Cool News
EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING (Harlin Version) review
Sorry about not having the review for this up Friday morning, but due to the late Thursday screening and the early morning shoot for my UK show… Much needed beauty rest was required. That whole avocado mask and cucumber eye patches gets in the way when typing, but makes me glow… And baby, I just have to glow.
Anyway – Why was Warner Brothers hiding EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING. While it isn’t great, it’s vastly superior to Paul W.S. Anderson’s curiously entertaining floater, but it still isn’t a great film… or even necessarily a good one. However, there is something fascinating with EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING… Watching the film, I couldn’t help, but think that there was a great film in there somewhere.
Now, we’ve all heard that this film uses only 20 minutes of Paul Schrader’s original film and the rest is 100% Renny Harlin… of that about 40% seems to be the worst CG that I’ve ever seen in a major release film. Matte shots that don’t marry with the on-set locations – and where you see visible distortions or less 3-D effects and something more akin to “Multi-Plane” old school Disney Animation quality effects. All creature (birds, hyenas, possessed person) effects are not only awful, but completely out of place and unnecessary.
This is a very schizophrenic film, never really settling down to just tell Merrin’s story, which is what I wanted. It seems that most any subtlety is lost in favor of two-fisted jump scares, lousy CG and really foul and unnecessary gore. That being said, Stellan Skarsgard’s performance is so strong that even with ludicrously awful effects, action and attempts at horror… he still comes away looking good.
Right from the beginning you get a feeling how ludicrous this is going to be with this ancient carnage and aftermath of some unholy battle took place and a single remaining holy fighter survives… he tries to make off with Pazuzu’s stone lil head, but the corpse comes back to life clutching it…. One with half it’s head cleaved down the middle and impaled into the ground… well, suddenly there’s one of those 2.5 mile pullbacks in 3 seconds past endless upside-down crucified soldiers. Which just felt… terrible. Wouldn’t the more effective shot be to have the camera come around the priest to over his shoulder as he turns in a circle to behold the carnage himself, while having a good actor emote an overwhelming sense of grief, torment, shock? Of course, the crazy VIRTUAL CAMERA move does nothing, but disconnect the audience from any sense of reality… it’s like a poorly done computer enhanced Evil Dead shot – stuck in the midst of the EXORCIST saga for NO REASON WHATSOEVER.
After this, we get this terrible matte painting of late 40’s Cairo – with the worst rendered blending of plates I’ve ever seen… pre- or post-CG development. Truly awful. Albert Whitlock’s ancient practice of hand animating steam and smoke was far more effective. This was truly shocking to see this level of effects ineptitude in this day and age.
I know I sound extremely harsh on this, but if you’re going to do effects, finance them to completion or to some degree of stylistic consistency that fits the film, rather than fights it. I guess the reason it is so noticeable is that the cinematography from Vittorio Storaro is breathtaking at times and to have a radical shift in visual quality… hell, there’s times where they use still, blown-up photographs for backgrounds… which is just really really unfortunate.
There is also an absurd amount of just bullshit going on in this film that unnecessarily clutters the film with unneeded action and drama… which actually drains away from the main story which is that there is something wrong here, and that Merrin has to find his faith and battle the liar of liars for the life of someone dear.
There’s this pus-faced freak in the film that may very well be the worst character part I’ve seen this year. Along with the worst physical make-up in a horror film of this budget level. REALLY BADLY DONE.
OK… so what do I like… When the movie is still, when we aren’t leaving scenes too quickly… when there’s something being observed and noted as being wrong. The production design for the physical sets, the church… the concept of the Jackal attack – but not the animation of it… and I like the way the possession plays with one’s expectations. NOW… here’s the part that drives me crazy…
The final 20 minutes… I believe, if you were to remove EVERY LAST SINGLE MOMENT of CG from this sequence… added music that felt like THE EXORCIST… and let the conversations between Merrin and the liar of liars be played out more… then this could have been great. However, due to the CG shortcomings and sheer ludicrousness… it plays like a crazed hopped up on Stephen Sommers’ morning coffee animation, stuck in the midst of dramatic tension that he could never pray to accomplish. The wildly divergent tastes of these scenes makes for something completely ineffective. I mean, literally… I can sit through this last 20 minutes going, “COOL” and “AW FUCK” back and forth 10 times a minute. It’s insane. I’ve never seen this exact level of lame lunacy before.
