[fatherbowdern]

Hi peterbutT <<< I see what your name means in reverse, I believe you are looking in the direction of a living, breathing physical creature. That is not the case for this novel or all five films in this series, all of which relies on the demon Pazuzu as the villain. I was actually addressing Amanda about the moniker and singling out this source, Pazuzu. Often, people who view the film the first time around think there are multiple spiritual entities or, in most instances, believe it is the devil himself inside of Regan (as suggested by Pazuzu to Father Karras in their initial meeting). As far as Blatty or Friedkin going on record, it really does not matter. Based on the content of both the novel and films, it is what it is. Of course, you can always do some research and report back to us. 

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Cap,

You've become a dear friend over the past few years, but I'm going to have to beat you severely about the head and neck with a wet linguini noodle for not listening!    (Either that or I should stop smoking so much reefer and get my point across more succinctly). 

Yes, Hager had blood in her mouth in the “Roizman Tapes.” We see that! I said it! I know it! I loved actually seeing it! The true passion for me runs in the cold, hard facts; not an abstract belief system to what we currently see in the 2000 version. All of the others things I've mentioned on this website about the bloody-variant spiderwalk, accompanied now with the fact that the BR digibook is telling us the very same thing as other resources, opens my mind without creating a “case-closed” opinion. It is fact versus fiction, at least in my eyes.

I don’t think any of us were onset at the time of filming nor were we there when the digital techs enhanced that particular scene.

I wish I had named this topic, “The Great Spiderwalk Debate – Leave the Facts at the Door.” I’m also starting a new topic entitled, “Why Jesus Christ Could Never Have Walked on Water Yet Millions Still Believe.” 

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

“… your c*nting daughter” (Burke's nefarioius British wording there regarding Regan).

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Don, I agree and that is a funny reply! I often wonder how Hager could have held that much fake blood in her mouth for let it rip for that a period of time.

Damien, re-read what I wrote in the OP. I'm really not talking about the bloody-variant being filmed. It was. I've shown that picture on another topic. This is really about the statement from the new blu-ray digibook:

The “spider-walk” scene, long discussed by cineastes, has been digitally enhanced from its original incarnation to speed up Regan’s movements and add in a mouthful of blood to punctuate the dramatic cut to black.”

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Cap, BRAVO! You're the man on the Original Theatrical Cut … it is and will always be the quintessential version! Which should lead me to question myself about, “Why do I actually give a shit about the fucking spiderwalk versions?” To go a little further, I guess I'm adding a topic that seems to interest some individuals and opens up a conversation, a dialogue, about a piece of film history that is not such a “case-closed topic.” None of us participated in the digital enhancement process. Why should we repudiate the wisdom of the creators for that particular scene?

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Your eyes are not deceiving you, Scott. Those particular (and ridiculous) flashes are now gone.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Captain Howdy said:

I still believe the blood was already there and shot on set, dripping from the stunt woman's mouth. I think the dripping speed was enhanced and more blood added with CGI years later for TVYNS.

---

 
Cap, the statement on page 38 of the digibook reads that the walking movements; not the speed of the blood was enhanced. “The “spider-walk” scene, long discussed by cineastes, has been digitally enhanced from its original incarnation to speed up Regan’s movements and add in a mouthful of blood to punctuate the dramatic cut to black.”

Why split hairs on the factual information from the digibook that comes straight from the source? I am not being closed-minded about whether or not CGI “enhanced” the bloody special effect or whether Friedkin deliberately chose to shoot that scene through imitation as he obvoiusly did with Blair during the vomiting scene. On the flip side, I understand that “add in a mouthful of blood” is concrete information versus any type of abstract beliefs.

In the dark we are all the same. It is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us.

Father Bowdern 

A postscript: Cap, I just read your reply about the original version from OP columbiancannon about the re-release. You responded:

“Perhaps the monument scenes could be added in full as an aside feature on a future release, but I never want to see them included in the film. The Extended Director's Cut is bad enough. The Original Theatrical Cut is, and always will be, superior. The pacing is so precise, it's a shame less people will bother with it and go straight for the 'spiderwalk cut'.”

I replied:

Cap, BRAVO! You're the man on the Original Theatrical Cut … it is and will always be the quintessential version! Which should lead me to question myself about, “Why do I actually give a shit about the fucking spiderwalk versions?” To go a little further, I guess I'm adding a topic that seems to interest some individuals and opens up a conversation, a dialogue, about a piece of film history that is not such a “case-closed topic.” None of us participated in the digital enhancement process. Why should we repudiate the wisdom of the creators for that particular scene?

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

If you are referring the original 1973 release, The Exorcist was banned not only in the UK, but also in Malaysia, Lebanon, Singapore, Tunisia, and the vast majority of Arab-speaking countries to name a few. There is an approximation that 40 countries banned the film when it was released or shortly after its premiere.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Amanda,

Regan is possessed by the demon Pazuzu. “In Assyrian and Babylonian mythology, Pazuzu (sometimes Fazuzu or Pazuza) was the king of the demons of the wind, and son of the god Hanbi. He also represented the southwestern wind, the bearer of storms and drought (Wikipedia).”

