Good Battles Evil in ‘Omega Code’ Sequel

“Megiddo: The Omega Code 2” finds Michael York reprising his role of Satan in this unconvincing sequel to the 1999 surprise hit co-produced by Matthew Crouch, son of Trinity Broadcasting Network operator and televangelist Paul Crouch, executive producer of both films. Its title refers the plains of Megiddo, near present-day Jerusalem and the place fundamentalist Christians believe will be the site of Armageddon, the final battle between good and evil. (The film’s apocalyptic theme has prompted several major theater chains to cancel bookings in the light of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11.)

Although the film is inspired by biblical text, it plays like a melodrama. Back in 1960, Satan spots the perfect individual to inhabit.

He’s Stone Alexander, the young son of a media tycoon Daniel Alexander (David Hedison) who blames his baby brother David for causing the death of their mother. So furious is Stone that he sets fire to his brother’s crib; luckily, their nurse is able to rescue David, who is unharmed.

Daniel deals with Stone by packing him off to a military school outside Rome run by a General Francini (Franco Nero) Stone matures into a ruthless adult and natural leader--with an unaccountable British accent.

Near the school is a cobwebby chapel inhabited by a Satan worshiper (Udo Kier), who recognizes Stone for who he really is and becomes his loyal follower.

By the time Stone (York) is well into middle age, he has long been married to Francini’s daughter Gabriella (Diane Venora) and has progressed from being the head of the European Union to the megalomaniacal leader of his New World Order.

Stone systematically wills adversaries to their deaths, causes the Sphinx to crumble, turns Los Angeles into a raging inferno, etc. etc. Because he is Satan in human form, he will not be satisfied until he is in absolute control of the entire world, which he will then turn into hell on Earth.

Defying him is David (Michael Biehn), who has become president of the United States. (Since much of the film is set outside Rome, with familiar shots of the Eternal City, it’s especially puzzling that not a word is heard from the Pope in protesting Stone’s taking over the world.)

Under Brian Trenchard-Smith’s direction, the film has scope and energy with lots of rather obvious special effects and not an iota of subtlety.

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York is admirably robust and plays with relish, the only way to go under the circumstances concocted by writers John Fasano and Stephan Blinn. Venora, like Biehn, Hedison and other veterans, is a solid pro who plays with a straight face much that is simplistic and contrived.

In years past, Billy Graham’s motion picture company produced a number of worthy and thoughtful films celebrating Christianity. What’s wrong with “Megiddo” is not its good-versus-evil theme but the clunky, unpersuasive manner in which it has been expressed.

MPAA-rated: PG-13, for violence, warfare and some thematic elements. Times guidelines: Images of mass destruction too intense for children.

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‘Megiddo: The Omega Code 2’

Michael York: Stone Alexander

Michael Biehn: David Alexander

Diane Venora: Gabriella Francini

Alexander Franco Nero: General Francini

David Hedison: Daniel Alexander

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A TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) Films presentation of a Gener8Xion Entertainment production. Director Brian Trenchard-Smith. Producers Matthew Crouch, Lawrence Mortorff, Richard J. Cook. Executive producer Paul Crouch. Screenplay John Fasano and Stephen Blinn. Cinematographer Bert Dunk. Editor John Lafferty. Music Peter Bernstein. Costumes Shawn Holly Cookson. Visual effects supervisor Rob Bredow. Production designer Charlie Daboub. Art director John Chichester. Set decorator Richard Reams. Running time: I hour, 44 minutes.

In general release.