However, the greatest failure of all… is the music. There is a terrible wasted opportunity here… I have the Exorcist’s TUBULAR BELLS theme as a ringer on my cel phone… before the movie, I set it off to claps from a few folks around us. The ringer is set for only one person’s phone number if they should call… that being William Friedkin. Heh. Just like how the HALLOWEEN ringer only plays for John Carpenter. I just can’t resist. Just like how Godfather plays for my Dad and my GodFather’s Son. Heh. My cel phone is film geek modified. Just can’t help myself… HOWEVER, back to my point… With this film being the origin of Father Merrin, a composer had the opportunity to dissect and build to the final reveal of TUBULAR BELLS right as Merrin walks away from that table at the end… Not using this theme is akin to Roland Emmerich not instructing David Arnold to make use of Akira Ifukube’s heroic Godzilla March… It’s like… we all know that when John Williams reintroduces the Imperial March in the next Star Wars films… there will be shouts of joy from the audience… and ya just know exactly where it’ll happen, or else Lucas’ head will be served to geek-kind! The missed opportunity musically is sad, it could have lent a much needed sense of iconic stature to the emerging of Father Merrin from Lancaster.
Ya know, I heard some people claim this was the 2nd Best EXORCIST film, but frankly… when I came home last night, I decided to rewatch William Peter Blatty’s EXORCIST III… and ya know what? Blatty's film kicks the living shit out of Renny’s popcorn balls.
I get the sense this “coulda beena contenda,” but it only succeeds in being a slightly enjoyable mediocre film amongst a lot of distracting unnecessary over bloated bullshit. Oh well…
-
+ Expand All
-
I was looking forward to this, even as a Renny harlin cut. Pity it worked out like this...still will see it tho and also see shraders cut on dvd.
-
Aug 21, 2004 5:20:08 AM CDT
Hey look everybody! Harry just threw out another backhanded Paul
by tall_boy
horray! I've never seen that before! wow! So original! Really!
-
man, that was a great Freddy
-
It's an empty, soulless affair with excessive gore and "jolts" in place of genuine scares. I enjoy some of Renny's movies but he's no better than Paul Anderson in my book. It's obvious that no one wanted to the job after what happened to Shrader and I guess Renny needed the work (when's MINDHUNTERS coming out again?). Too bad. This is definitely one of the worst films I've seen all year.
-
Aug 21, 2004 6:02:55 AM CDT
However, there is something fascinating with EXORCIST: THE BEGIN
by sepulchrave
Oh really? WHAT A SURPRISE...
and everybody else is inequvocal in their utter contempt and condemnation of a pathetic ugly and badly made film.
I've said it before...Harry is a shill.
-
About half way through this crapfest I turned to my girlfriend and said, "You know, I've seen more realisticly convincing CGI on my old Pitfall Harry game for Intellivision..."
-
Aug 21, 2004 7:01:33 AM CDT
This Film Was Truly Mediocre. Introducing The Master of Pain, th
by the founder
I was so disappointed in this movie, I mean we have the greatest evil of all time who really hasn't graced the big screen in 31 years to scare people so bad that some went to the hospital, and he returns and well nothing. SPOLIER WARNING............................................................The movie is full of scenes that are supposed to make you jump and a few gory scenes that have no effect, all the while hinting up to Satan, and when he finally makes his presence known it's last 5 minutes of the film, and it's weak as shyt. This movie doesn't come anywhere near close to the original. How the phuck can a movie put out over 30 years ago scare the shyt out of people all over the world and a supposed great prequel comes out in 2004 and it is nothing more then jump and boo B movie, that has not one real scare. Ashame, truly a shame. Don't waste your money guys, you'll be dissappointed. This wasn't even a popcorn flick, and the fx was terriable. I agree with Harry, some of the worse I've seen.
-
The more I think about it, the more I see this could have been something great. WB(no surprise) had a great horroi franchise on their hands, i mean this could have gone on for a couple of more films, with Father Merrin hunting down the poor souls possesed by Satan. I mean the potential is pretty good, but WB phucked uped another one.
-
Aug 21, 2004 7:16:29 AM CDT
Setting off a cell phone in a cinema results in claps instead of
by salvatoregravano
Dear God. That means the movie must have been truly awful already before it began.
-
Aug 21, 2004 7:19:26 AM CDT
(It can't be worse than Andershit's "Rubber versus Plastic", tho
by salvatoregravano
Or "Van Helsing".
-
Aug 21, 2004 7:21:54 AM CDT
Mindhunters came out on most IRC channels half a year ago.
by salvatoregravano
And was almost as bad as AvP.
