By Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com
'Black Death'
Directed by Christopher Smith
Rated R, 97 minutes
"Black Death" is the film Nicolas Cage's "Season of the Witch" wishes
it was. Filled with gory violence, religious undertones and wicked torture, "Black
Death" is for anyone who enjoys a medieval quest. Sean Bean (who shines
in HBO's "Game of Thrones") stars as Ulric, the leader of a small
group of soldiers who have been sent out by the church to investigate a village
that renounced God and has not been infected with the plague that ravages the
countryside. Guiding them to the village is a young priest, Osmund (Eddie Redmayne),
who is unsure in his faith. After surviving an attack, the soldiers finally
reach the village, where a woman (Carice van Houten) welcomes them with open
arms. The men soon realize all is not as it seems in the village. "Black
Death" has plenty of severed limbs and burning witches, but the group's "journey
into hell" will keep audiences completely invested. CV
'Omega Man'
Directed by Boris Sagal
1971, Rated PG, 98 minutes
Following the one-man-searching-for-a-cure theme, "Omega Man" is
one of the best movies to come out of the '70s and a highlight of the great
Charlton Heston's career. Based on the book, "I Am Legend," "Omega
Man" follows Robert Neville, a doctor who has become immune to a disease
that has wiped out civilization. Speeding around a barren New York City in
fancy sports cars, Neville spends his days scavenging supplies. He must hide
at night though, as mutated humans emerge, looking to kill Neville and the
former world he holds onto as they blame science and technology for the plague.
Neville eventually comes across a group of survivors, and together they work
to find a cure. Yes, this is based on the same book as the Will Smith movie,
but Heston is the man, and even though it's shrouded in '70s cheesiness, "Omega
Man" is the better version. CV
