You Say You Want a Revelation?
Omega Code Can Be Hard to Break

The upcoming millennium has apparently caused a resurgence of religious-influenced movies, although mostly in the horror genre, and mostly not very good. To everyone's surprise, The Omega Code, a prophetic thriller based on The Book of Revelation, has made a stunning impact garnering a larger per-screen box office than any other movie its opening weekend.

Because The Omega Code has been released to relatively few screens, I had to catch the movie in Kansas City. Why go out of my way for such a film? Well, to be honest, I have a thing for Biblical end-time movies (e.g. A Thief in the Night, The Seventh Sign, The Prophecy). In this film, the story centers on the Bible Code. For those of you not familiar with this recently popular phenomenon, there are those who believe a code exists within the Torah that can be unlocked to uncover the secrets of universe.

In the start of The Omega Code, a Jewish scholar is murdered for his research into the Bible Code. Even as the EU Chairman Stone Alexander (played by Michael York) rises to power and begins to bring peace to the planet, there are shadows lurking in the corners. Someone has a hidden agenda. They are using the Bible Code not only to foretell the future, but to influence it.

The only thing the bad guy doesn't have is the last code - the "Omega" code. Enter Casper Van Dien, who plays Dr. Gillen Lane, a teacher of myth and religion, and most importantly, an expert in the Bible Code. He may be the key to obtaining the final code that could seal the fate of the world.

This is one of those movies where the casting seems remarkable at first glance. Van Dien, York, Catherine Oxenberg, and Michael Ironside? York is no slouch actor, although he does take some odd roles (the Austin Powers movies come to mind). And although Van Dien and Ironside both appeared in the bad SF movie Starship Troopers, neither career was destroyed by it. But when you see them all together, you realize they are mediocre talent in a mediocre movie.

Van Dien has evidently graduated from the William Shatner School of Overacting. His initial scenes in the movie made me cringe. Likewise, Ironside (who I usually enjoy as a ruthless bad guy) has to kowtow to York and does so very poorly. Oxenberg's presence in any scene is difficult to define until the end of the movie. York is the only one who is consistently interesting, but even he fails to make viewers believe in his character.

There are a number of problems with The Omega Code, including bad acting, unnecessary sub-plots and weak characterization. On several occasions, Lane talks about "visions" that he has, but those visions are never explained. Likewise, Alexander's past is touched on late in the film, but without reason or consequence. Perhaps most distressing is the sub-plot of Lane's failing marriage. It serves only to bring personal danger into the story, but causes inconvenient globe trotting that makes it difficult for the audience to suspend disbelief.

Considering that the goal of this movie is to visualize the teachings of millennialists like Hal Lindsay (the film's advisor), it does a decent job. If you know something about the Book of Revelation and millennialist teachings, you'll be amazed how well the film portrays this point of view. The only subjects not covered by this movie are the Rapture and the mark of the Beast. However, if the Bible isn't your strong point, you may find yourself lost amid the flurry of symbolism and cryptic prophecy of the film.

I'll state for the record that I do not believe that this movie is prophetic. I disagree with its literal interpretations of The Book of Revelation and I don't subscribe to the theory of the Bible Code (on which this movie hinges its entire plot). But for a movie that sets out to accomplish a certain agenda, I think The Omega Code does well. No, it's not a great movie, but if you're interested in this type of story it's worth renting.

MY RATING: 3 out of 10.

RATED:
RUN TIME: 99 min.

You Say You Want a Revelation? Omega Code Can Be Hard to Break

You Say You Want a Revelation?
Omega Code Can Be Hard to Break