CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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I agree with your point that the original is flawless and un-touchable, but you really should check out the sequels. If anything, they help you appreciate the original even more!
I think Dominion (Beginning was a remake of this film) actually has a lot of insight and social commentary that the original had, but I agree that the original is undeniably a masterpiece, but every so often a sequel comes along that does honorably salute the original (i.e. Godfather Part II, Aliens, Terminator sequels, Jaws 2) and I think Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist was the only sequel out of the rest that does this; well written and well intended. 🙂
Did… did you actually type Jaws 2? Is that like a TEST to see if someone could spot the film you were bluffing about?
I agree with your point that the original is flawless and un-touchable, but you really should check out the sequels. If anything, they help you appreciate the original even more!
Plus The Beginning and The Heretic are a really good laugh! While I agree that the original cannot be topped, I personally like all the sequels/prequels, some more than others and all for different reasons.
1. The Exorcist
2. Dominion
3. Legion
4. The Beginning
5. The HereticHi Cap’n, according to contemporary film exposes, J2 (and not the other sequels) has become an important note in cinema history as the film that ushered and made the sequel market doable. Yes, the studios experimented with the ‘idea’ of a sequel with unsuccessful attempts such as Exorcist II (serial designed films had sequels of course, but not for standalone designed films) as we’ve found out, but according to this critique a good amount of intellectual thought actually did go into this film. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be documentaries on this film:
Greg, I agree, Jaws 2 did ‘follow suit’ as far as the original Jaws story went – but you can’t seriously lob it into the same basket as Aliens and T2. Those sequels were BETTER than their originals. Jaws 2 was not.
Hell, even Heretic followed The Exorcist storyline. Jaws 2 was the first successful sequel of this nature. But in no way was it better.
Yeah, Jaws 2 traded the original terrifying dynamics for “the Brady Bunch goes to sea”. Where the original offered “Everyman/Everywoman” In Danger (the three guys on the boat, the cross-section of America represented by the bathers on the Amity beach), the sequel offered boring, spoiled Rich Kids In Danger. Who cares? The only sustaining force in 2 was Scheider and his shark fears. That, and his relationship with his wife, two nice scenes of which never made it onscreen.
I think that they should have dropped the spoiled rich kids and concentrated on the conflict in the relationship between Brody/Scheider and his oldest son. That would have beefed up the audience concern. The kid could still disobey Scheider and go to sea and get in trouble, and Brody could still set out to rescue him. But with the twist that maybe they actually end up rescuing each other, and as in the first movie, they could end up swimming to shore together, stronger for their new-found mutual respect. Corny? Sure, but warm and intimate and interesting stuff about characters we can care about. Not about the misadventures of obnoxious, uninvolving snob children of the very rich. At least the film could have had some heart.
Hi Cap’n, I didn’t say BETTER. I said a sequel that honors the original. Hell, if you thought that what’s I meant you could have dogged me more for implying that Dominion or Godfather Part II was better, but I didn’t say that. Jaws is a masterpiece no doubt and J2 is not, but it is a film that does make its good salute. Aliens and T2 salute as well, but I was being general and didn’t say better. Where as I agree with T2 being better technically, I’ve felt equal about Alien and Aliens. Ridley Scott has a more painterly eye with his film whereas Cameron is more about well orchestrated action. So they handle their pursuits differently, but with equally good results.
And Granville, the kids are never insinuated in the film as ‘rich.’ As said in the critique I put the link up for in my previous post, they are supposed to be an allegory for the sinking/shark attacks of the U.S.S. Indianapolis as indicated by co-writer Howard Sackler. Putting more people in danger raises the stakes while Scheider becomes more alone in his fight when he is the only guy out to sea in the boat. A different, but fresh scenario from J1.
I think Cappn-HowD is right. This kind of Appendix to the original, help you appreciate the original even more.
From my point of view, I still expect a new movie from the very beggining, I mean, a movie where for first time the deamon face to somebody like Merrin just 2000 years ago (according to the first minutes of the “The Begining”).
This movie should explain how Pazzuzo came to the earth. I think also, as it was pointed out in the “The Beggining”
Pazzuzo participate in War of the Heavens. It should be fantastic if somebody decide to produce this movie. I can give FREE my private guion-argument. I have already one.
Cheers.I understand you weren’t saying it was better, Greg. I guess my point is, when reading your original post, it seemed strange to mention Jaws 2 in the same breath as Aliens and T2, that’s all. Because, no matter how loyal J2 was to the original masterpeice, it is leagues behind the kind of film other sequels have been. Yes, even despite being the first to set this standard.
The sequels all have interesting scenes but are basically flawed and because you have seen one of the finest movies ever made it is a hard act to follow.
While all have interesting parts they always throw in an exorcism scene which totally ruins the movies…we have seen it before just leave it out.
All are trying to convey a different facet in their follow up which the studio eventually intervenes and makes them put in scenes of ‘exorcism’.
Exorcist III was marred by studio interference as was dominion and beginning a better proposal would be to not have exorcist in the title, but, they may not get made.
Exorcist III is the best but is far too plodding for some it does in some way capture thee atmosphere but the ridiculous exorcism at the end destroys what has come before.
Just my opinion its rare when a follow up betters or comes close to the original Aliens , T2 and Godfather 2 being the exception.
Dominion was watchable but marred by silly cursing and some bad acting and a plot which did not hold up well at all.
Sorry if i offended any people but as we are all only really interested in capturing the fear we had upon viewing the original.Dont get me started on T2!! Or T1 for that matter. Just dont mention T3 cos I thought that was the biggest pile of drivel I have seen!
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