The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology (1973-2005)

[TwelveVacancies]

Originally Posted by ditcin

With all the disappointment and short comings with this release WARNER'S sloppiness comes bounding through - I was going through the bonus materials on the discs when I found the trailer for THE BEGINNING is actually for DOMINION. I mean, really! Why didn't they just put that tailer on the right film and put the one for BEGINNING on the right disc!

Yet another reason they just didn't care about this release.

I guess the confusion comes from the film still being titled The Beginning when the trailer was put together, but you'd think WB would have learned from last time as they did the same thing on the original Australian DVD release.

At that time it was big news because the trailer had only been seen by a few industry insiders before the film was shelved, so it was some of the very first footage "leaked" from the Schrader version.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by AllOuttaBubbleGum

the Extended Director's Cut lost me with its inclusion of the Karras/Merrin dialog on the staircase, which errs by having the effect of not only interpreting the possession, but by decoding the film itself as--in this particular case--having a specifically christian reading.

I actually love that scene and perhaps controversially, prefer the later and longer cut of the film. Spoke to someone today that has never seen The Exorcist - arranged for him to come round for a viewing in 10 days time. I'll screen the theatrical cut despite my personal preference, I think he should see the original version first.

Is the longer version really a director's cut? It was originally marketed as The Version You've Never Seen and the Blatty/Friedkin discussions seen on dvd (and blu-ray) have only Blatty lamenting the exclusion of some of those dialogue scenes whilst Friedkin defends the original version. Always seemed like an alternate "Blatty" cut to me.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by LastRide

My buddy had to sleep with the lights on for 3 weeks after watching the Exorcist when we were kids.

Hell, I slept in the living room on the couch with the TV on for a couple of weeks myself. I saw it in '89 at 10 years old, way too young to watch a flick of that magnitude I might add. At the time, possession films were still new. Not a dime a dozen like today so it scared the absolute dog sh$t out of me. The only film to get under my skin still to this day. Its an absolute classic!!!!

[TwelveVacancies]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

You didn't like the demon presentation they tried to do with Sarah? I thought it was similar to Reagan's transformation in the original. I also think the vocals for the demon are close to Mercedes McCambridge as could possibly be. Its been about 7 years since I've seen Beginning so I'll give it a whirl tonight after work. Before anyone posts how stupid I am, I did say similar qualities between Reagan and Sarah, not dead set exact qualities ok folks LOL!

I wasn't a fan, either.

The fact that they tried to make it similar to Regan is the reason why I believe it's so stupid and makes very little sense. Regan looked that way because she mutilated herself. Sarah just suddenly takes on this form for no apparent reason. The makeup was also dreadful, it looks like play-doh in the close shots.

I think The Beginning would have been an alright popcorn horror if they had removed all the Exorcist references and just released it as a stand-alone film. Or perhaps the long-awaited sequel to Army of Darkness.

Fun fact:

[Show spoiler]some of Sarah's demonic screams are actually English in reverse, which amazing lines such as "lick my p**sy!!".

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

I saw it in '89 at 10 years old, way too young to watch a flick of that magnitude I might add.

I didn't see the film until I was 18. At that time, the UK censors would only allow theatrical exhibition (they were concerned that children might view a vhs copy) and I had to wait for a cinema screening.

[hatter76]

It would be nice to see this Deleted scene, instead there is only behind the scenes footage

[Show spoiler]
fp.jpg

[sarah_wentworth]

God why put Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist on a bd 25?

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I found the trailer for THE BEGINNING is actually for DOMINION. I mean, really!

There was one trailer on the US DVD also, can anyone confirm it was the same trailer there too?


***edit***

Originally Posted by TwelveVacancies

they did the same thing on the original Australian DVD release.

Thanks, I saw this after I posted.... so most likely it was the same with the US DVD..

[AllOuttaBubbleGum]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I actually love that scene and perhaps controversially, prefer the later and longer cut of the film. Spoke to someone today that has never seen The Exorcist - arranged for him to come round for a viewing in 10 days time. I'll screen the theatrical cut despite my personal preference, I think he should see the original version first.

Man, that original silence on the stairs was golden...because there was time for the audience to reflect--much like Merrin and Karras seemed to be doing--ask its own questions, draw its own conclusions, apply its own meanings or feel a dispiriting lack thereof.

In the longer cut, Merrin lays it all out there and it's like the Incredibly Shrinking Movie because then it's only that, and in my opinion what he offered was kind of a trite explanation. Less was more.