-
Aug 21, 2004 7:37:42 AM CDT
Bring out Paul Schrader's version on DVD, which I trust is margi
by fd resurrected
Fuck the studioheads for hiring Paul Schrader expecting a gory horror movie in the first place. What did they expect from Paul's established filmography? Goes to show their goddamned idiocy that MBA/Ph.D in business administration can't cover. I find psychological horror films to be superior in effective fright, particularly the Japanese version of The Ring. Imagination fire up the scare factor more than gagging and turning away from excessively gory images. French gorefest Haute Tension fails as a psychologically frightening horror movie, but its highly detailed F/X gore scenes are sort of masterful in their revulsing way. Excessive gore = entertaining but boring for the jaded and interesting for gorehounds. Psychological horror = depending on establishment of mood, atmosphere, pacing and character development, potentially masterfully staged for fright so few get right with deft skill on film. Shit, The Exorcist: The Beginning supposedly have Caleb Carr and William Wisher Jr as story writers until Renny brought in hack script doctors to fuck up the original draft with Renny's signature shit smear to appease braindead Morgan Creek producers who think gallons of gore matter more than any substance in latest horror movies because it needs to pocket quick money from Fangoria-reading gorehounds and cellphone-toting teenagers. Hollywood have scooped low in search of gold pot (box office jackpot) at the end of the rainbow. Screw art, commerce reigns supreme in Tinseltown. Another reason why I go to the movies to see independent arthouse films that have earned some considerable praise like Maria Full of Grace and The Motorcycle Diaries. These films have more meaning and art than haphazard garbage churned out by the corporate soul of Hollywood.
-
Yes, it has some standard horror scenes. Yes, it has some iffy effects. However, the cast works well, there are some genuine scares, some shocking imagery, and it does actually add to the series (if you can view Exorcist as just another horror film and not as THE GREATEST as some would have you believe), by adding resonance to the statue and totem of Pazuzu when they appear in the original. I also liked the unanswered question of who wanted the totem in the first place. Is he just some wacky art collector or some kind of wealthy Satanist? I have a feeling he or his representatives will play a role in a contemporary-set sequel, especially considering this film's emphasis on the totem. One cool thing about the film is that it actually avoids being a plot retread of the original. Part three started out that way as well, but then the producers felt the need to shoe-horn in a left-field bed-bound exorcism. Another plus is that this film points out once again what a strange fellow this "God" guy must be if he'll allow such evil shenanigans to occur, but it's all okay as long as we believe. Seriously, there is so much carnage in this film (as in real life) that one wonders why God doesn't just say, "Not cool" and smite them all. I guess those kinds of things (along with miracles) only happened before science and cameras. Knowing that this version was rushed and underbudgeted, I can forgive the iffy FX. They'll probably look better on DVD and, who knows, perhaps they'll let Harlin finish it up in a few years time.------------ I recently rewatched the original and was surprised to notice something that had for some reason escaped my attention entirely... Evil Dead pilfers from it every chance it gets. The demonic voices, the make-up, the stopped clock... So it only makes sense that the last sequence of EtB takes a page from the Evil Dead.------------- This movie might also work as a sequel to the Passion. In fact I thank Mel Gibson for making a movie that finally explains how the cross is so magical in vampire movies. However, you'd think that if the cross could burn demons and vampires, then it should be able to melt Jews and Romans no prob. Oh, well, even the greatest stories ever told are allowed to have a plot-hole or two.
-
Nothing much else to say really..Will probably give this film a miss. The Exorcist Directors cut was on tv recently. Pretty freaky. Saw it 1st time with about 8 other people. Not scary. Nice animation Harry. Very clever.
-
i think this one went straight to video
-
And besides Linda Blair already made her Exorcist sequel - its called REPOSSESED with Leslie Nielsen -- a movie which made BIODOME and ISHTAR look like fucking BATTLESHIP POTEMPKIN.
-
'Cause that would be fun. Otherwise... well, I'm ashamed to admit Harry's description of just how bad the effects are kind of makes me want to see this.
-
except when jenna jameson calls then it plays me so horny, or when my drug dealer calls then it plays young sad and high by ryan adams
-
Oh,you mean the 2 minutes of old film news broadcast on Sky Movies every week during the middle of a movie programme?
-
kermoderantahoykermoderantahoykermoderantahoykermoderantahoy
-
Aug 21, 2004 10:23:53 AM CDT
Isn't everyone pre-disposed to hate this film only because anoth
by nflrefugee
The Exorcist is a non-franchise franchise anyway. I love the original, not only scary as hell but great drama. The other two sucked. Part 3 being the better of the sequels, until the Patrick Ewing cameo, that took me out of it. I don't blame Harlin for this mess. It's obvious to me that Morgan Creek (post- Joe Roth one of the most notoriously cheap and cheesy medium studios out there) cut every corner and skimped on the Harlin version as they already paid for a whole film with Schrader. Not the way to make a film.
-
Aug 21, 2004 12:15:18 PM CDT
I liked the casting of Emmanuel Lewis as the possessed kid...
by overmuch
....the scene with the kid helping with the exorcism (if you can call it that) was like watching "A Very Webster Halloween." Otherwise, this movie was a complete and total mess. Couldn't agree with Harry "Friedkin is on my speeddial" Knowles more on this...except for the fact that there was NO hidden great movie there. It was all shit.
