CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Paul,
Fan of your work, and a huge fan of your contribution to the Exorcist film saga, DOMINION.
Keep making good movies!
Best,
M.I.K.E.
(Man In Khaki Exorcist)Hat,
All well-reasoned. And the “screams” idea seems more logical and positive for the film, and quite promising emotionally for the scene.
And the new dream sequence seems fine to me. My only concern is how much “sleeping”/”wake up” footage you’ll use and your source. Hopefully from E:TB (if there was a dream; I don’t remember if there was), because to re-use any such footage from the film’s earlier dream sequence — where he’s sleeping and wakes up — well, THAT existing footage should stay where it is and not be cut into this new scene. That is, like with the rest of this film, I think it’d be best if you simply ADDED and not sliced up or shortened scenes. Follow?
Keep us posted. I love your thoughts so far!
M.I.K.E.
Gosh, I’d LOVE to see the origin of Paz. And truly, finally, CGI special effects would finally have their place of honor (yes, HONOR) in the Exorcist film saga. 😛
But seriously, I’d hope for something as epic-in-scope and harrowing as the opening moments of THE PROPHECY (starring Christopher Effin’ Walken). I can’t think of a more graceful, believable (or passable) “Heaven” battle in cinema.
Just keep it out of Morgan Creek’s hands, unless Blatty’s in charge or producing, and Jim Robinson is on some kind of leash (or elsewhere, anywhere!). Then the film could in fact survive the conceptual level and go on to storytelling, if not finanical, success!
EXORCIST: SATAN CROWNED
EXORCIST: REQUIEM
EXORCIST: THE FALL
M.I.K.E.
I think it’s clever in concept and work and easily better than I could do! 🙂
I just think it’s… “much too vulgar display of power”. 🙁 It reveals a great deal too soon. That is, the Friedkin EXORCIST’s infestation made more sense; The Demon had “lost” the battle and ultimately ditched Regan’s body for Karras’s. In Dominion, the Demon was already “defeated”, centuries earlier, having lost the battle that pit imprisoned him beneath the ancient church. And it isn’t until later in the film that his true face is presented to human beings (to Merrin, during the exorcism). It’s an effective presentation then, but would lose most if not all impact and meaning and seem forced and redundant if following the infestation scene you have skillfully created, showing the Howdy face so soon.
Another reason why the edit doesn’t work too well for me is, it isn’t till LATER in the film that any notion of possession occurs to Merrin and co, which is why to use this edited scene with Rachel’s “Oh, Cheche, it’s okay, it’s okay” reaction instead of, say, “A demon! A monster! Cheche!”, for example, the effect is only strictly a special effect and is not grounded in the “reality” of the scene. Again, Rachel’s reaction, to me, seems very low-key, for someone who’s supposed to have just witnessed a glimpse of the demon. At the minimum, she would have paused and caught her breath, wondering what on earth just happened, what she’d seen on Cheche’s face. Instead, it’s an unbroken, concerned bunch of re-assurances Rachel gives Cheche.
My humble opinions, that’s all. Anyway, I still anxiously look forward to seeing your finished edit.
THANK YOU, Hatty. As I said, I can’t compete. 🙂
M.I.K.E.
As much as I appreciate and share your frustration, here’s my take — one first more or less articulated by the great EKM of (Bloody News fame) — an explanation I believe to be true:
Blatty had a new and different story to tell in LEGION/EXORCIST III, and made sure that not even the original film and book got in the way. He changed things, and shoe-horned in the friendship. In the film and book it works, but not so much as a sequel; too ‘Twilight Zone’, and it takes us right out of the story.
Blatty just decided to update and overhaul his saga a bit. Very well; he gave us an even better book and film (with Friedkin) already. 🙂
M.I.K.E.
My explanation goes like this (and feel free to accept it)…
1947 (or if you prefer E:TB as your Exorcist prequel, 1949). Merrin leaves Kenya for Rome, having returned to the fold he’d abandoned three years earlier under tragic circumstances. He gave his report. Not only did his colleagues buy it, the precise location of the exorcism caught their interest: In Africa, a buried, pristine, Byzantine church. And with his fame as an archaeologist and author, and now having driven out a demon — The Devil Himself — a legend was born and made its way accross the Atlantic eventually becoming a bigger and more incredible story. What was just a night-long exorcism, if that, became “months.”
As much as I’d have liked to have seen a months-long exorcism, it’s kind of more realistic and validates Dominion since it DOESN’T match up. The official’s account was not a solid one. He wasn’t sure of all the details (notice when he talks, he’s guessing; he’s got the basic story), so he gave a guess. Lots of legends change over time, and this was one.
I dunno, am I making sense? 😮
M.I.K.E.
Saw 1 was to Saw 2 what Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist was to Exorcist The Beginning. Or it that a bit harsh? Anyway, Saw 1 was more psychological than “scary”, which Saw 2 beat its predessor at being. Let’s face it. 🙂
Okay, you know the drill… Flame away! 😐
M.I.K.E.
Clips of the best stuff would be “Grrrreat!” (-Tony the Tiger).
Thanks for the consideration. 🙂
GREG: I’m baffled, myself. Such features would have been more incentive for Americans and R1 peeps to pick the DVD up. I mean, the Europeans and non-R1 folks — aren’t they supposed to be more intellectual/thoughtful/sophisticated already that such an incentive as special features (on a DVD whose film is already heavy in the intelligence department) wouldn’t be as crucial to include on their specific DVD? 😮
M.I.K.E.
Linda Blair seems like a nice lady. But her beauty now pales in comparison to Ellen Burstyn’s (circa 1973; pre-Heretic Kitty Wynn, too, not that we’re talking The Women of the Exorcist), if you ask me. Heck, and even if you don’t.
Linda Blair CAN act, and act well, in The Exorcist. But after that, all she seems to me to have going for her is her friendly, respectful personality*.
M.I.K.E.
*SOURCE: E!’s Curse of the Exorcist (Thanks, Justy, for letting me borrow your copy! 😉 )
Constantine and Hellboy are interchangable in so many ways, incidentally. Now their comic book roots, on the other hand… dynomite and memorable!
M.I.K.E.
