Oct 061998
 
three reels

Gabriel (Christopher Walken) is released from hell and sets out to stop Valerie (Jennifer Beals) from giving birth to a half-angel that will end the war in heaven. With attempted-suicide Izzy (Brittany Murphy) to aid him, the only ones standing in his way are Danyael (Russell Wong), the father, and perhaps, the archangel Michael (Eric Roberts).

It made no sense to bring back Gabriel. It was finished. He was in Lucifer’s hands and that was that. Saying that, I’m glad they did because Christopher Walken’s Gabriel is the reason to watch The Prophecy II. The story is standard save-the-baby stuff and I didn’t care about the child, the war in heaven, or Valerie (although Beals does an adequate job). Wong is forgettable and Roberts is miscast. The new vision of angels from The Prophecy is no longer new, and while seeing them perch is still entertaining, there isn’t anything breathtaking here. So that just leaves Gabriel.

Walken is outstanding. If you are a fan of his, this is a must. He’s weird in ways that are so hard to pin down but so easy to feel. The best bits are variations on routines from the first film: Gabriel talking to his sidekick. Here that sidekick is played by Brittany Murphy, and she’s up to the task of being his foil.

The Prophecy is a must see, must own original film. The Prophecy II is a pleasant time when you want a little more Christopher Walken.

It is followed by The Prophecy 3: The Ascent. and two additional films in the series are coming out in 2005.