But this isn't really a unique perspective: It was also passionately espoused by the Friedkin of yore--as seen in the making of documentary on the 25th anniversary dvd--in defense of why he originally made those cuts and stood by them, until...

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

Is the longer version really a director's cut? It was originally marketed as The Version You've Never Seen and the Blatty/Friedkin discussions seen on dvd (and blu-ray) have only Blatty lamenting the exclusion of some of those dialogue scenes whilst Friedkin defends the original version. Always seemed like an alternate "Blatty" cut to me.

Not so much a director's cut as a capitulation to Blatty, maybe to honor his role in the whole phenomenon...knowing his long standing gripes over those trims. I saw Friedkin comment on this in a clip recently, and it did smack of a sentimental rationale. My guess is he still leans theatrical, but things change. Maybe we'll have to file this under: "Ask Billy"

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Don't worry. Watching the news will teach them what you didn't.

Current world news in an earthly manifestation of the themes explore in the Exoricist.

[hatter76]

Originally Posted by #Darren

There was one trailer on the US DVD also, can anyone confirm it was the same trailer there too?


***edit***



Thanks, I saw this after I posted.... so most likely it was the same with the US DVD..

The Us Relese had the Correct Trailer, which disapointed me when it came out

[#Darren]

Interesting to hear others personal interpretations. I enjoy the catholic spiritual/mystical aspects, exploring the concept of a spiritual realm, and what lies there. Just like on earth, we explore the idea that there are extremes of good and evil on levels beyond our flesh. I also personally believe the "earthly" side of things is intimately connected to the spiritual (and always read the film as suggesting that too), so it is certainly an interesting spin to add the molesting director theory.


Just a side note - I was always struck by the comparison between the earthly "party priest" and the deeply spiritual Merrin.

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by hatter76

The Us Relese had the Correct Trailer, which disapointed me when it came out

Oh, so this BD trailer is not the same as the equivalent DVD one?

[hatter76]

Originally Posted by sarah_wentworth

God why put Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist on a bd 25?

if you cut it down to the Master Audio, dump all the other ones, it dosent even take up nearly that much.

[hatter76]

Originally Posted by #Darren

Oh, so this BD trailer is not the same as the equivalent DVD one?

well not the US DVD.

right before that DVD came out I had herd that the disc had the teaser for the Schrader version, but the US DVD turned out having thw right trailer

[hatter76]

This is a Fan Made Teaser I did several years back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuWiC...ature=youtu.be

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by hatter76

This is a Fan Made Teaser I did several years back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuWiC...ature=youtu.be

Nice! Inspired me to watch the prequels asap!

(I have only seen the beginning)

[#Darren]

Here is my take on the film that I posted here about a year ago.


For me the exorcist is primarily Father Merrin's story. It is a godly man whose soul is "prized" by the demon. It has followed him his whole life waiting for a chance to get at him... and it will go so far as raping a child to do so. For me that is CREEPY as HELL!! and a real aspect of Christian theology. The other story aspects with the other characters explore this concept as well, with the issue Karras's loss of faith and regaining of faith and the broken and troubled home of the mother and daughter, but MERRIN is the main target and key element of the story.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by hatter76

This is a Fan Made Teaser I did several years back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuWiC...ature=youtu.be

Very nice. Very well done. You edit with feeling and captured the film well. Thanks for posting the link.

(I like DOMINION a lot too.)

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by #Darren

Here is my take on the film that I posted here about a year ago.


For me the exorcist is primarily Father Merrin's story. It is a godly man whose soul is "prized" by the demon. It has followed him his whole life waiting for a chance to get at him... and it will go so far as raping a child to do so. For me that is CREEPY as HELL!! and a real aspect of Christian theology. The other story aspects with the other characters explore this concept as well, with the issue Karras's loss of faith and regaining of faith and the broken and troubled home of the mother and daughter, but MERRIN is the main target and key element of the story.

If Blatty made one mistake in writing his screenplay from his novel it was leaving out one line of dialog - "THIS TIME YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE."
It was stated to Merrin as soon as he walked into the room by the demon. Blattly finally used it in III but it was towards Father Morning. It's holds much more power when meant for Merrin. I know the line was part of the script for a while, but I don't know if it was ever filmed. If it was and still exists I don't know why Friedkin didn't put it back for his longer cut. It would have sealed so much.