The 1973 version of the Wicker Man is a true classic while the 2006 remake is just a lousy movie. The 2006 remake is one of the worst movie remakes ever. As a matter of fact, the original version is one of my absolute favorite movies. What does a virgin sacrifice have to do with males who must die? What is up with the accident on the road? I found the original much more intriguing and captivating. The original version brings up questions about conformity, religion, morals, scandals, etc. while the new version is much less complex. The original had a lot of shock value at the end, while the 2006 version leaves you with a temporary feel of horror. The original Wicker Man was unique, chilling, artistic, and riveting, while the 2006 version is more of a brief emotional release.

As for the virgin sacrifice, it was an important part of the storyline and shouldn't have been changed. The main reason that the main character is sacrificed in the original movie is because he refuses to give up his virginity to any of the islanders. Not only is the main character in the remake not a virgin, he is a father. While the original was made over thirty years ago, there are still Christian men out there who chose to remain virgins until marriage. Perhaps the director wasn't comfortable with leaving that part the same, but it was a mix mistake on his part.

Although I do like Nicholas Cage, he was less of a prick in this movie and too modern. I'm fairly sure that Cage could have played a great stiff uptight prude, but they wouldn't let him. I also didn't find the new version to have the same air of mystery and weirdness to it that the original has. The original purpose of this movie was to capture a cult which the new movie has absolutely nothing to do with at all. Overall, I find the remaking of this movie to have been a horrible idea.

The original version of the movie is haunting to watch even today, but the new version is just a pale imitation that failed to measure up. The pagan themes in the original movie which make the movie interesting and controversial are left out of the remake, making it uninteresting and mundane. If you're lucky enough to have not seen this movie, don't since it'll just be a waste of your time.

Learn more about this author, Christina A. Armani.
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