CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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My only major advice would be to nix the sappy musical theme; it makes me want to gag… and I love Ennio Morricone, too…! 😐
I’d comment on the two endings/cuts this film has, but I’ve only seen the one on the latest (only?) DVD release.
Be all of this as it may, if I had to rack my brain to find anything else of more substance to consider doing to this ending — while I do feel that Cap is pretty much right on the money — it would be: doing whatever I could to end the film before we see the infamous house we’ve come to know (in the film before and after this one) in ruins. This way, the film can more easily pass as a legitimate sequel (to those who love it) and as an independant filmic creation of its own (to those who don’t).
My two cents. 🙂
*waits for the DOMINION fan cut (above all others)* 😉
M.I.K.E.
I dislike even the Blatty audio version — it’s incomplete, no matter what the box reads; Blatty, God bless him, omits whole sentences and embellishes others, and for a nerd like me trying to read along to it (because why not?), you can’t. Other than that, it’s worth checking out at least once; Blatty’s got a good reading voice (though during ebellishments he gives a bit too much excitement). Yes, I know, how dare I question Mr. Blatty. 🙂 Great writer-director, great reader, but this is my only gripe against him, minor as it may be.
I wish they could put out a CD version with the exact text of the novel intact, read by Blatty. Really something to hear this story read aloud.
M.I.K.E.
I second that — Cap, this is an April Fool’s joke, right? 🙂 We still love you if it is! 😛
This is up there with a Legion 2.0 or before we got Dominion on DVD, if true! 🙂
And I’m betting it is; Cap’s a good, trustworthy guy. And, it’s the WB, not Morgan Creek, after all, who’s the custodian of the footage in question.
Incidentally, a DVD maxed out with the lost footage could very well mean fans can independantly recut the film with said lost footage. It’s a distinct and welcome probability. 😉
M.I.K.E.
I’m now torn between which one’s funnier and worthy of laughs: THE BEGINNING or THE HERETIC…
And I’m thinking THE BEGINNING! It should be on Comedy Central, on its own, or “vandalized” by MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE 3000 (if the show is ever resurrected).
M.I.K.E.
As long as there’s no TV series (though a mini-series I could live with; and one directed and/or written by Blatty, I could ENJOY living with!).
A weekly TV series would be the final nail, in my opinion. As a sequel, that might work; but I’m betting a weekly would instead be essentially a remake of the film — set in the modern day (because set in the 1970s would require too much thought) — with Kinderman and Karras investigating and fist-fighting the supernatural. Think GHOSTBUSTERS, but with an ex-boxer and aging police detective. Oh yeah, and demonic possession would be but one reality for our two heroes; ghosts, goblins, and aliens would appear as well. Oh yeah, and it’d still be called “THE EXORCIST”, despite the exorcist never even appearing until the unfilmed, final episode (whenever that is or would have been — you see, it’d get canceled well in advance of such). I dunno… just speculating.
M.I.K.E.
It IS a terrrible film, but worth watching once in order to get it over with and out of one’s system (unless they enjoy it, of course — many do; I, however, find it incredibly taxing and usually turn it off sometime during the Cairo scene; it’s quite an exercise to get through; brutally dull).
Anyway, if you’re a fan of the series, it’s worth renting (America)/hiring (Australia)/etc. (everywhere else), but it may be more cost effecive to pick it up on Amazon or eBay; I’ve seen it a hundred times going for $0.01 plus shipping; less than $5 total! You get what you pay for.
To be honest, it’s worth seeing; just know that you’ve got a 50% chance of liking it or hating it (there’s generally no in-between).
As for YouTube, I think you’ll find disappointment in watching even such an awful film there, with that small screen and getting chopped into so many parts. If you want to see a movie as terrible as Exorcist: The Beginning, experience it as it was meant to be experienced, for that instant gratification of liking it… or, if you’re in that other 50%, hating the living hell out of it.
At the minimum, buying, renting, and watching the film raises awareness of the other Exorcist prequel (easily arguably the GOOD ONE — Paul Schrader’s Dominion), so by all means give Exorcist: The Beginning a chance. The casts and crews of both films will appreciate it. The two prequel films are practically companion pieces.
Ultimately I think E:TB is forgettable, but it to its credit, it features a Byzantine church/architecture, an almost compelling opening scene, and one decently acted scene by James “Ghostbuster In Training” D’arcy. And Skarsgard, despite everything, makes the best of his role as Indiana Jones’ English-Dutch cousin who wields crucifixes instead of whips in his quest for something belonging in a museum. Lastly, Izabella Scorupco is a pretty lady (until the end). And, Vittorio Storaro does the lighting.
So there are some reasons to see the film. However you decide to see it, ENJOY, and report back!
M.I.K.E.
The “theme” in The Beginning was “Flies Buzzing Around $#!+”. 😐
Dominion deserves a CD sountrack release. The sound(s)/music is one of its stregths; certainly the Dog Fashion Disco material. Love it!
Oh, and I need to see War of the Worlds now; intriguing. 🙂
M.I.K.E.
I was just kiddin’ ’bout the flame; I put that in my posts sometimes if I feel I may be off-base somewhat or completely. 😛 CH fans are seldom so silly as to flame; too mature. 🙂
Anyway, I really appreciate, and thank you for, your insight. Good stuff, Granny. How did you know all that? Just curious. I had no clue about either.
Gee, a Christmas song? But are we sure the 1947 portion of the film wasn’t set during Advent or Christmas? Given the colonialism and African culture, if it were set during that time, perhaps Francis’/the Church’s idea was to do SOMETHING. 🙂 Just a thought. I may be totally offbase here, as well. 😛
M.I.K.E.
You are right, Justy. 😛 Incidentally, THANKS! Great pic. Maybe more will spring up with…!
That critical essays book for which EKM, others, and myself are putting together with Ben S. at the helm as Editor — due out in early ’08!
EKM is doing a “tell-all” interview with Mr. Blatty concerning the film and novel, from what I understand, so stay tuned. I am really, really looking forward to this. What an honor to be a part of this book.
M.I.K.E.
Well, shoot. I’m unable to get that image’s web address to load properly — I get this message:
“Not Found
The requested URL /images/Rare and Behind-The-Scenes/Exorcist III: Legion/Legion was not found on this server.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Apache/1.3.37 Server at captainhowdy.com Port 80″
Can somepne please imageshack.us this for me? Pretty please? 🙂
Thanks.
M.I.K.E.
