[fatherbowdern]

Ouch, hammer (but good job on calling an ace an ace)!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Justin,

Duh. Yes. It’s on hold until October which means I won’t hold my breath until I see one on the shelves. 🙂

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Justin,

Are you talking the NECA bedroom scene with the spinning head?

Also, I do know that Amazon is very quick on delivery. I get my orders with a day or two via UPS Ground service. Now that’s fast!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Justin,

That’s a great question because Amazon really has the market cornered on anything tech now, including BDs.

Are you asking because of how long it will take to get to Australia or have you had bad service with Amazon? Just curious.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Including the images here because I don’t enjoy the inline syncing in posts:

[fatherbowdern]

Ceru,

You have an excellent point about the bloody spider-walk filming taking place in 2000. However, look at the faces in both screenshots. Linda Hager, the contortionist who did the actual spider-walk, appears to be in both the original and bloody versions. So, why not go with the flow and see it for what it is instead of CGI? Read on.

Well, the original version first surfaced in Mark Kermode’s FOG. It is the one and only piece he found in the WB vaults and spliced it together with his editor pal. On that note, I am very surprised that Kermode, who had full access to the cutting-room-floor scraps, did not snatch up the most controversial version of the spider-walk with the blood. He certainly would have had an even more intriguing part of the documentary by doing a comparative contrast of the two spider-walk scenes. As Kermode said, he was not limited to using certain scenes and scoured through all of them. In fact, he even found the lost sightseeing tour of Washington that Chris and Regan go on. Additionally, studios simply do not store excess-filmed pieces in different locations. They are stored securely in one area of the warehouse and I am certain Kermode would have loved to find the bloody version of the spider-walk.

I realize that filming many different versions of the spider-walk is plausible, including a version with the blood. However, I am inclined to believe that CGI was implored and very effectively. Some people on here agree and disagree about this hypothesis (not theory), and it is just that … a hypothesis. I also agree with your hypothesis that blood running down Hager’s nose looks convincing. However, we should not forget other films like Titanic, Forest Gump, Spiderman, and Jurassic Park, etc. that created more-than-realistic CGI effects.

Regarding the screenshots: In the original spider-walk (Kermode version), that screen shot was frozen at the LAST frame when we see Hager descending the steps before cutting back to the side view of Hager flipping on her side for Blair to take over rest of the scene with the snake-like tongue. In the bloody spider-walk screenshot, that is the FIRST frame when we see Hager with blood pouring from her mouth. The bloody version of the spider-walk, IMO, is more effective than the original with the laughable snake-tongue sequence.

In time … well, actually September 30, 2010 should be a proven point of the spider-walk with blood and a resolution of the myth, if it is a part of the documentaries. Again, if nothing exists, we will have to live with the urban legend and settle it with our beliefs.

The medallion scene is the actual entire scene. Notice that the one shot never breaks between the Chris and Dyer hand exchanges. I do believe the voice heard it that of Father Dyer.

I like your thinking, Ceru!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

The_Tunnel said:

I know there’s been quite a bit of discussion about this, and i know that our dear Father Bowdern has made it clear that he prefers the 1973 original version to the longer one.
Barry

Yes, tis true, Barry. Yes, tis true, Ceru that I brought up the cutting of the line about, “I’ve been on this fucking line for twenty minutes.” I have no idea why it was cut and it doesn’t make sense. Perhaps someone in the editing process laughed at someone being on hold for 20 minutes as if that is an abnormal lengthy timeframe by today’s standards. Perhaps someone in the editing process thought that Chris’s language was responsible for Regan’s response to Dr. Klein, “Well, specifically, Mrs. MacNeil, she advised me to keep my fingers away from her goddam c*nt.” Go figure.

