Search - The Wicker Man [Widescreen] [Unrated/Rated on 1 Disc] [Unrated]Includes Alternate Ending] on DVD

Molly Parker - Sister Thorn
Leelee Sobieski - Sister Honey
Diane Delano - Sister Beech
Michael Wiseman - Pete
Erika-Shaye Gair - Rowan
Christa Campbell - Truck Stop Waitress
Emily Holmes - Station Wagon Mom
Zemphira Gosling - Station Wagon Girl
Matthew Walker - Sea Plane Pilot
Mark Black - Sister Oak
Christine Willes - Sister Violet
Sophie Hough - Daisy
David Purvis - Ivy
Xantha Radley - Village Sister #1
Tania Saulnier - Attendant #1
Anna Van Hooft - Attendant #2
Moraea Bieber - School Girl #1
Jayda Bieber - School Girl #2
Talia Ranger - School Girl #3
Kendall Cross - Female Cop
Simon Longmore - Village Male #1
Andre Danyliu - Village Male #2
Jacqueline Robbins - Blind Twin #1
Joyce Robbins - Blind Twin #2
Aaron Eckhart - Truck Stop Patron
James Franco - Bar Guy #1
Jason Ritter - Bar Guy #2

I really liked Nicolas Cage in this movie. Sometimes it was a bit hard to follow. The ending was great.

Having seen the 1973 "The Wicker Man", I was quite interested to see how (and if) America could match or even surpass the caliber of the British version.

This movie stars (and was produced by) Nicolas Cage, who plays police officer Edward Malus. We begin the film following Malus's routine as a motorcycle traffic cop -- who catches a children's doll as it is thrown from the window of a heavily burdened station wagon. After pulling the wagon over, a very nervous driver explains that she and her daughter are moving and that (possibly due to stress?) her daughter has been acting up. Malus understands and gives the doll back with a small speech about responsibility. The daughter then throws it into the middle of the road.

As Malus fetches the doll, a semi barrels into the station wagon which then bursts into flames. He tries desperately to save the mother and daughter, breaking the back window with his helmet and reaching for the eerily calm little girl.

He fails to save them.

We now move to his home, where he spends his days watching the TV and medicating; he has visions of his failure.

Malus receives a visit from one of his coworkers (crushing on Malus no doubt), who hands him a stack of get-well letters from the residence of their California town. One letter is from Malus's ex-fiance Willow. Willow's daughter Rowan has gone missing, though she could not have left the island. Could Malus please come to Summersisle to aid in the search?

Despite his emotional state, Malus does go to the island (after bribing a pilot to take him there) and begins to ask questions. The islanders reply haughtily to Malus's inquiries, stating that if Rowan existed they would know. They deny that Willow even has a daughter.

From here the movie vaguely resembles the 1973 film, with Malus investigating and learning about the odd pagan rituals of the island.

Ellen Burstyn stars as Sister Summersisle, a direct descendant from the founding colony. She explains that men are only important for "breeding" and heavy labor, while the women are the pillar of the island (some keeping the massive sprawl of bee hives which provide the island's main source of income: honey, though the crop has failed this past year). They islanders do not believe in murder.

The ending of the movie is the same as the original film (though with a possibly inane addition which I am loath to give away).

The "shocking" alternate ending on this double-sided release is not shocking. In fact, it's completely unnecessary.

All in all, the British version of this movie is far better. However, if you feel a little icky with '70s era English film than this "..Wicker Man" (a Disney production by comparison) might be right for you.