The Exorcist (1973) (40th Anniversary Edition)

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by Doomnaut

Perfect example as to why it will look better. I don't own this yet so I'm looking forward to this release.

No, it's not the same thing at all.

[Doomnaut]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

No, it's not the same thing at all.

Care to elaborate as to why you think it's not the same?

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Down scaling a 4k video, isn't near as good as seeing a genuine 4k UHD presentation. If I was interested enough to see a genuine 4k movie, I would go out, and buy a compatible 4k UHD TV, to see the full resolution (which I have no intentions on doing) To me, it's either having the Real McCoy, or nothing at all! But right now, I'm very well content with my current 1080p HDTV, and it looks absolutely beautiful, just the way it is.

As mentioned, more detailed can still be captured with a 4K scan when downcoverted to 1080p. However, perhaps more importantly, newer scanning equipment can make a huge difference - even if done at 2K. Total Recall (with Arnold) is a good example. The remastered version was still done at 2K, yet looks far superior to the original, older release.

[The Fallen Deity]

It would be good if the theatrical cut on the new release (that's if both cuts are included) is the original untouched theatrical cut and not the slightly altered 25th anniversary edition. That means No digital morph when karras is possessed (adding cgi to a film made in 1973 is just plain wrong) and the exorcism scenes restored to their original colour timing (they've been tinted on every release of the film since the 25th anniversary disc. All releases before that disc came out didn't have the tint. It would be good if the original mono sound mix is included and the original red and black Warner bros. Logo is restored back into the film. Those are the only gripes I have with the current disc, otherwise it's perfect.

[starman15317]

I'll probably just keep my digibook.

[brian9229]

I had the digibook of this for awhile and thought it looked great, everything looked right on.

[moviebuff75]

Was Mercedes originally credited? I remember that she was fuming and may have even sued because she wasn't going to be. Did they credit her later?

[Marv Inc.]

Bill Blatty posted some news about future projects and a couple of titbits regarding the new Exorcist BD.

"A smattering of news: The Exorcist play had a most successful (at least in terms of sellout audiences for six weeks) and will now move to London; Tor/Forge is republishing The Ninth Configuration as a trade paperback and will be offering my entire backlog of work in digital form, which pleases me since I feel that my comic novels are probably my best. Oh, well, at least I actually enjoyed writing them; and next year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Exorcist film Warner Brothers will put out a new high def Blu-ray with lots of new features, including a 40-minutes doc featuring a revisiting the tiny guest house in which I wrote the novel and reminiscing about it, plus some never-before-seen footage of an interview about the 1949 case of possession with Fr. Eugene Gallegher, the Jesuit priest in whose class at Georgetown U. I first heard about it; and, finally, I'm thinking of a plan for a new book for readers who, like you, are searching, and have -- at least for now -- abandoned a terror novel of which I've completed only about 70 pages. It's what they call "an entertainment," whereas the faith book is an apostolic work."

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by Doomnaut

Care to elaborate as to why you think it's not the same?

It's already been elaborated upon, but I'll repeat it.

Casablanca was butchered upon its initial Blu-ray release - It was DNR'd, had some edge enhancement, and had overblown contrast. What I mean by this, is that everything looked lit, and almost all of the dark shadows that made Rick's cafe, and the film as a whole have such a moody and atmospheric tone, had been eradicated as a result. The new 70th Anniversary Blu-ray edition fixed all this - There's fine detail and film grain, the contrast is accurate with that thick, shadowy atmosphere reinstated... it was just a HUGE, huge difference. There was a TON of room for improvement from the old release, and they actually improved upon it.

The Exorcist was released on Blu-ray with an excellent transfer. The only real complaint anyone had at all, was perhaps the color timing. Other than that, there's really nothing else they can do with The Exorcist that's going to make it look noticeably better for you at home. There's really not much room for improvement.

This is why stating the improvement from the versions of Casablanca is perfect example as to how The Exorcist can look better, is a misleading thought to have. Not only to yourself, but to others who your posts as well. Casablanca very obviously needed a new transfer... The Exorcist, not so much. Even if they do improve upon it, the difference will be quite minimal.

