The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology (1973-2005)

[Xen11]

Originally Posted by Bumblefeet

I'm sorry but I have to chuckle at some of the analogies or reasoning made in this thread.

Not being able to solve an algebra problem and not being able to place explicit violent and sexual depictions in their proper context are a world of difference, as is the impact of being confronted by both... I can't believe I even have to explain this...

OK, what happens when a child views a film and doesn't understand what they're seeing? OH NO!!! Will they ask QUESTIONS?!!!! OH THE HORROR!!!!

A lot of people are uncomfortable with the truth and reality. Stop hiding reality from children and filling their heads with nonsense. Explain the truth to them. But I guess the problem with that advice, is that most people don't understand the truth themselves because they were lied to as children.
It's a cycle of abuse.
Which is what The Exorcist is about.

Don't ignore children. Explain and listen.

[Xen11]

Originally Posted by Bumblefeet

I'm sorry but I have to chuckle at some of the analogies or reasoning made in this thread.

Not being able to solve an algebra problem and not being able to place explicit violent and sexual depictions in their proper context are a world of difference, as is the impact of being confronted by both. The former designed to educate, the latter designed to scare and shock... I can't believe I even have to explain this...

Like religion.

But that's thrust upon children willingly and acceptingly.

Films are fiction. If you are explaining to your kids that a horror film they are watching is real, that's akin to telling them what's in the bible is real.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Oh we're discussing the infamous "Burke raped Reagan" theory here? Oh boy, that's a lot of fun

Let's see, we've discussed that and "Laurie is the killer" in Rob Zombie's Halloween 2. This reminds me of the times people hotly debated the possibility of members of SEELE raped Ritsuko in a certain episode of NGE at EGF. Lotsa fun!

[eiknarf]

I recall Rob Ager at Collativelearning did an in depth analysis about the sexual abuse undertones found in The Exorcist

[Bumblefeet]

Originally Posted by Xen11

OK, what happens when a child views a film and doesn't understand what they're seeing? OH NO!!! Will they ask QUESTIONS?!!!! OH THE HORROR!!!!

A lot of people are uncomfortable with the truth and reality. Stop hiding reality from children and filling their heads with nonsense. Explain the truth to them. But I guess the problem with that advice, is that most people don't understand the truth themselves because they were lied to as children.
It's a cycle of abuse.
Which is what The Exorcist is about.

Don't ignore children. Explain and listen.

It isn't about "the truth" or hiding reality. You guys are all over the place; what the ****, do you really need R-rated and above fiction movies to tell you what's the truth lol? They are the mind product of hollywood! They are mostly entertainment and occasionally art for ADULTS, not children.

You mention religion, you make it sound as if (horror) films are a better textbook for educating children, is this what I'm reading here?

Do you even think before you post?

[EvilResident]

A 3 year-old does not have the capacity to understand that what they are watching is fiction. They don't understand what fiction is. They do not have the tools to even understand concepts like the difference between fiction and reality. This isn't condescending to the child, it's science.

Shielding them from complex adult themes and graphic violence isn't censorship, it's responsibility. As the adult, you should be protecting them from potential harm.

My day job is in child development, and some of these comments people are making are borderline sociopathic.

I have no problems with watching horror at a young age. I started around 9 or 10. But 3?! Come on, you have got to be joking.

Edit: for the record, I do feel the same way about religion, but that's a much more complex issue of culture and upbringing.

[Bumblefeet]

Originally Posted by Xen11

Like religion.

But that's thrust upon children willingly and acceptingly.

Films are fiction. If you are explaining to your kids that a horror film they are watching is real, that's akin to telling them what's in the bible is real.

Even The Passion of the Christ got rated. Don't give me this bullshit!

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by Xen11

I think watching films of any kind, particularly scifi and horror, at a very young age is a very positive thing for a person/child. It opens up their minds to the sharing of imagination, which is what films are. In films, anything is possible.

Watching a horror film can be a very positive experience. Sure, it can be horrifying and the kid can have nightmares. But once they realize the truth, and they will (if they somehow don't already know), that these are just movies and made by people as fiction, they learn that fear is manufactured. They learn probably the most important lesson a person growing up in society can acquire: 'Don't believe everything you see or that you're told.' 'Think for yourself'. This is EXTREMELY beneficial to a human being. It can be the difference between growing up to be an individual or a mindless drone of society that makes decisions based on fear through propaganda/religion and news (especially something like FOX News).

I find that adult cinema at an early age opens up the mind to reality and imagination.


