sheriff from Northern California who witnesses a terrible accident involving a woman
with a small girl.
The movie begins with this woman and young girl
disappearing as their car bursts into flames after being struck by a
big-rig truck.
He is haunted perpetually afterwards. He receives a letter from a long-lost love. She requests his
presence at Summerisle, a privately owned island off the coast of Washington state, to help find her missing daughter.
Naturally, Cage arrives, and this is where the meat of the story really starts to stick in your throat.
Cage is hamstringed at every turn by the islands mysteriously eccentric inhabitants. As he follows the breadcrumbs left by the matriarchal separatist society, he draws ever closer to a foreboding truth. The anticipation will drive you wild.
"The Wicker Man" is a modern day tale of ancient
witchcraft. As the layers of the story begin to peel away, ancient rituals of the most profane manner slip in and out of the waking dream Cage is lead through. The further he digs, the darker the story becomes.
Directed by Neil LaBute, this mystery thriller lives up to its original counterpart. The 1973
version of the movie was a huge success. It is obvious that LaBute put great effort into keeping to the original storyline, while still make the movie his own.
It is difficult to say whether the original version is superior. Cage's portrayal of the tortured sheriff stands up to Edward Woodward's performance, and with Christopher Lee playing
the owner of Summerisle in the original film, I would say the two movies are pretty evenly matched.
Marketed as a horror movie, those who go to see "The Wicker Man" expecting blood, guts, gore and two hours of terror will be gravely disappointed.
This is a smart movie is a fast-paced thriller with a great script, and a storyline that will keep you guessing until the very end. An absolute must-see in my book.
with a small girl.
The movie begins with this woman and young girl
disappearing as their car bursts into flames after being struck by a
big-rig truck.
He is haunted perpetually afterwards. He receives a letter from a long-lost love. She requests his
presence at Summerisle, a privately owned island off the coast of Washington state, to help find her missing daughter.
Naturally, Cage arrives, and this is where the meat of the story really starts to stick in your throat.
Cage is hamstringed at every turn by the islands mysteriously eccentric inhabitants. As he follows the breadcrumbs left by the matriarchal separatist society, he draws ever closer to a foreboding truth. The anticipation will drive you wild.
"The Wicker Man" is a modern day tale of ancient
witchcraft. As the layers of the story begin to peel away, ancient rituals of the most profane manner slip in and out of the waking dream Cage is lead through. The further he digs, the darker the story becomes.
Directed by Neil LaBute, this mystery thriller lives up to its original counterpart. The 1973
version of the movie was a huge success. It is obvious that LaBute put great effort into keeping to the original storyline, while still make the movie his own.
It is difficult to say whether the original version is superior. Cage's portrayal of the tortured sheriff stands up to Edward Woodward's performance, and with Christopher Lee playing
the owner of Summerisle in the original film, I would say the two movies are pretty evenly matched.
Marketed as a horror movie, those who go to see "The Wicker Man" expecting blood, guts, gore and two hours of terror will be gravely disappointed.
This is a smart movie is a fast-paced thriller with a great script, and a storyline that will keep you guessing until the very end. An absolute must-see in my book.
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