[ManInKhakiExorcist]

Happy viewing, Ryan! 😉 3 years, and both of ’em? Unthinkable…! 😛

Looking forward to your weigh-ins on those two flicks.

M.I.K.E.

[ekm]

Ryan: go into these objectively. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that Schrader’s film is all-good or Harlin’s film is all-bad (a common mistake on these boards, as well as at IMDB). Divorce yourself from the behind-the-scenes nonsense and you’ll find two film with plenty to love and plenty to hate.

[Father_Lamont]

I got them too, I like Schrader’s version better, but the Harlin version isn’t bad at all. I liked them both, two good films in my opinion.

[Ryan]

I quite enjoyed Dominion. Still waiting for E:TB to arrive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WUIc94E1Zs

I found the end of that scene rather gripping.

[hatter76]

Here is my slightly over the top version of the the same scene, from my Fan Cut, but this clip is actually missing a shot I later added.

[Ryan]

I received Exorcist: The Beginning in the mail today, and I have now viewed both films. Here is my rundown…

First thing’s first: let’s face it, in a perfect world, neither of these movies would have been produced, and the slot for any kind of official Exorcist prequel would have been carefully thought-out and planned with love; incorporating elements of the original film in tasteful and respective ways, resulting in a single ‘prequel’ installment that would have flown majestically into the original film, and would have been something that we would have felt privileged to have in our prized Exorcist anthology. Sadly, such was not the case.

I viewed Dominion first, and really respected the way Skarsgard portrayed himself as Merrin. That was believable, that kept me interested throughout both films. The CGI utilized for the Hyenas in Dominion was absolutely shocking, and the same can be said for the would-be ‘subliminal’ Captain Howdy face that briefly appears, along with CheChe’s demonic appearance and voice. If such believable effects could have been pulled off in 1973, how could they allow something so shit to be put into a film post-millenium? In any case, those scenes were not pretty. My other complaint with Dominion was the peformance of Father Francis. To me, he was like a replication of Wendy from The Shining; a whining, scrawny, irritating character who I was hoping WOULD die at some point throughout the film. Thankfully, he did. Perhaps a little too late for my liking, however.

Now, with The Beginning, the role of Francis was much more appealing. He had dignity, and seemed (at least, to me) to fit the role much more believably than the Wendy clone in Dominion. The CGI used for the Hyenas in The Beginning looked much smoother and more believable, and I absolutely loved the performance of Alan Ford. I have a soft spot for him because of his role in Snatch, but I still found him to be a fun character. I also admired Merrin’s line of “I shouldn’t, but my will is weak,” from the original film, along with the clock stopping as he awakens from his flashback dream sequence. In regards to that, I found Merrin’s overall distress and desperation from it much more powerful in The Beginning, despite the way it was hacked from Dominion.

Had the equally disastrous make-up from The Beginning been re-vamped, and not simply attempted to rip-off Regan’s make-up from the original (with which they entirely missed the point; Regan’s scars existed for a reason – the result of scarring herself with the crucifix, they weren’t just there for the fun of it), and removed some extremely trite dialogue, I feel that The Beginning would have been quite a good film.

For me, here is what needs to be done: the overall psychological aspects of Dominion kept, replacing Francis with The Beginning’s Francis, keeping Scorupco as Merrin’s love interest. Re-doing the make-up and voice-over effects to something the audience would actually respect and believe (it’s post-millenium, for Christ’s sake!), and cutting down on the irritating-as-Hell British military (save Alan Ford).

Overall, I think I enjoyed The Beginning the most. A merging of ideas and a competent director, I think, would have saved it. Perhaps we will see a third prequel somewhere down the track…?

[ManInKhakiExorcist]

Good stuff, Ryan. Thanks for sharing. Better late than never. Quite literally — BETTER. It’s good editorial. Great to get a fresh perspective from someone who’d never seen it. 🙂

M.I.K.E.

[kokumo]

Quite enjoyed “Dominion” and couldn’t agree more that Francis was annoying. Forgave many of the fx as my understanding was the studio bailed on the project at some stage of production and Schraders’ vision was never fully put on screen. I thought it was tasteful and respectful of the original and wondered if the shots of intrusive surgury or rotting baby were inserted by the studio. Not a fan of “The Beginning” although Harlin did manage to braethe some life into the climactic exorcism.

[ManInKhakiExorcist]

The good news is, both prequels leave it open for a sequel, and arguably the African exorcism “10 or 12 years ago, I think, Mike.” (If that’s not and exact quote, please don’t damn me, my fellow Exorcist fans!)

Satan. Is. Real.

M.I.K.E.

Ps.Father Francis in Dominion is a Catholic priest. Father Francis in The Beginning, a Ghostbuster in training. One of those portrayals is more on par with the kind of characters in the film these prequels profess to preceed chronologically; one of those potrayals of Francis as a minimum of two-dimensions, and I would argue three. Two cents. 😉

[RatBoy]

I liked The Beginning better than Dominion also.

Harlem is a great action movie director and did a great job with Die Hard and Cliffhanger but he’s hardly the suspence/horror diretor.

But in Schrader’s defense, Dominion was more or less just a rough cut and didn’t look like it was complete.

[hatter76]

You Are So rite about Dominion being more of a Rough Cut, it is indeed Unfinished

[ExorcistFreak]

I have never seen Dominion!! I want to though!

[kane]

The novel based on the screenplay for ‘The Beginning’ is worth reading!!!!!!

[Justin]

I prefer the unpublished novel for Dominion, but The Beginning is also quite a good read – and a lot better than the actual film.

[killjoy]

dominion was to rough around the edges for me to truly enjoy…it had the right intention…harlin’s wasnt bad cept for the friggin scooby doo ending…shite like that doesnt belong in an exorcist film….

even heretic didnt pull off the “we gotta have a possessed chick in makeup” gag off as shamelessly…

what to expect from harlin?

thats the guy who made a racecar with rocky for godssake…lol

[Author]

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