As to actual snuff films like beheadings or rape, of course they shouldn't see that. No one should.
I saw that fuzzy video many years back of a U.S. soldier beheaded by an opposing religious faction. It was extremely disturbing and traumatizing as an adult. I'll never watch another video like that ever again if I can help it. The thing about that video was that it wasn't that easy to see any detail or gore. You can clearly see the head removed from the body but what's disturbing is the fact that its real and that most of humanity is brainwashed by religion to want to do these things. It reminded me of my religious redneck family (and most people in the South) that does the same thing to innocent and helpless "animals".



Cinema is a safe haven to explore dreams and the imagination. The fact that its not real and not announced as such (unlike other manufactured narratives such as the news or the bible) is what makes it intelligent.

If a child is terrified of a fictional film, believing it to be real, imagine the positive revelation when that child finds out its only just a movie. That child will now question everything.
If a child is sheltered and shielded from imaginative fiction and only programmed with things that are taken as true to most of society (news, the bible, Kim Jong Il / propaganda) will that child, growing up, learn to question anything? Will their imagination be limited to the "reality" pulled over their eyes?


From what I've experienced, people that have watched cinema at a very early age tend to be more aware and knowledgeable individuals (sane) unlike the religious nutjobs that were sheltered from films in their developing years and now only live by the teachings of the church that mommy and daddy smothered them with throughout those important early years.

I think you way over rate cinema. And way under rate the other products of thousands of years of human existence.

Cinema has it's virtues, but it's not the "new religion" you are making it out to be here.

[Xen11]

Originally Posted by EvilResident

A 3 year-old does not have the capacity to understand that what they are watching is fiction. They don't understand what fiction is. They do not have the tools to even understand concepts like the difference between fiction and reality. This isn't condescending to the child, it's science.

Shielding them from complex adult themes and graphic violence isn't censorship, it's responsibility. As the adult, you should be protecting them from potential harm.

My day job is in child development, and some of these comments people are making are borderline sociopathic.

I have no problems with watching horror at a young age. I started around 9 or 10. But 3?! Come on, you have got to be joking.

Edit: for the record, I do feel the same way about religion, but that's a much more complex issue of culture and upbringing.

Whoa, 3 year olds are not that stupid. Some are. But that's a direct correlation to their upbringing and environment (Parents). A 3 year old has the capacity to know fiction from reality.

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by Xen11

Whoa, 3 year olds are not that stupid. Some are. But that's a direct correlation to their upbringing and environment (Parents). A 3 year old has the capacity to know fiction from reality.

Some adults can barely separate fiction from reality...

[balthazar_bee]

I thought Xen made some very interesting points.

I mean, it couldn't scale the heights of "Shipped!!!! " or "Did it come iwth a slip? ", but Rome wasn't built in a day.

[Dylan34]

Hey I've got a great idea. How about we actually discuss the discs to this set. I'll start. I personally think Exorcist 3 looks better that what the site's review says. Its the best I've ever seen it look. Now E2, not so much. Only a few scenes here and there stand out as decent. Most of the film is flat, murky, and totally lacking any real detail. Beginning looks pretty good and Dominion has a lot of halos surrounding outlines. The set is ok but could have really used some great extras and especially new commentaries for the sequels/prequels. Warner's dropped the ball on that aspect.

[EvilResident]

Originally Posted by Xen11

Whoa, 3 year olds are not that stupid. Some are. But that's a direct correlation to their upbringing and environment (Parents). A 3 year old has the capacity to know fiction from reality.

You clearly do not understand how developing brains work. It takes around 300-700 repetitions of any given thing to create a connection in a toddler's brain for them to learn something. This is, again, science. Comprehension of anything particularly complex does not enter the picture until closer to age 5-6, though I still wouldn't recommend showing them the exorcist. The brain goes through an overhaul around the 4-6 year mark, where the paths made during early development get more organized. Much of the earlier information gets thrown out, this is why most people only have a few memories from pre age 4.

Look, I work with very, very small children. Every day I see parents who think their kid is special or different. THEIR kid isn't like these other kids. THEIR kid can watch The Exorcist and understand that it's pretend.

It's just not true. Those parents are the worst because their kids are the ones who always end up having the most problems. Very young children NEED limits and boundaries and guidance, not free reign.