At times during the film, it can be confusing about who is inside of Regan due to the various voices used. For instance, differing singular or multiple vocal entities emanate from Regan at various times. These are merely a part of the intentional mental illusions that Pazuzu exploits onto his victims in order to reach his ultimate goal of the grand showdown with Father Merrin in the film’s final exorcism scenes.

This is the very same demon in the initial scenes in Iraq when Merrin uncovers the small amulet head of Pazuzu, thus, opening something akin to Pandora’s Box. We see this same demon a few minutes later when Merrin is facing the large statue of Pazuzu at the archeological dig site. That scene is a crucial point because Pazuzu lost the battle against Merrin’s exorcism that lasted for months in Iraq. Pazuzu merely uses Regan as his instrument to find a way to even the score with Merrin.

I hope that helps.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Yepper, and my father didn't “buy any wooden nickels.” (I've said that a few times on here before and talked about U.A.C.C.) My father was a smart collector and did his homework, which is why I do the very same thing and can spot fakes more easily on certain collectible items. For many of the items in my father’s collection, I had no interest or felt someone else should have them and gave them away. Others remain in the family home a few states away, safety deposit boxes, and storage facilities.

My father was still living when my home went up in flames due a creosol fire. He was a wonderful jokester and one of the very first questions he asked me was, “Where are the Disney watches?”

It still makes me laugh every time I see Mickey Mouse! 

Father Bowdern

PS: I love the new avatar. I hope you head in a graphic design, CGI, etc. direction, if you haven't already.

[fatherbowdern]

I noticed the music in the commericials/trailers also and would like to know who the author is. Could it be one of the Jack Nitzsche, Lalo Shifrin, or Pendrecki pieces? Perhaps it is part of Steve Boeddeker's score from the 2000 re-release or Les Baxter's scene transition musical scores? I'm not sure about George Crumb's string quartet playing Black Angels because that is devoted to the spiderwalk.

I know it appears in theexorcist.net trailer right after Regan says, “You're gonna die up there.” Honestly, I really enjoy that musci and probably have it on my PC. It is one of the most powerful changes to the film if you are quite familiar with the film's score from both 1973 and 2000.

Where's our music expert?

Yes on those sound effects, especially if you have true surround for the 6.1 audio output! I'm very pleased to see they tuned up and tuned down some features from the audio track.

Also, “the dental work” on Hager is a silver filling for a cavity located in the upper left-hand molar. You can see it on a post I put on here a while back.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Sorry, I made a new topic post but perhaps it didn't work or it's under moderation.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

bursyl said:

Father Bowdern said:

Dear Mother of God, Ceru! Don't you know using the word CGI on here can get you into hot water? Just kidding … I noticed the change, but dare not to mention it after my bloody spiderwalk debate!
The colors are wonderful and thank God for Owen Roizman!

Father Bowdern

---

FB, the Blu-Ray book states that the spiderwalk scene “has been digitally enhanced from its original incarnation to speed up Regan's movements and add in a mouthful of blood”.  Maybe the scene has been filmed with a bloody mouth that was later CGI-enhanced. In the “Great Spiderwalk Debate”, maybe everybody was right.

---

I believe this should be a continuing debate indeed, bursyl. I don't believe many people will want to think that CGI was implored, but the book as you stated is correct.

Let me test this one more time in the new post, “The Great Spiderwalk Debate.” Thanks for the title and the information!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Hi Lane,

Welcome to the Captain's site!

I have not noticed much differences on the scenes you mention other than the fact that the lighting was intentionally low in those scenes. Original lighting and film grain are often elements that cannot be altered through digital processing. An original 35mm film archive was used for the digital transfer and we have to remember that the film was shot almost 40 years ago. While grain is prevalent, it is something that cannot be eliminated without losing contrasting edges or creating a feathered, soft-glow appearance much akin to watching many of those close-up shots of Hollywood actresses in the old B&W classics; i.e., Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson, etc. At 1080p that would create a dissapointing BR.

There are instances in certain films where some scenes just get bypassed altogether. For instance, if you've watched An American Werewolf in London on BR, you'll notice the dramatic differences in the beginning on the moors; when David is talking to the doctor right before he leaves the hospital; and other scenes. Somehow, they didn't make it through the digital processing equipment.

As far as Regan's eyes, I brought it up on the original posting and I'm glad to see another person who noticed that the demon's eyes are now “eye-popping” (pun intended).

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Ceru said:

Just noticed… the Original Theatrical disc has an “evil-to-good-Karras CGI morph” right before he jumps out the window.  All releases before the 25th Anniversary had just a simple cut between the two faces.

 

One thing (out of many) I do really enjoy about this BR release is the color of the opening/end titles, they're actually red.  A bright red.  TVYNS's titles are pinkish-red in comparison!

---

Dear Mother of God, Ceru! Don't you know using the word CGI on here can get you into hot water? Just kidding … I noticed the change, but dare not to mention it after my bloody spiderwalk debate!

The colors are wonderful and thank God for Owen Roizman!

Father Bowdern

[Author]

Posts