CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Trying to make a good film out of EII (and not I’m being cynical), would be probably one of the most difficult and challenging undertakings ever to set yourself to and just as difficult (if not more so) in trying to be successful at it. Considering there are so many hokey elements in it, which is why it is one of the worst films ever made, it’s very hard to avoid its inherit vile creative decisions.
Hi there,
As an editor, I’m not sure where one would begin in wanting to make a better film out of Exorcist II. I would be inclined to say the film’s premise is too terrible to make it good in any other way. Re-editing it does not change its obvious problems inherit in its writing. Now it would be interesting to see it in a different way if it were better, but I’m not sure if its original concept involving syncronizers and such can be avoided. Using footage from other films for lack of story is also a big sign of being too dependent on better films and the weight of them. Despite my skepticism, I wish you luck nonetheless.
Yes, I don’t see why someone would want to see a special edition for Exorcist II, but I do admit wanting to see what the Dutch got on those 2 discs for Dominion. Everything we wanted for The Exorcist including the full Fear of God doc, the E! THS doc, the old ’73 interviews, etc. would be nice. Jaws got something like that for their 30th anniversary, so something for Exorcist should be a natural choice. Something as in the case for the Jaws 2 special edition might be ok for the better sequels, but what Exorcist follow-ups merit a special edition considering none of them have proven substantial in history’s eyes like many believe Jaws 2 has and therefore has received a decent SE with docs and all?
I actually had thought about that the instant I saw the new scene with the kids playing, but it’s true that you do notice things you’ve never noticed until various times of watching later. 😉
Very sad indeed, yet it is very comforting to know that he had passed peacefully. My prayers go to him and his family of course.
Just to let you know Ben, I haven’t forgotten about our exchange. I’m having a lawyer friend of mine go over your contract. I was also wondering about essay lengths myself.
Now THIS is very interesting! I find this really intriguing to get into. I too am a writer and critique many films including The Exorcist. I’ve also obviously have had many things to say about Blatty’s The Ninth Configuration (Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane) and his adaptation of Archard’s play A Shot in the Dark into the excellent Inspector Clouseau film.
Here is my essay for The Exorcist. It is on the bottom of this site’s page 🙂 :
Hi Ben, if you don’t have my email address it’s greg@vcisinc.com –Make sure to write To Greg on Exorcist or something in that regard, so I can recognize it in my inbox. Thanks. 😀
That is a very good piece of work, Slasherman. Very well edited, and the music is very complementary and works well with the imagery. I especially like your repetition of imagery with Karras’ ascent and fear of descent, as Friedkin has said, with him traveling up and down stairs. Very touching piece toward a great actor, playwright, and director.
Yes, that teaser is incredibly dumb. I like the “subliminal” shots, but that really doesn’t make it any better. John Boorman had some pretty f*cking weird ideas for this film. The pretentiousness of it is also staggering.
Those are actually some pretty hilarious credits on the bottom there. Directed by David Lean?!!! 😛 The director of such masterpieces as Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago has raised from the dead and done an Exorcist prequel? And with robotic effects by Stan Winston? And produced by C2 Productions who did T3? Hilarious. David Lean is still absolutely a laugh riot. 😛 😛
Sorry Jenny, my dear. I don’t buy it. I was in the hospital myself lying down for a very long time (12 hours) as well. Staying mostly awake at the time and trying to be still in an attempt to sleep, it was impossible because I was in a very uncomfortable gurney and my body started to spasm. I was fasting too and my stomach would gurgle loudly every now and then. People could hear even when there was a fair amount of noise because a gurgle is very distinctive next to talking and yelling. Of course, the person has to be near you and he was. Doctors always notice that because they’re trained to not care about themselves and only others in need. His cellmate was just in need as him and that’s why he was always paying attention to what was happening across the room. Therefore, movement and stomach gurgling would still be caught in the peripheral and by ear when they got tired screaming.
Saw next to Exorcist? I have to totally disagree with you there, Mike (first time for everything 😉 of course). I hated the original film. If you want a film that has a jape (giant plot twist that becomes more important than the rest of the film) that is enough to destroy the credibility of the whole film, it’s Saw. I just didn’t see how a man could lie there the whole time pretending to be dead. There are a couple of things that are inevitable to happen while lying there long enough. Your stomach inevitably grumbles when you’ve haven’t eaten despite how much you may have eaten before fasting. The second thing is that if you lay still long enough without sleeping your body automatically starts to spasm its muscles to prevent from going numb. Considering a doctor was also in the room (and despite the fact how dead he looked, doctors would notice these things– like lack of riga mortis), makes it even less legitimate. Yes, films are supposed to suspend disbelief, but this was too unlikely. Cary Elwes was also his usual over-the-top self.
Torture pictures are just the next fad after the Slasher fad finally lost its steam. I would have thought it to be more likely that Exorcist fans would crave more psychological horror, and the Saw films are not really that at all– just pure gory showmanship without any real messages or subtext involved. I would be more inclined to agree more with Justin on Romero’s films although his last two don’t have anything as provocative to say as his original two films. Of course, I never saw Exorcist as a “saga.” And if a saga of good consistent installments doesn’t exist, then there is no best saga.
Does this fanedit site have a mailing address to send your version to, Hatter? Did you look into that?
Hey Cap’n,
That sounds great! It’ll probably take a good long time though since that is pretty much how it all occurred for the Jaws petition. Time is needed for as many names to get on there as possible. And Uni only relented after they got the list with 5,000 names, then got a new one with double that some time later, and lastly a couple years later with the latest amount.