[EvilResident]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

Hey I've got a great idea. How about we actually discuss the discs to this set. I'll start. I personally think Exorcist 3 looks better that what the site's review says. Its the best I've ever seen it look. Now E2, not so much. Only a few scenes here and there stand out as decent. Most of the film is flat, murky, and totally lacking any real detail. Beginning looks pretty good and Dominion has a lot of halos surrounding outlines. The set is ok but could have really used some great extras and especially new commentaries for the sequels/prequels. Warner's dropped the ball on that aspect.

I agree. I was shocked at how good E3 looked after reading the review. I thought it looked like a brand new movie.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by EvilResident

I agree. I was shocked at how good E3 looked after reading the review. I thought it looked like a brand new movie.

Definitely so. I'm glad too because it's my favorite after the orginal. Now, it had been a while since I had seen E2 and what a stinker it is. But, it's a guilty pleasure of mine. The acting is laughable at times from the entire cast; the lines and the line delivery themselves. I don't have a favorite between the prequels.

[Xen11]

Originally Posted by EvilResident

You clearly do not understand how developing brains work. It takes around 300-700 repetitions of any given thing to create a connection in a toddler's brain for them to learn something. This is, again, science. Comprehension of anything particularly complex does not enter the picture until closer to age 5-6, though I still wouldn't recommend showing them the exorcist. The brain goes through an overhaul around the 4-6 year mark, where the paths made during early development get more organized. Much of the earlier information gets thrown out, this is why most people only have a few memories from pre age 4.

Look, I work with very, very small children. Every day I see parents who think their kid is special or different. THEIR kid isn't like these other kids. THEIR kid can watch The Exorcist and understand that it's pretend.

It's just not true. Those parents are the worst because their kids are the ones who always end up having the most problems. Very young children NEED limits and boundaries and guidance, not free reign.

Oh, I understand perfectly. I don't necessarily recommend showing a 3 year old the Exorcist, but that doesn't mean I object to a 3 year old willingly watching it.

Why don't you explain what would happen if a 3 year old (technically that means they are in their 4th year of life outside the womb) watched The Exorcist?

Obviously, they will probably have nightmares. But, according to all the experts here, and other places, they won't comprehend what they're watching. So what difference does that make?

What is going to happen? Will they spin their heads around? Float in the air? Perform an exorcism? Splash holy water on someone? "Make raspberry jam with a crucifix and then make their mother taste it?"

What happens?

Apparently they're stupid, can't understand, and can't remember.

[Xen11]

Can anybody sum up what problems people have with this set? I asked this question before and got no response.

I give a look around the boards, but all I see is talk of shipping it from Canada or the U.S. and not getting their packages in time for the full moon or something that involves a deadline.

Well, I guess we know one problem is that 3 year olds can defy people's expectations and watch The Exorcist without their heads exploding.

[#Darren]

[Show spoiler]

[PowellPressburger]

If you haven't seen the film yet Don't read my post slight spoilers ahead.

I finally watched Exorcist II over the weekend. (I've seen a few clips here and there on cable tv years back but I didn't recall any of it)

I have to say the movie was a trainwreck, I was expecting a trip to crazytown by way of so bad it is good type horror film. The movie is just bad. I always hate when a sequel happens I.Q.s drop for part II. No one seemed to question Merrian's death at all but here it seems the church isn't sure.

We have Louise Fletcher working with Reagan. End of part I they were thrilled she wasn't remembering any of the events that took place. Sequel get confused, the Dr flip flops on this topic. The "flashback" part I scenes are truly awful. Esp the shots where you could see out side the window in the room.

btw what crappy airline did the Dr and Kitty Winn's character take to get to D.C.! Did you see the inside of that plane! The locust stuff wasn't as crazy as I'd hoped but it was still an odd touch. I didn't really care for those stylized studio scenes in Africa (was it Africa?) It is hard to beat the original films authentic Iraq location shooting for realism. The final irritation was that piece of music that is played during the opening credits and later on in the film. It is an obvious throwback to the original opening of Exorcist but annoyingly bad!

I was going to watch Exorcist III but decided to wait but I did watch the film thru the opening credits to see if I recalled much of it. (I watched it in theaters back in 1990 by myself when I was 12 yrs old! yes it scary but not as much as the first film when I was that age)

The Low end sub on Exorcist III WTF! Godzilla (2014) isn't that potent! I had to turn my sub down and turn it down even more! I agree with the others that have noted over the years the low end has been pushed beyond what it needs to be.

[Xen11]

Originally Posted by #Darren

[Show spoiler]

"That's a cartoon. It's perfectly OK to let a 3 year old, even a 2 or 1 year old watch. " - said Society.