CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
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.
All sounds good to me. For a fan edit, it’s looking pretty top-notch, Hatty. GREAT JOB. Can’t wait to see it.
M.I.K.E.
Sure, please feel free to share it sooner than planned; I’d love to see it, Hatty! 🙂
But please consider anywhere but YouTube, until we see what happens:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/ViacomSuesYouTube.aspx?GT1=9215
😐
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.
I love it!
I would, however, manipulate the “Merrin” voice more so it’s closer to the similar, gruff voice Cheche displays while possessed.
It’s well done, your work here, but it makes me think of Regan when it’s Cheche we’re dealing with. And I understand it’s foreshadowing, and GOOD foreshadowing, but I think it you manipulated it some so it sounds less like Regan, so it’s not “too vulgar display”. 🙂 Besides, “gruff Cheche” hasn’t been heard in the film during part of the film for quite some time. It would be a nice reprise.
M.I.K.E.
I recommend using Exorcist III footage of the Karras tombstone in the cemetary (making sure to avoid the people) and Photoshopping Lamont’s name over Karras’. And to put Regan in there, either find another film featuring Blair or someone like Blair, and cut ’em together, making sure to color their clothing black, probably, if necessary. OR, render in an over-the-shoulder shot, where it’s apparent it’s Regan, and you’re golden. The simpler your goals, the easier it’ll be. 🙂 Good luck.
M.I.K.E.
Blatty’s ELSEWHERE novella (found in the 999 anthology) may be the closest we’ll get to a sequel; it features some priests in cameos, though neither are Karras or Merrin, and they’re fairly inconsequential to the rest of the story if memory serves.
But apparently there’s something called Demeter, a confirmed (I think) sequel, which he’d been working on for years. Anyone know what happened to that?
M.I.K.E.
It’s one thing the sequels get right in not ripping off the original — each new sequel (the ones that exist to me, that is) is less vulgar/profane than the one before it. 🙂 …Whereas the BAD sequels get more and more foul-mouthed; the Heretic with practically none, and then there’s E:TB. 😛
I was suprised Dominion featured virtually none.
M.I.K.E.
Hatty,
I humbly recommend you leave these additional Northern Lights elements out. The first two almost make me think viewers will wonder if they’re watching “EXORCIST: IN SPACE!” And the new shot idea, while genuinely inspired, I’m however not sure it’d lessen the “OH CRAP” impact we get/feel when the film first begins cutting to scenes of the $#!+ hitting the fan elsewhere in the region. Such a shot would overstate and be too soon. Again, the way the tension/pressure mounts, when things look really bad for EVERYONE, the Northern Lights come out of nowhere, evoking a truly frightening, nightmarish event. So by leaving the Northern Lights as they appear in the original cut of the film, less is more. My two cents. 🙂
M.I.K.E.
