CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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I didn’t know the 25th anniversary DVD edition had been altered for colour!
Is this true?!
~ I like TYNS – BUT the 73 version with all its grit & flaws is better IMO 🙂
I do like the end of ETB (the bit where it goes black & the credits roll -lol!)
No serioulsy you are entitled to your opinion RatBoy that’s the fun of this website :-). I liked the end of ETB where Merrin walks off over a courtyard (?) – been a while since I’ve seen it – BUT even that was dodgey CGI for some reason.
I do agree with you, Harlin is a strange choice, Carpenter, Romero, Lynch or Cronenberg would’ve been cool & interesting choices. But then again Harlin did direct one of the Nightmare on Elm Street films!
I also agree with you that Stellen did a top job in both films.I essentially think they are the same film. They are both equally as graphic as each other -just one more so than the other – i.e. one is intellectually graphic where the other is graphic in gore.
Can anyone actually rate Heretic as worth seeing? ~ I saw the trailer on the 25th Exorcist DVD & just thought it looked terrible in comparison to the 73 film.
If anything Heretic looks like it was made earlier in the 70s & before “The Exorcist” – even though this is clearly not the case :-/
I am tempted to get a cheap VHS copy of Heretic off Amazon – can anyone recommend it as worth a watch? – Have seen rest of Exorcist series – can’t be any worse than ETB! Lol!
I hate to say this – BUT it wouldn’t surprise me if someone put on an Exorcist musical for real!
Come on, there’s Billy Elliot, The Wedding Singer(!?!), Full Monty, The Producers
Those clips were cool though 🙂
Joining the discussion a little late BUT – hands down The Exorcist ’73 is THE BEST of the bunch. I haven’t seen Heretic – the trailer alone put me off! – It looks dreadful, though I am tempted to buy a cheap 93p copy off Amazon 🙂
*Can anyone rate Heretic?! I hear the UK VHS version (in the WB 90s Horror/Terror series in the closest to a true/desired cut of the film – at least I hear it is better quality than the DVD!)*
Even the commentaries on the 25th Edition DVD are great. Friedkin’s commnentary on TVYNS is a bit pointless (BUT lets be honest – what else can he say that he hasn’t already covered in the 25th commentary?!).
Jaws 2?! Was ist du joking?! JAWS again. 70s films are by far the best – the only time when Hollywood directors had true creative freedom.
& oddly enough the majority of films that everyone STILL talks about – come from the 70s!! ~ Like The Exorcist, Jaws, The Godfather, Star Wars etc
I can’t believe you guys in the US(?) are only just getting this box set. It has been available here since at least last Oct.
Mind you we’ve been robbed of all the decent DVD releases you guys have had for years including the R1 version of The 73′ Exorcist!!
I second that – especially if Warner Bros., Kermode (after all he is supposed to be good friends with Friedkin), Blatty and Friedkin take note of this site!
Hi all thanks for the postings so far -I thought my question was a turn off initially as nobody seemed to respond at first!
Again Ken, its all down to a matter of taste. Yes we do have to wait over an hour before “exorcism” (in the 73 film)is mentioned but you have to remember that we are seeing a film from a different era.
A time when things like CHARACTER mattered! That’s why THE EXORCIST (73) works so well – because it spends at least an our building character(s) that we care about which makes the end even more powerful emotionally as well as psychologically – because we have come to know the characters – they are not just 2-D stereotypes that are placed around some special effects showreel.
Do people really love JAWS for the shark?! I doubt it – its the characters in JAWS that make it a great film.
That’s where ETB fell down. It delivers the gore that WE (or should that be Morgan Greek?!) supposedly want…
If anything ETB is living proof that we as audiences actually don’t want gore or CGI showreels WE WANT INTELLIGENCE. Its stupid that Morgan Greek spent an extra $80 million on ETB to learn the hard way (that DOMINION IS the better film) and that DOMINION got a limited release compared to ETBs wide.
But that’s what I was trying to say before. ETB is the horror schlock that nobody wants!! DOMINION is clearly the better film (as noted on here) because it is a film made with intelligence.
It maybe “slow” – but what would you rather – A FILM WITH NO BRAIN AND 2-D CHARACTERS – or a well crafted character piece with something to say that lingers in the memory long after you’ve seen it. I know which one would get my money & it aint ETB!
There is however a chapter in “THE EXORCIST – OUT OF THE SHADOWS”. A book by Bob McCabe. Albeit brief – The Chapter on Legion does offer an interesting tale of how Friedkin WAS going to direct Legion and how Morgan Creek forced Blatty to make the ending you see in the film.
If you find anymore info Legion I’d love to know.
Thanks Father Fletcher
To the best of my knowledge – all editions of Kermode’s BFI Exorcist book focus purely on The Exorcist (1973) & the TVYNS.
I think it all comes down to a matter of taste.
ETB is the equvilant of Hollywood schlock whilst Dominion leans more towards the intellect (of the original 73 film). You could say its from the school of less is more & I think it is.
Though ETB & Dominion are interesting to compare. Watch how ETB portrays evil – the crucifix is upside down (GASP-HORROR!) – though I have to admit it is quite effective. (Joking aside). Especially the opening where you see rows upon rows of crucifixes upside.
Though in Dominion Merrin is confronted with a small ood shaped jewel covered crucifix (when he enters the burried church). It is little touches like this that differentiate the two.
Though you could accuse ETB of being dumb. Upside down crucifix = BAD & EVIL!
Depends what you want at the end of the day.
The Thinking Man = Dominion
Popcorn brain candy = ETBYou’ve completely hit the nail on the head fellini.
It is the psychological effects that THE EXORCIST, OMEN & SILENCE OF THE LAMBS has on the viewer that makes them stand out from the crowd/memorable.
In terms of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS less is more. It SUGGESTS rather than SHOWS. V. powerful just like the affect JAWS had on people. I think that’s what Hollywood fails to realise these days – (yes F/X are nice) but CGI over kill a good film does not make!
HANNIBAL (the film) clearly lacked the less is more tag. It was just gorey rather than scary/psychologically powerful.
Though back to THE EXORCIST A TRULY great film in my opinion because of its psychological power through use of sound f/x and the questions that the screenplay raises. The subject matter for me is also extremely powerful if you where brought up with religion as a child.
I think thats why the film works so well because it dares to confront your belief in good & evil (well duh!) but I find it even more powerful because it taps into my thoughts regarding religion. I went to 2 Church of England schools so have the bible fully ingrained!
Have since re-read the article regarding the court case (on imdb) and Blatty & Friedkin took Warner to court over lack of profits/pay that they supposedly did not recieve for TVYNS.
Though the question still stands. How can it be called a DIRECTOR’S CUT? If anything it is perhaps more a WRITER’S CUT. Since a majority of the changes are what Blatty wanted to see (for instance the happy ending) – if you take into account what he said on FEAR OF GOD.
