The Wicker Man

I think a lot of the power of this film is diluted by the fact that no one seems to bother much about keeping the end a secret. I knew the end before I saw it (the pictures they put on dvd boxes and such don't help much) and it was still quite an impact but I wonder just how it was for people who saw the film originally without knowing the ending. Just like the way Sixth Sense was spoiled because I knew the ending. I guess when films become classics like this they are going to be discussed a lot and it'll be hard to retain that element of shock and surprise. Its partly why if I decided to see a film then I avoid reading anything about it if at all possible.

PS I know this is silly but I feel a bit annoyed by all these free DVD give-aways in newspapers. Somehow I feel it cheapens the film. Wicker Man is, and should be, a film that people discover for themselves. Most people, I suspect, feel Wicker Man somehow belongs to them as they had to seek it out for themselves. Taking advantage of so called "cult-viewing" in order to sell papers, I dunno, just gets me a bit annoyed. yes I realise its a stupid opinion but thats how i feel.
 
They weren't harmed!
All animals were removed from the wickerman when it was actually burnt.
It's on the documentry on the two disc set.
If it looks like they are being burnt, its a camera trick, it's a film remember.
 
Nothing wrong with NC. But all the great special effects and top stars in the world are not needed to recreate The Wickerman. The film does not need them.

I mean it is set back in old times. It is like remaking Psycho all over again. Just pointless, there is nothing you can do to the film to jazz it up!!

And how the hell do you replace "Christopher Lee"? and I agree with an above post about Edward Woodward having an innocence about him.

It is just a bad idea and the new film will flop. Too many old Wicker Man fans out there.
 
I agree with most of this, it is a movie that should be discovered personally, as its a very personal experience watching this movie. On the other hand its probably brought a whole new generation if you like to this movie. This is a movie that many will over look when on TV, but will be more willing to see it when its a free DVD.

Its this movie that caused me to find spirituality, I studied Paganism after watching this movie, and now have very Pagan beliefs (minus the sacrificing part). Paganism is a very intelligent set of beliefs, that obviously doesn
 
I find the ending still has enormous power even though I've seen the film about a zillion times. I certainly didn't know what was coming the first time.

Do the May Day celibrations still happen? I remember dancing round the may pole at school, and also remember a big festival along similar lines as you see in The Wicker Man (without the sacrafice). These things are still part of our culture, which is interesting after centuries of christian teaching/brain washing (depending how cynical you are).

Can't see how the beginning on the mainland gives away the ending. :confused:

Here's a question: Is Lord Summerisle a pagan? It's never entirely clear if he really believes, or if he uses it as a way of controlling the population.
 
Where as I can see your point. Yes you can remake some classics. Dawn Of The Dead for example YES but Zombie Flesh Eaters NO.
The Wickerman I cannot see how you could go about improving it. It is a film already set back in time (yes cults still exist these days) but the eeriness is still there.
All the money in the world is not going to improve that film just make money out of a whole new age audience. Fair enough the age cocept, but are they not going to think it is any scarier watching it now than watching the original?

I hear that the classic "Halloween" is said to be in pipeline for remake also. This is another film which should remain untouched.
 
Blimey. It's a film not a real life sacrifice!!

However things like this have happened. Think about it the burning of witches, sacrifices to the devil. Even today I bet it still goes on in small cults (Sacrificing animals I mean).
 
I disagree. It doesn't apply today, but not for the reasons you've mentioned, but because of christianity's place in society is much smaller than it once was. Howie was a realistic character back in the early 70s, but I don't think you can say that now, and I don't think the film would work without his naivety.

Remakes are about one thing: marketing. It's easier to sell a film that's based on one that's already well known than it is to do something original. Which is not to say that there aren't worthwhile remakes, but you have to admit the vast majority are Hollywood minimum possible effort hack and slash jobs.
 
Pagan sacrifice no longer goes on, unless you see Voodoo as a pagan religion, which is debatable, because its enwrapped with Catholicism.

There are some African tribes that are said to still sacrifice animals, which one could argue is no worse than killing a turkey for Christmas.

Some Satanists (normally teenage delinquents) have been known to sacrifice (or just kill for there own sick mind) But Paganism has nothing at all to do with Satan, or Christianity, other than Christianity has demonised Paganism as being evil and satanic. Paganism has never had anything to do with Satan as Satan is a Judaic belief, and has nothing to do with ancient pagan beliefs, as Paganism goes back way longer than Judaism/Christianity/Islam. Christians believe that Pagans are there enemy (but try telling them your not) and only because they added that to there myths as they needed a enemy, but ask any Pagan if they are the enemy of Christianity, and most if not all of them will say no, but Christians seem to hate me.



They sure do, most noticeably in Green man pubs around the UK and in Germany, much of the time with Morris men ect.

Pagans and witches celebrate it all the time, I have been to a few Wiccan and witchcraft celebrations and rituals on Beltane and they are very empowering and fun.
 
Yes being Irish myself I am fond of seeing the odd bit of Maypole dancing.
Every Religion has it's darkest dwellers. Fact of life today and has always been.
In every religion the fanatics exsist!! I am not slagging the Pagens.

BUT You can believe in a religion and not have to kill. It depenRAB on the control of your leader (Hitler!)

Anyway are we talking about the Wickerman here?
End of the day it was a Twisted Tale.
But one that taught me is if you believe in someone as (Summerlize ), listen , believe, you are no longer you!
And it happens in EVERY RELIGION.

It has always been here, open your eyes.
 
Just to add to your points - not only was Christianity a more dominant religion in the 1970s but the 1970s was also a decade when "new age" religions and ways of life were well publicized and developed. The Wicker Man latched onto pagan culture when it had a very high profile around the world. Nowadays it just doesn't have the same effect, nor (probably) the same sway over people as it did in the 1970s.
 
Well if you believe statistics, Paganism is one of, if not the fastest growing religion in the west, have you been to the new age and spirituality section of a book shop? There are hundreRAB of books on Paganism witchcraft and the new age.

The amount of web sites on Paganism has probably helped with the growth in Pagan interest too.

I disagree that new age beliefs are not as publicized today as they where in the 70s.

There was a interesting documentary about witchcraft in today
 
Top film. Watched it a few times in the past however the first time I wasnt expecting the poor man to get fried!!! No happy ending! How rare is that lol.

Anyway the last time I watched it was at the weekend and i only just noticed then that the little girl who is trying to be located throughout the film by the PC is the woman that is in Eastenders at the moment - I think she plays Carol - Mickys mother !! :p
 
Geraldine Cowper, according to this Wicker trivia site, played Rowan Morrison, the 'missing' girl.

Gerry Cowper is listed as Rosie Miller, Micky's mother, so I assume as you say it is the same person. :)
 
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