The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology (1973-2005)

[happydood]

I think that's probably key, stvn. If you were a kid raised Catholic in the 70's, this was the movie that was always spoken of in hushed and reverent tones. It was so built up- having been approved by the Church- that by the time my friends and I actually saw it, it may as well have been a documentary.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by The Peanut Monkey

The link to fairy tales seems silly; it's true numerous old fairy tales (and rhymes) are grim(m) in nature, but quite how you can compare a fairy tale to something like The Exorcist which, let's be honest, may feature a child but has a very adult tone, aimed at adults, and is graphic in nature throughout, is beyond me. Fairy tales are not exclusively downbeat, anyway, and I'd question how many modern children are actually exposed to the bulk of them.

The majority of horror movies are not aimed at adults but at teens. In that regard, The Exorcist as well as other relatively big budget mainstream horror movies, like Rosemary's Baby are the exception. We know from extensive audience research that most people watch horror from around the age of 12 and into their late 20s, with a peak in the teens.

The link to fairy tales is not new and has been written on extensively in the academics (a classic book on that is 'Dreadful Pleasures' from 1985 by James B. Twitchell). Basically quite a lot of horror movies function as cautionary tales, the same way fairy tales do. "Stay on the path and nothing bad will happen to you".

And if you think horror movies have anything on classic fairy tales when it comes to gruesome details, then you have either not read enough fairy tales or only read the watered-down, sanitized versions.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by MrHT

You should clarify for him rather than insulting his reading skills. That's just not cool.

I take it, you are not very familiar with slimdude?

[OI8T12]

Originally Posted by happydood

I think that's probably key, stvn. If you were a kid raised Catholic in the 70's, this was the movie that was always spoken of in hushed and reverent tones. It was so built up- having been approved by the Church- that by the time my friends and I actually saw it, it may as well have been a documentary.

Bingo! I think we have a winner. Of course religion has a lot to do with this movie. I was raised a Catholic, and that's why this movie has affected me so much. I don't think you have to be Catholic to appreciate or understand this movie, but I do think you have to believe in God.

I have to keep this short because every time I talk or think about this movie, my skin starts to crawl. I must go now. I need to watch this again. Right away. Maybe later.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Reading comprehension is not your strong side, I take it?

Don't try to use reverse psychology on me! I understood everything you've said very clearly, and you know it. In today's society, you would be considered an unfit parent... Period.

[Mr. Thomsen]

I really wish I had watched this first at a much younger age than I did. Here in my country, it was shown in the national broadcasting network sometime in the mid-80's, and I have met a lot of people over the years who still vividly recall that broadcast. It was sort of a generational experience, just like the first broadcasting of Frankenstein in 1972 was for the kids who came before us.

Unfortunately, I never saw this until I was in my 20's, and by that time I had seen too much other horror for it to have any significant effect on me. I mean, I can still appreciate the craftsmanship. It just doesn't really get to me. And never has.

On the other hand, I was lucky enough to catch Jaws on German TV at the perfect age of 11-12. Did not go to the beach anymore that summer and quit sports sailing for the same reason.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by slimdude

I understood everything you've said! In today's society, you would be considered an unfit parent. Period.

Would that be the theocratic police state society of clean family values, you seem to live in? Lucky for me, I live in the real world. You know, that place where kooks like you usually are heavily medicated, or at the very least are laughed out.

And don't lie, you did not understand anything, or you would not have come to the ridiculous conclusions you did!

[warrian]

Originally Posted by #Darren

Doh! I just realised that there are comparison caps for Dominion DVD vs BD in this thread.

I think the DVD does look better framed than the BD in those 5 caps. More cinematic looking.

I agree. And there is no question in my mind that the Blu-ray should have been released with the 2.00:1 framing.

Normally I would be incensed about this kind of change, but the reality is that Storaro brought this down on all of us by going off the standard aspect ratio reservation long ago. His preferences in this dept practically begs for the studios to mess around and compromise his vision. For projection it's actually necessary for the 2.00:1 to be messed with somehow.

This, and the fact that the 1.78:1 framing, while inferior, doesn't look that bad... so, other than this little rant, I'm sitting this one out.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by OI8T12

Bingo! I think we have a winner. Of course religion has a lot to do with this movie. I was raised a Catholic, and that's why this movie has affected me so much. I don't think you have to be Catholic to appreciate or understand this movie, but I do think you have to believe in God.

I know quite a lot of people who have been very affected by The Exorcist and who are not even a bit religious, so I beg to differ.

I suspect deeply religious people may be more easily affected by it or more heavily affected by it, but personal beliefs do not necessarily come into play when it comes to whether we are affected by supernatural horror or not.

EDIT: I was bit too rash here, as I first thought you meant that you had to believe in God to be affected by The Exorcist. And that's a point I disagree with. But I now see that you talked more about appreciation and understanding. I don't think you have to be religious to do either, but I am certain believers can find a kind of appreciation for The Exorcist that might elude the non-religious. I see it very much as a religious picture.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

I know quite a lot of people who have been very affected by The Exorcist and who are not even a bit religious, so I beg to differ.

I suspect deeply religious people may be more easily affected by it or more heavily affected by it, but personal beliefs do not necessarily come into play when it comes to whether we are affected by supernatural horror or not.

EDIT: I was bit too rash here, as I first thought you meant that you had to believe in God to be affected by The Exorcist. And that's a point I disagree with. But I now see that you talked more about appreciation and understanding. I don't think you have to be religious to do either, but I am certain believers can find a kind of appreciation for The Exorcist that might elude the non-religious. I see it very much as a religious picture.

