Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)- Sony Pictures - Oct 13, 2020

[rdodolak]

Sony Pictures will be releasing the Morgan Creek film Exorcist: The Beginning on 13 Oct 2020. This will be a pressed MOD release.

Having abandoned his faith in God, Father Merrin, played by Stellan Skarsgard, joins a British archaeological excavation in Kenya, where an inexplicably pristine Christian Byzantine church is unearthed looking as if it had been buried on the day it was completed. But beneath the church something much older sleeps, waiting to wake. As madness swiftly descends upon the villagers and the British soldiers, Merrin watches helplessly as atrocities erupt that he had seen before and prayed never to see again. The blood of innocents flows freely on the East African plain, and the horror has only just begun. In the place where evil was born, Merrin will finally see its true face.

[The Fallen Deity]

Excellent! This means I can now officially retire the Complete Anthology box (as long as the presentation is good).

[Filmmaker]

Yes! Tacky! Simplistic! Exploitative! But still miles better than that dreadful snooze fest with zero connection to THE EXORCIST, DOMINION.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Yes! Tacky! Simplistic! Exploitative! But still miles better than that dreadful snooze fest with zero connection to THE EXORCIST, DOMINION.

I really truly thought that DOMINION would be the far better film... and then I saw it.... disappointment is an understatement.

The Beginning isn't a great film either, but at least it wasn't boring....

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I really truly thought that DOMINION would be the far better film... and then I saw it.... disappointment is an understatement.

The Beginning isn't a great film either, but at least it wasn't boring....

Dominion had potential, but it was ruined by horrible CGI and an underwhelming climax. I wasn't expecting much from The Beginning either, since Harlin's a hack, but I'll agree it was probably the more entertaining of the two.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by Surge92

Dominion had potential, but it was ruined by horrible CGI and an underwhelming climax. I wasn't expecting much from The Beginning either, since Harlin's a hack, but I'll agree it was probably the more entertaining of the two.

Renny Harlin is an interesting director-- he made 3 action flicks that I love (CLIFFHANGER, DIE HARD 2, LONG KISS GOODNIGHT) and because of that I always gave him the benefit of the doubt... none of his other flicks were anything good.... and always disappointed me.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

Renny Harlin is an interesting director-- he made 3 action flicks that I love (CLIFFHANGER, DIE HARD 2, LONG KISS GOODNIGHT) and because of that I always gave him the benefit of the doubt... none of his other flicks were anything good.... and always disappointed me.

Funny, I rewatched CUTTHROAT ISLAND just last night and, gross miscasting issues notwithstanding, still grinned like a lobotomized buffoon at that final showdown between the Morning Star and the Reaper, capped by what is still probably the single best practical explosion in cinema history.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Funny, I rewatched CUTTHROAT ISLAND just last night and, gross miscasting issues notwithstanding, still grinned like a lobotomized buffoon at that final showdown between the Morning Star and the Reaper, capped by what is still probably the single best practical explosion in cinema history.

you have some valid points... that's probably the "best of the rest" of Harlin's films... I'd rate it a 2.5 out of 5. Maybe even a light 3.0... but, again, not near the quality of my other favorites.

[sxerunner]

I remember renting this film when resting a freshly dislocated shoulder. As I laid in bed watching I don’t know it it was that or this movie that was agonizing me the most.

[FilmKoala]

I have this on DVD but outside of my being a fan of Izabella Scorupco I can't say I care for it. But I'm glad it's finally coming out as a standalone disc for those who want it.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by FilmKoala

But I'm glad it's finally coming out as a standalone disc for those who want it.

Technically, it already did, through Warner. This is through Sony, however, so it will probably have a superior encode.

[GRD43L]

I'm satisfied with my Anthology.

What's the point of having a better looking 'not so great' movie?

CGI, I agree, were pretty horrendous...

[Bumblefeet]

I already owned the Italian blu-ray prior to upgrading to the anthology set. No way I'm triple dipping on Exorcist: The Beginning

I will continue buying upgrades of Exorcist II: Herectic, there is something about it that fascinates me, eventhough it's a terribly flawed movie, Boorman's style and shot choices are compelling and it's a movie that never got its due respect in the quality department.

[bd1k]

Originally Posted by Bumblefeet

No way I'm triple dipping on Exorcist: The Beginning

Agreed. Instead, at the very least, a double-feature with the Dominion could have been released.

[BNex99]

I've been hoping that maybe Shout would do a Beginning / Dominion double feature, along with a deep-dive documentary into the making of both.

I guess it could still happen.

[Verisimilitude1984]

I remember seeing this at the cinema, somewhat excited that this was continuing the series and I was finally old enough to see an Exorcist film on first release in a cinema.

Little did I know until shortly afterwards, that William Peter Blatty was not involved. Also, though not his fault and a good director in his suited action genre, whoever thought it was a good idea to marry Renny Harlin with this film was completely deluded. It's like the studio forgot what made the original (and the third film) so special.

The premise of the story was decent, but the execution left a lot to be desired. As mentioned, the CGI finale was awful (and some say the forced exorcism in the third film didn't work!).

However, Stellan Skarsgard and Izabella Scorupco are very good (fan of both) and do what they can. It's always good that movies come to blu ray and I'm sure there are fans of this movie that will enjoy it.

[Aunt Peg]

I love the Schrader version but have disdain for the Renny Harlin version so I'll pass on this. Will be getting rid of the Exorcist DVD box set once I have the Blu Ray of Schrader's version in my hands.

[Stuart_Larkin]

I would actually buy this IF it includes a Digital copy.

Honestly I enjoyed this movie. No it's not in the leagues of the original obviously.
I did see it in theaters and my expectations couldn't have been any lower... But honestly I enjoyed it.

[moviegeek1992]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

Renny Harlin is an interesting director-- he made 3 action flicks that I love (CLIFFHANGER, DIE HARD 2, LONG KISS GOODNIGHT) and because of that I always gave him the benefit of the doubt... none of his other flicks were anything good.... and always disappointed me.

Alongside those three I also enjoy Prison, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 and Deep Blue Sea.

[Donl1282]

Is it a barebones release?