The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology (1973-2005)

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

The PQ is pretty good IMO EXCEPT for 2.

The Exorcist 4.5
Exorcist ll. 2.5-2.75
The Exorcist lll 3.5 - 3.75
Beginning. 4.0
Dominion. 3.75 - 4.0

Those are my PQ SCORES.

Regarding The Exorcist III, did you find the video noise to be much of an issue really as the reviewer mentioned? Once this hits $10 or less, I will pick it up.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by EvilResident

I think Dominion looks pretty bad. I'd maybe say it and Heretic tie for worst, but for different reasons. Dominion looks over processed and the Edge Enhancement is just ugly. Heretic has basically the opposite problem.

I couldn't see massive halos on Dominion and I view on an above average screen of 70 inches. Over processed yes. It looks ok in motion. Now the Heretic is way too soft with digital noise covering the image, not much grain. I'll view them again soon and see if I see anything else.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Regarding The Exorcist III, did you find the video noise to be much of an issue really as the reviewer mentioned? Once this hits $10 or less, I will pick it up.

No, didn't see it too much. It looks like grain to me but I'll view again just to make sure.

[redrunner97]

I thought Exorcist III looked fine. I saw an HD version on Amazon awhile back, and this blu-ray looked even better than it did before. :thumbsup

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by Xen11

So there were 2 main cuts of The Exorcist II: The Heretic, correct?

The first original theatrical release
The immediately retooled theatrical release (after the premiere had riots) that had about 7 minutes taken out

Further edits that were usually shorter came out on VHS, cable, and in the UK.

Am I correct on this?

And the one on Blu is the first original theatrical release?

The version currently on BD is the original premiere release version. It played for one week and Boorman was called in to quickly do an edit. In that second version different music opened the film, and the other most notable edit was the shortened ending. There were some minor cuts of dialog as well.
A third version was prepared for international release. It had a prolog and again a shorter ending.

Aside from some excised dialog here and there from versions 2 and 3 there was an addition - in a confrontation between Father Lamont and the Cardinal. Lamont turns on the Cardinal stating that the church as failed in their tasks to protect people from evil. He goes on to state that Merrin was right, that he had prophesized that new men would arise to show us how to build up the kingdom of heaven on earth. That there were already among us but the church denies this because they would be relegated to nothing more than social workers telling everything to be nice to each other in the name of Jesus Christ.

The scene of Dr. Tusking playing with her children in the bath tub was also edited out of all but the first version. Sharon calling Regan a ***** is another thing that's been cut.

The most interesting thing is that these edits actually show alternate beginnings and or extended end parts to scenes. When I spoke to Boorman about this it was disclosed the film was longer and the first edit delivered to the theaters was not the longest.

I learned that an entire special effect sequence was shot and cut from all versions. I posted this previous in this thread with visuals. It was and is an important scene since it uses the film's title "heretic" and explains why it's so important.

All three versions have been released on home video in one format or another through the years. The first time it was released on Beta/VHS it was the 2nd version. When it was re-released it was the 3rd. The original was thought to have been destroyed. At the time I knew and dealt with several people at WB and being in contact with Boorman was able to get the original version remastered - which when on to be released on Tape, DVD and now BD.

Part of the confusion is that Boorman although makes his films around the world he tends to edit them in Ireland, where he lives. Years ago when editing was still all film based this added to the schedule due to the added time needed to ship the negative for prints to be made for the theaters. This is why the final mix for EXCALIBUIR was not in Dolby Stereo when it premiered - the trailers stated it would be in Dolby but there wasn't time to finish the mix - which is why the BD is really only half stereo - incomplete. WB found what was done in stereo but never commissioned it to be completed.

Excalibur is another Boorman film that is slightly shorter as well. There are a few more scenes that have not been show - there are snippets of them in the trailer.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by ditcin

The version currently on BD is the original premiere release version. It played for one week and Boorman was called in to quickly do an edit. In that second version different music opened the film, and the other most notable edit was the shortened ending. There were some minor cuts of dialog as well.
A third version was prepared for international release. It had a prolog and again a shorter ending.

Aside from some excised dialog here and there from versions 2 and 3 there was an addition - in a confrontation between Father Lamont and the Cardinal. Lamont turns on the Cardinal stating that the church as failed in their tasks to protect people from evil. He goes on to state that Merrin was right, that he had prophesized that new men would arise to show us how to build up the kingdom of heaven on earth. That there were already among us but the church denies this because they would be relegated to nothing more than social workers telling everything to be nice to each other in the name of Jesus Christ.

The scene of Dr. Tusking playing with her children in the bath tub was also edited out of all but the first version. Sharon calling Regan a ***** is another thing that's been cut.

The most interesting thing is that these edits actually show alternate beginnings and or extended end parts to scenes. When I spoke to Boorman about this it was disclosed the film was longer and the first edit delivered to the theaters was not the longest.

