Paul J. Nemecek The Omega Code is a low-budget apocalyptic suspense/thriller produced by Matthew Crouch, and financed by Crouch's father, Paul Crouch, CEO and star of Trinity Broadcasting Network. The basic premise of the film is taken from the Bible code craze, wherein the keys to understanding the last days are believed to be found in hidden codes contained in the Hebrew texts of the Old Testament. These codes reveal events and key players in the unfolding apocalypse in this pseudo-Biblical, quasi-suspenseful thriller.Let me start with the positive elements of my movie-going experience. The seating was comfortable, the theater was quiet (there were four of us there), and the chocolate dipping dots weren't bad either. Now, on to the negative elements. The acting ranged from adequate (Michael York as the anti-Christ) to dreadful. At points the film looked more like a low-budget soap opera, at other points the acting seemed like a commercial of some kind.There were some adequate special effects, but the cinematography, narrative structure, and pacing were sophomoric and amateurish. Even if I hadn't read The Late Great Planet Earth the story would have been pretty predictable. In short, this is a story poorly told. Is it a story worth telling? Not really. It could be. It should be. But, alas, it is not.Mark Noll, in his book The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind references Frank Paretti's works as exhibits in his case for the scandalous state of the evangelical mind. The Omega Code would probably support his case even more. There is a brief reference to a conversion experience here, but it is so muted and minimal in the larger story that the power of saving grace becomes a subplot in the larger theme of pretribulation paranoia. When I compare this to the depiction of conversion experiences and movements of grace in "secular" films like The Mission, Romero, Places in the Heart, The Apostle, or Tender Mercies this film is not even close. If we can't do a decent job of showing what's so amazing about grace we should hang our heads in shame (or at least embarrassment).Like so much of the stuff produced in this genre, this film is more scatological than eschatological. By mixing in the Bible code theme, the film could do more harm than good by perpetuating the impression that evangelicals are superstitious and gullible. The late Bob Briner called us to be roaring lambs. Unfortunately, this looks like something produced by rabid lemmings. There is a place for Christian artists to create images and stories that depict God's amazing grace and the power of His love. There is a desperate need for Christian voices who will call us to renewal and Christian commitment. Surely we can do better than this.

Wuchak RELEASED IN 1999 and directed by Robert Marcarelli, "The Omega Code" is a biblical thriller about the end-times focusing on two men caught-up with the so-called 'Bible Code,' hidden cryptograms within the ancient Torah that supposedly reveal global events of the past, present, and future. One man (Michael York) seeks the power to control the world while another, a motivational speaker (Casper Van Dien), risks everything to find the truth. Michael Ironside plays the former's aide while Devon Odessa plays the latter's wife in a troubled marriage. Catherine Oxenberg is on hand as a reporter.This was a TBN production that cost $7.5 million in 1999 dollars (which means it'd cost about twice that today). Most of the money was spent on the excellent locations (Israel, Italy & California), as well as the main cast and the CGI, which is cartoony but decent for 1999. The story is a meshing of "Left Behind" (2000) and "The Apocalypse" (2000) with a similar tone, but less effective in regards to story (of course, both of those movies came out the next year). Anyway, it helps if you're up on biblical prophecy, as detailed in Daniel and Revelation; if not, you'll likely be lost.The movie starts good. Van Dien plays an interesting protagonist and you care about his family, but by the midway point I didn't find myself absorbed in the story despite the thrills (explosions, chases, etc.). Things perk up later, but the ending is decidedly forgettable. I can't even remember if the motivational speaker got back with his family (and I just viewed it last night). Somehow the human interest element got lost in the hubbub. Still, it is interesting observing a cinematic interpretation of biblical end-time prophecy, comic booky though it is. The main cast members are earnest and there are worthwhile moments here and there. Just one question: WHERE is the Rapture ('cause it ain't in this movie)? THE FILM RUNS 100 minutes and was shot in Jerusalem, Rome & the Los Angeles area (Costa Mesa). WRITERS: Stephan Blinn and Hollis Barton. ADDITIONAL CAST: Jan Tríska & Gregory Wagrowski play the two prophets.GRADE: C

dbdumonteil Bearing more than a distance resemblance to David Selzer's "the omen" (transferred to the screen by Richard Donner in 1976 ,followed by two sequels),"the omega code" ,released in 1999 (almost 666 in reverse),borrows from it: politics ,military power ,religion,and of course Italy ,churches and priests.The best idea is the two brothers subject(Abel and Cain:Cain ,after all was inspired by the Devil),but the love affair between the in-laws is a cliché.All that concerns religion is a spate of clichés as well: in the last sequences,Satan's image is obviously inspired by the gargoyles ,and Hell is the place I was told about in my long gone Sunday school days:below us.Mickael York 's character is a cross between Mussolini,Hitler and the preachers depicted in Brooks' or Duvall's works .If you don't ask too much ,it's fairly entertaining;if you are looking for classy fantasy and horror movies,you must move on.

amerribrit My husband and I saw a portion this film because it was playing at the right time and the title sounded cool. This is the first and only movie we have walked out of. The reason, five minutes into the film there was a blond girl with a golden retriever smack dab in the middle east just waiting to be snatched by a baddie. To clue in the clueless audience bad guy themed music boomed through out the theater. After this cliché to the hilt opening my husband and I walked out and took a cigarette lighter to our tickets.Years later friends were discussing awful films, I told her that I had seen 5 minutes of a truly awful movie. Interested she asked me the title when I told her it was the Omega Code she became upset. Being a born again Christian she told me that this was a really good film and that she had it on VHS and that I could borrow it. I told her no thanks and she said she would pray for me.