The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology (1973-2005)

[#Darren]

I also prefer the theatrical.

[JimSmith]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

I much prefer the theatrical cut. The spider walk scene is laughable and the additional scene with the two priests discussing the demon's motive and the extended ending were both completely unnecessary.

I sure do wish that people would quit saying that scenes in this film are "laughable"!!

[OI8T12]

Originally Posted by JimSmith

I sure do wish that people would quit saying that scenes in this film are "laughable"!!

Well they are entitled to their own opinions. Even if they're wrong.

[BNex99]

I also vastly prefer the theatrical cut.

The examination scene does fill in a gap, but it feels interminable and makes the first act feel even slower than it did before. The spider-walk scene is silly. I can take or leave the dialogue between the two priests on the stairs. It's not overly intrusive, but it is kind of redundant.

I also dislike all the added computer-generated demon faces and other digital enhancements, which actually take away from the realism the filmmakers were originally going for, IMO. The worst is during the psychiatrist scene, when Regan's face actually morphs into the demon's, which makes no sense in the context of the story.

The extra sound effects scattered throughout are also distracting, especially when Damien sees his mother on Regan's bed, and we hear hospital noises. I much preferred the eerie silence that was there before.

Above all that, though, the ending is what really destroys the extended version for me. It's over; we don't need to sit around and listen to Kinderman and Dyer talk about catching a movie together.

However, I know the extended version has its fans, and I'm glad it's available for them.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by BNex99

I also vastly prefer the theatrical cut.

The examination scene does fill in a gap, but it feels interminable and makes the first act feel even slower than it did before. The spider-walk scene is silly. I can take or leave the dialogue between the two priests on the stairs. It's not overly intrusive, but it is kind of redundant.

I also dislike all the added computer-generated demon faces and other digital enhancements, which actually take away from the realism the filmmakers were originally going for, IMO. The worst is during the psychiatrist scene, when Regan's face actually morphs into the demon's, which makes no sense in the context of the story.

The extra sound effects scattered throughout are also distracting, especially when Damien sees his mother on Regan's bed, and we hear hospital noises. I much preferred the eerie silence that was there before.

Above all that, though, the ending is what really destroys the extended version for me. It's over; we don't need to sit around and listen to Kinderman and Dyer talk about catching a movie together.

However, I know the extended version has its fans, and I'm glad it's available for them.

I don't care for the face morph for sure and all the CGI stuff was removed except the demon face over the vent hood which I'm glad for, they should have removed that one as well.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by BrianS

Doesn't look like Cinemax was showing The Exorcist in August 2006. They were showing Exorcist The Beginning in July:

http://www.angelfire.com/nm/m/zHBO2006july.html

They were, however, showing The Exorcist in June 2006, but with only 2 hours 15 minutes before the next program:

http://www.angelfire.com/bc/diet/zHBO2006june.html

See if can pull listing for every cinemax, HBO, and Starz. They have like 6 to 8 different ones. Try cinemax thriller and let me know please.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by BrianS

Yeah, MoreMax showed it in August 2006. Unfortunately, there's nothing afterwards in the listing. Ugh...that's no help.

http://www.angelfire.com/bc/diet/zMonster2006aug.html

Yep, that's it. See if you can dig up a running Mr Brian

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by BNex99

I also vastly prefer the theatrical cut.

The examination scene does fill in a gap, but it feels interminable and makes the first act feel even slower than it did before. The spider-walk scene is silly. I can take or leave the dialogue between the two priests on the stairs. It's not overly intrusive, but it is kind of redundant.

I also dislike all the added computer-generated demon faces and other digital enhancements, which actually take away from the realism the filmmakers were originally going for, IMO. The worst is during the psychiatrist scene, when Regan's face actually morphs into the demon's, which makes no sense in the context of the story.

The extra sound effects scattered throughout are also distracting, especially when Damien sees his mother on Regan's bed, and we hear hospital noises. I much preferred the eerie silence that was there before.

Above all that, though, the ending is what really destroys the extended version for me. It's over; we don't need to sit around and listen to Kinderman and Dyer talk about catching a movie together.

However, I know the extended version has its fans, and I'm glad it's available for them.

Agreed on all counts. The priest confab on the stairs, I can take or leave, and I think they maybe could've used about half of the examination scene. But I don't think any of the other additions work at all. So yeah, between the two cuts, the theatrical is definitely the one I prefer, and the one I recommend to others who haven't seen the film.

[JimSmith]

Originally Posted by BNex99

I also vastly prefer the theatrical cut.

The examination scene does fill in a gap, but it feels interminable and makes the first act feel even slower than it did before. The spider-walk scene is silly. I can take or leave the dialogue between the two priests on the stairs. It's not overly intrusive, but it is kind of redundant.

I also dislike all the added computer-generated demon faces and other digital enhancements, which actually take away from the realism the filmmakers were originally going for, IMO. The worst is during the psychiatrist scene, when Regan's face actually morphs into the demon's, which makes no sense in the context of the story.

The extra sound effects scattered throughout are also distracting, especially when Damien sees his mother on Regan's bed, and we hear hospital noises. I much preferred the eerie silence that was there before.

Above all that, though, the ending is what really destroys the extended version for me. It's over; we don't need to sit around and listen to Kinderman and Dyer talk about catching a movie together.

However, I know the extended version has its fans, and I'm glad it's available for them.

You know the two priests sitting on the stairs NOT talking kinda does speak volumes!

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by BrianS

Yeah, that was my initial intention. Unfortunately, it seems to be almost impossible to find old cable TV listings. Network TV listings can be found going back for decades. Oh well. I'm sure you saw it, but like you said, there's just nothing out there to back it up.

Yeah, it's a shame. I'm 100 percent certain what I saw. Hopefully, it will one day again turn up.

[JimSmith]

Who else here believes that Mike Farrell from mash narrates one of the trailers and tv spots to this film? Who else here has spotted it?

[HeavyHitter]

Are the transfers identical between the theatrical and extended cut of the first movie? I've never compared them.

[JimSmith]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Are the transfers identical between the theatrical and extended cut of the first movie? I've never compared them.

Read the review here on the site or go to dvdbeaver.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by JimSmith

Read the review here on the site or go to dvdbeaver.

The site review does not say anything specifically about my question.

DVD Beaver is not a reputable site for reviews (or screencaps) as far as I am concerned.

[JimSmith]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

The site review does not say anything specifically about my question.

DVD Beaver is not a reputable site for reviews (or screencaps) as far as I am concerned.

What's your beef with dvdbeaver?

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by JimSmith

What's your beef with dvdbeaver?

Years of doing sometimes incorrect screencaps and I often don't think I'm watching the same disc as their main reviewer (Gary?).

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Are the transfers identical between the theatrical and extended cut of the first movie? I've never compared them.

They are very, very, close. Both transfers come from 4k masters of the OCN. Both are outstanding looking!!!

[SymbioticFunction]

I thought the darker scenes when Karras visits his mother could have looked a lot better.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by SymbioticFunction

I thought the darker scenes when Karras visits his mother could have looked a lot better.

Yeah, a higher bitrate would have fixed a couple of minor problems here and there.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

They are very, very, close. Both transfers come from 4k masters of the OCN. Both are outstanding looking!!!

Yep, I watched the extended version recently and it looked good. As discussed, I wish Warner would have been using AVC at the time of encoding (although no guarantee they would have used higher bit rates with it lol), but all in all, they did a nice job with it.