I learned that an entire special effect sequence was shot and cut from all versions. I posted this previous in this thread with visuals. It was and is an important scene since it uses the film's title "heretic" and explains why it's so important.

All three versions have been released on home video in one format or another through the years. The first time it was released on Beta/VHS it was the 2nd version. When it was re-released it was the 3rd. The original was thought to have been destroyed. At the time I knew and dealt with several people at WB and being in contact with Boorman was able to get the original version remastered - which when on to be released on Tape, DVD and now BD.

Part of the confusion is that Boorman although makes his films around the world he tends to edit them in Ireland, where he lives. Years ago when editing was still all film based this added to the schedule due to the added time needed to ship the negative for prints to be made for the theaters. This is why the final mix for EXCALIBUIR was not in Dolby Stereo when it premiered - the trailers stated it would be in Dolby but there wasn't time to finish the mix - which is why the BD is really only half stereo - incomplete. WB found what was done in stereo but never commissioned it to be completed.

Excalibur is another Boorman film that is slightly shorter as well. There are a few more scenes that have not been show - there are snippets of them in the trailer.

I'm glad we got the original full release of the Heretic but, it not one that I'll be watching all the time like 3. After watching it about a week ago when I received my set, I can say that I appreciate what was tried to be done with it and its got great cinematography.

[sarah_wentworth]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

I'm glad we got the original full release of the Heretic but, it not one that I'll be watching all the time like 3. After watching it about a week ago when I received my set, I can say that I appreciate what was tried to be done with it and its got great cinematography.

2 is pretty good but i love 3

[stvn1974]

George C Scott should have done more horror films. Hell, I find him creepy as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

[Bumblefeet]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

George C Scott should have done more horror films. Hell, I find him creepy as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

Definitely check out "The Changeling" (1980) if you want to see him play lead in another great horror film.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by Bumblefeet

Definitely check out "The Changeling" (1980) if you want to see him play lead in another great horror film.

an excellent film. I desperately wish Warner would release it on blu-ray...

[Dickieduvet]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

an excellent film. I desperately wish Warner would release it on blu-ray...

Japanese release next month

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-C...Blu-ray/75308/

[Bumblefeet]

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

Japanese release next month

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-C...Blu-ray/75308/

Very cool news! Thanks for the heads up.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

[THE CHANGELING was] an excellent film. I desperately wish Warner would release it on blu-ray...

Personally, I found it overrated, a DVD blind buy that went bust for me, but I certainly can't fault Mr. Scott, who's always compelling to watch.

[SymbioticFunction]

But Changeling is brilliant. Ball bouncing moment and the seance scene clearly makes it a classic. Would love a HD copy.

Anyway back to the topic. Screened the theatrical cut of The Exorcist to a friend who had never seen the film before (former mormon missionary turned athiest if anyone's interested). He didn't laugh. In fact, he was quite impressed. I think the moment where a daughter pulls her mother's face into her bloody crotch, and shouts "lick me" is still shocking after 40+ years.

btw Wanted to watch another film afterwards. I suggested several titles but my wife wanted to watch something different and chose Big Trouble In Little China from the collection. Talk about a damn weird double bill, took me about 50 mins before I could properly get into the spirit of things.

[lolwut]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Personally, I found it overrated, a DVD blind buy that went bust for me, but I certainly can't fault Mr. Scott, who's always compelling to watch.

I did too.

[Todd Tomorrow]

I too was a little bewildered as to what was supposedly so great about The Changeling when I finally got to see it. Isn't there a bouncing ball in nearly every haunted house movie ? The film looses momentum in the last third when it gets into all those flashback which explain the haunting, but which just isn't a terrible interesting story. The seance early on is great, but apart from that its fairly bog standard as that type of film goes.

[Goremeister100]

FULL CIRCLE (Aka: THE HAUNTING OF JULIA) is also worth watching if you enjoyed THE CHANGELING. Great film.

[Brett C]

Originally Posted by Goremeister100

FULL CIRCLE (Aka: THE HAUNTING OF JULIA) is also worth watching if you enjoyed THE CHANGELING. Great film.

As much as I like The Changeling, I think Full Circle is the better of the two films.
The ending is terrific!

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

I too was a little bewildered as to what was supposedly so great about The Changeling when I finally got to see it. Isn't there a bouncing ball in nearly every haunted house movie ?

It's pretty much been a stable ever since Mario Bava's Kill Baby Kill, though I think it's quite well done in The Changeling.

I have always like the seance scene in The Changeling, and I was wondering whether anyone know of earlier examples of similar seances in haunted house/ ghost stories?

[Webmaster1990]

This site had me believe Dominion was the "better" of the prequels. I found "The Beginning" more tolerable. Maybe it had something to do with the video quality. Just my two cents.
P.S I did see "The Beginning" first, then Dominion maybe that had something to do with my preference.