EDIT:

May I also point something out? When Full Metal Jacket was re-released in a digibook earlier this year, it was advertised as a new transfer... but what that really meant, was that it contained the same 'new transfer' as the previous remastered release. This very well may end up being the same exact deal. I still have doubts that this indeed will be a new transfer. WB has already deceived us in this respect once that I know of...

[Doomnaut]

I understand you completely. The improvement might be a minimal but it will be a positive improvement nonetheless.

[mzupeman]

Or, it may very well be the same exact 'new transfer' that was on the previous release. That remains to be seen, but it costs money to do new transfers, and I highly doubt only a couple years after the previous release, they're going to go through the same painstaking process again, especially since the last release looked as good as it did.

[Marv Inc.]

From May last year,

http://captainhowdy.com/2012/05/frie...digital-print/

Friedkin revealed the “spectacular” new print took him six months to make. ”The new Exorcist print looks exactly like what it did through the viewfinder when I shot the movie,” he tweeted. “I saw new things about the film that I had either forgotten or not noticed before. This is not hyperbole. When you look through a finder, the color is perfect, there is no dirt and no scratches, no flaws.”

[Clark Kent]

I suspect the new scan and digital grading will create a small improvement over the existing BD. While most reviews didn't mention it, the first transfer did have some minor filtering that should be removed in the new transfer.

[eChopper]

Originally Posted by mzupeman

It's already been elaborated upon, but I'll repeat it.


The Exorcist was released on Blu-ray with an excellent transfer. The only real complaint anyone had at all, was perhaps the color timing. Other than that, there's really nothing else they can do with The Exorcist that's going to make it look noticeably better for you at home. There's really not much room for improvement.

The Exorcist, not so much. Even if they do improve upon it, the difference will be quite minimal.

EDIT:

...

some of the dessert scenes in Iraq didnt look that good on the initial bluray

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Marv Inc.

From May last year,

http://captainhowdy.com/2012/05/frie...digital-print/

do I hear future 'Fathom Event' screening in the cards??

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by eChopper

some of the dessert scenes in Iraq didnt look that good on the initial bluray

I'll give you that, and also the opening city shot right after the conclusion of that whole Iraq sequence didn't look too flash, but apart from that, pretty much the entire remaining of the film looked first class. If all the new remaster does is make the Iraq scenes pop a little more and clean up the initial opening landscape shot then the overall improvement is still going to be very marginal.

I can't believe I'm saying this because I don't generally condom this from studios, but what they should have done is just re-release the current Blu-Ray with a new new cover and/or maybe just add a couple of new extras to cash in on the event. This new print is simply a waste of time. Many other classics are in need of a new print that deserve the attention.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

I suspect the new scan and digital grading will create a small improvement over the existing BD. While most reviews didn't mention it, the first transfer did have some minor filtering that should be removed in the new transfer.

I think the film grain will be a bit "tighter" as well. This seems to be a characteristic of new scans; the increased resolution in essence makes film grain appear smaller and better defined with more picture detail, of course. The current Exorcist BD has a bit blockier film grain which is indicative of an older scan - although like others, I agree it still looks very solid.

[eChopper]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I think the film grain will be a bit "tighter" as well. This seems to be a characteristic of new scans; the increased resolution in essence makes film grain appear smaller and better defined with more picture detail, of course. The current Exorcist BD has a bit blockier film grain which is indicative of an older scan - although like others, I agree it still looks very solid.

bingo

[JERBOX5150]

I know I might get some slack from it...reading what has been said and owning the EXORCIST digibook...is it really that important to get another edition that claims to be better looking than the current release? I guess what I am asking, especially for a film like THE EXORCIST and being 40 years old, is a perfect pictue too perfect to own? Doesn't it take away from a certain cinematic feel or too clean an edition that it might even show flaws on make- up or anything else that might pop up? I know there are certain films I would appreciate to see a blu- ray edition on, but I also think it takes away a sense of illusion by it looking too good! I notice this in particular with Horror films like A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET or HELLRAISER...

[nolfoc]

the only flaw i noticed was at the end when the priest is staring up at the boarded up window.. its all grainy in that one spot.. other than that i thought it looked great