Yet, it is another reason why I truly dislike TVYNS/Director’s Cut. Just by initiating this new post, we can already see that individuals like and dislike certain elements between the two versions. IMHO, Friedkin did a superb job of editing the appropriate scenes to meet the running-time constraints enforced by WB. Preschooler splashes of Pazuzu on the stove vent, Regan’s bedroom wall, and morphing Regan’s and Pazuzu’s face during the hypnosis scene was a part of the process of updating the film … and doing so very ineffectively. The new ending is insipid and does not add any value whatsoever; it only takes away from a perfect ending that was already poignant and left some doubt in the minds of the viewers.

I have had a lot of badgering about the spider-walk scene and the blood gushing from Regan’s mouth by the use of CGI. Despite the fact that I do not enjoy TVYNS/Director’s Cut, I will be attending the September 30, 2010, one-day-only release for the excitement of seeing it on the big screen again with its new enhancements, particularly by Roizman. However, I am more enticed by the new documentaries that could potentially dispel the CGI rumor and, quite honestly, I hope that I see something that proves the filming of the bloody version spider-walk scene back in 1973. (Of course, if there is nothing about it, everyone can continue to just draw their own conclusions until the end of time.)

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Oooh, looks like it’s time for WB to cook the books (if they haven’t already years ago).

Good luck, Blatty! 🙂

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Well, actually there are lots of phallic symbols throughout the film, so Regan probably picked up the idea from Pazuzu.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Hard to really narrow down and I shift films all the time. However, #1 always remains the same:

5. An American Werewolf in London
4. Alien
3. Psycho
2. Rosemary’s Baby
1. The Exorcist

Father Bowdern

PS: Look here for what others think.

[fatherbowdern]

The_Tunnel said:

Thanks so much for all the info Father. I tend to think that more and more theaters and showtimes will be listed as the current showings sell out, and we draw closer to Sept 30th.

Ahhh…What excellent days Sept 30th and Oct 5th will be!!

Barry

You’re welcome and yes to those days, indeed!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

I need to add a postscript to my reply above:

Many of the theaters are now removing show times like Midnight, 7:00PM, 10:30PM, etc. as the theaters sell out, which makes sense. Also, Midnight means 12:00AM when 9/30/2010 begins. I know. You already know that, but I thought I would add that as good measure so no one would be looking for tickets after 9/30/10. But, again, who knows. WB and NCM Fathom (or even local theaters) could extend the show times to milk this almost 40-year-old classic!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Barry,

Check with your local Cinemark if you have one like I do. I’m on the east coast near D.C. My Cinemark doesn’t even list some of other oddball times like Midnight, morning, or afternoon showings. Yes! That’s right! The Exorcist is showing all during the day instead of just 7:30PM and 10:30PM!

I found out that some of the other NCM theater chains (AMC, Cinemark, and Regal) are now cashing in on other times during the day like this one in Charlotte, NC. That theater is now publicly adding 2:39PM and 3:37PM in addition to other show times. If you live on the west coast, you can even catch a morning viewing at 11:22AM here.

I guess WB severely underestimated how many fans would fill theaters to see this on the big screen again (or for the first time) with its newly upgraded digital enhancements and added bonus features after the film is over. After all, it is The Exorcist! 🙂

Bottom line, Barry. Call your local theater and ask because that’s how I found out about the Midnight showing here.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

horror2 … are you old enough to remember the 1970’s and this disaster film in movie theaters? The “synchronizer” is only one component of why E2 bombed at theaters. At least the original intrigued individuals enough without relying on the actual “time machine” that Karras mentions in The Exorcist. 🙂 LOL 🙂

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

I think it is pretty interesting that Ellen Burstyn is in two of the top ten. BTW, Burstyn was severely robbed of her Oscar by the Academy Awards for her performance in Requiem, only to lose to Julia Roberts in her water-filled-bra role in Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich. Yes, I like that film, but some of voters were sleeping when it came to voting for Burstyn in one of, if not, her best performances under Darren Aronofsky’s script and direction.

Father Bowdern

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