Well, of course everyone can be affected by the movie. It's extremely well made and the fears of a parent and fears of hospitals and fears of dying and what happens after the fact are universal. BUT you must admit that the Catholic imagery and the Catholic idiom in which the story is told might play a lttle more stongly on superstitious people raised with a Catholic perspective, yes?

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Would that be the theocratic police state society of clean family values, you seem to live in? Lucky for me, I live in the real world. You know, that place where kooks like you usually are heavily medicated, or at the very least are laughed out.

And don't lie, you did not understand anything, or you would not have come to the ridiculous conclusions you did!

And I've got to add: when we expect other people to behave rationally, we start behaving irrationally. These are assumptions you simply don't have the perspective to make. I don't know what anybody's really thinking except to say I know you don't either.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by warrian

I agree. And there is no question in my mind that the Blu-ray should have been released with the 2.00:1 framing.

Normally I would be incensed about this kind of change, but the reality is that Storaro brought this down on all of us by going off the standard aspect ratio reservation long ago. His preferences in this dept practically begs for the studios to mess around and compromise his vision. For projection it's actually necessary for the 2.00:1 to be messed with somehow.

This, and the fact that the 1.78:1 framing, while inferior, doesn't look that bad... so, other than this little rant, I'm sitting this one out.

Again, I didn't see Dominion theatrically, so I don't know what was done. However, a 2.00:1 ratio could have been shown in theaters simply by pillarboxing a scope print. It's really not that radical an idea, and nowadays it would be no trouble at all with digital projection (the screen just wouldn't be masked properly). However, since The Beginning was shown at 2.40:1, it's likely that Dominion was, too.

At any rate, Storaro is a brilliant cinematographer who creates beautiful images, but I really don't get the 2.00:1 business. However, if that's how he wants his newer work to look, the technology does exist to present it properly. I just wish he wouldn't go back and crop his older films that were clearly framed for 2.35:1.

Also, thanks, ditcin, for your insights. This probably was just a case of the wrong master being used. This really shouldn't have been that difficult to get right, though.

[Impossible]

I've never considered The Exorcist a horror, it is a drama. I'd add it to the list of films like Requiem for a Dream and Irreversible that are just so hard to watch that they are considered horrific, but I wouldn't call them horrors either, they are dramas.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by Impossible

I've never considered The Exorcist a horror, it is a drama. I'd add it to the list of films like Requiem for a Dream and Irreversible that are just so hard to watch that they are considered horrific, but I wouldn't call them horrors either, they are dramas.

I completely understand where you're coming from. THE EXORCIST is one of those rare films that transcends genre - which is why the Academy even gave it credence. There is biased view for films in certain categories especially horror and Sci-fi. They can be nominated and w sub-categories but ignored in Best Picture. It really seems that nominations for these films equals money earned. We always see lesser known film in other genres nominated - never horror or Sci-Fi.
THE EXORCIST leans towards horror more so than any other genre outside of drama and I believe that's what caused it biggest nomination - if not Linda Blair losing to Tatum O'Neil
Tatum portrayed a little ***** who grew into a bigger one - that was nit acting.

[Decepticon07]

I have an unboxing of this and I show each disc menu and features in the video if anyone is interested or on the fence about picking this up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFSy...ature=youtu.be

[slasherdisc]

Nice! Thanks for this. I'm diggin the pumpkins
I'll be hopefully locating this sometime soon!

[RYJAPE21]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Perhaps if I was religious I might find The Exorcist scary and it would bother me but it doesn't.

I'm a Christian and do not find The Exorcist scary, however, I do find it to be the best horror movie I have ever seen There are a few moments that creep me out, but overall I just find the acting terrific and the tone perfect. There are so many great/memorable scenes.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

In fact I find the entire thing to be hilarious.

A child undergoing painful medical procedures. Death of a mother and guilt over possible neglect. Priests suffering from a crisis of faith. Yeah...comedy gold.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Slasher movies like Friday The 13th, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Nightmare On Elm Street I find to be scary, or at least they were the first few times I saw them, but I have never been scared by or found the Exorcist creepy. In fact I find the entire thing to be hilarious. To me it is just a girl who looks funny saying nasty things and spitting up. Now part III is scary. Perhaps if I was religious I might find The Exorcist scary and it would bother me but it doesn't.

See, that's odd to me. Films like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm St or Halloween are impossible scenarios, hence, by default, can only be "surface scary" (scary while you watch them. Not after you're done watching em). Nothing stays with you because your subconscious knows they can't be real (no such thing as a killer that nevvvvver dies).

And to add to that, that The Exorcist is "hilarious", is hilarious to me. The movie holds up because its so well done. And it stays with you because, well, most people believe in good and evil, heaven and hell, and a soul...etc and for that to be overtaken by an evil entity is waaay scarier, more real, and effects everyone after they watched it. Not just " during " like slasher films

[UNCMT9]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

See, that's odd to me. Films like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm St or Halloween are impossible scenarios, hence, by default, can only be "surface scary" (scary while you watch them. Not after you're done watching em). Nothing stays with you because your subconscious knows they can't be real (no such thing as a killer that nevvvvver dies).

And to add to that, that The Exorcist is "hilarious", is hilarious to me. The movie holds up because its so well done. And it stays with you because, well, most people believe in good and evil, heaven and hell, and a soul...etc and for that to be overtaken by an evil entity is waaay scarier, more real, and effects everyone after they watched it. Not just " during " like slasher films

My thoughts exactly.