-
Dude, were they just not trying with the CGI? Was it purposely bad? I was so disappointed... This wasn't a bad movie for Indiana Jones, but for an Exorcist.. it just didn't hack it. Were the demons not bad enough? If you're movie is lacking in bad guys, come up with a good bad guy, don't just through Nazis in. I feel since they went back in time as far as they did, it took the creepiness out, taking the movie out of it's element. It's a real sahme too. I guess I should reserve judgement until I see the Shrader version though, huh?
-
That has to be a joke. Please tell me that's a jibe to all those that say you're a name dropper. 'Cause if not...why?
-
...kill them...
...kill them all.
...do it.
now.
-
I was built by Harry when he was eight years old. I'm a protocol phone programmed with over six million individual ringtones.BTW, the Close Encounters theme plays for Steven Spielberg. I can also communicate with the binary sweat vaporators under Harry's man-boobs.
-
Yet you praise "films" with tentacle rape and and exploding vaginas. Ummm...yeah. That aside, your review pretty much confirmed my suspicions.
-
Aug 21, 2004 2:21:05 PM CDT
When Friedkin calls me my phone cries out, "Miserable failure, w
by nflrefugee
Sherry Lansing is truly a saint to take in that stray puppy. Was a good filmmaker at one point. Before he made Pacino go gay.
-
George C. Scott only appeared in The Excorcist III. He was not in The Excorcist. Or the Excorcist II: The Heretic. AND: His had been a household name for quite awhile before that. A few examples: Dr.Strangelove (1964), PATTON (1970), Hindenburg (1975), Christmas Carol (1984). His was certainly a household name when he bacame the first actor to refuse an academy award (1970, Best Actor, Patton). Of course, he was also nominated for a Razzie (didn't win though) for his performance in Excorcist III (personally I liked that one), but as Gen. Buck Turgidson said: "Well, I, uh, don't think it's quite fair to condemn a whole program because of a single slip-up, sir."
As for being glad he's dead, yes, me too, otherwise he's be rather uncomfortable in that casket for the last 5 years. (you ignorant ass)
-
Aug 21, 2004 2:52:56 PM CDT
Harry you want a major coup - one that will restore our faith in
by spacesheik
that would do the trick - surely harry with all the connections can get his hands on the schrader version before the dvd release?
-
I think AL Pacino was gay a long time before CRUISING! But I understand that many people's own sexual insecurities prevent them from appreciating this fine, if flawed, film. I guess you like Billy Friedkins earlier stuff better, like "Sonny & Cher in Good Times" or "The Night They Raided Minsky's"?
-
It was actually published in a Finnish newspaper:
Renny Harlin -
Oh my gawd -
Oh my darlin' -
What a clod! -
His awful turds -
Will get a reaction -
What Hussein did to Kurds -
He does to action -
His apparent stupidity -
It has no equal -
He stripped the validity -
Of the first Die Hard sequel -
Instead of action scenes -
That were tough and had a brain -
We get fakey blue screens -
Of John flying out of a plane -
It's all so frickin lame -
Our hopes Harlin shatters -
The cast looks so ashamed -
Even Carl from Family Matters -
But lo! That wasn't it -
We weren't left alone -
For Harlin made more sh!t -
This time with Sly Stallone. -
The movie's called Cliffhanger -
It co-starred Michael Rooker -
It's like a herpes-laden wanger -
After screwing a she-male hooker -
The many special effects -
Are supposed to be a WOW! -
But you'll only reflect -
About the chin on John Lithgow -
Next came Cutthroat Island -
A movie I did not see -
For I'd rather go to Thailand -
And have a guy chop off my wee. -
It was a huge bomb -
The public got it right -
But when you thought he was gone -
Came The Long Kiss Goodnight. -
Does anyone else here think -
That it was a monumental crime -
That despite its awful stink -
This was the best selling script of all time? -
What did Shane Black write -
That made people so giddy -
"She's says a joke and they fight -
Man I'm so damn witty!" -
And if you thought "Hark! -
Renny couldn't be more gay!" -
See his film with the shark -
That starred LL COOl J. -
It's like a turd-topped waffle -
With a side of toilet scum -
The shark effects were awful -
Worse than that ad for Trident gum -
Harlin is the pits -
He'll never be forgiven -
For turning out more sh!t -
This time called Driven -
He's made so much dung -
He's such a f-cking dope -
That he should be hung -
From his long hair, instead of rope. - -
Aug 21, 2004 3:44:25 PM CDT
Say what again? Wasn't the Imperial March on the End of AOTC?
by judge doom
At least it was something very loud that went like DA-DA-DA DA DA DA, DA DA DA. DA-DA-DA DA DA DA, DA DA DA. DE DA DE DA DADADADA, DE-DA-DE DADADADA, DADA DA DA DA DA DADA!
-
Harry, it would be great to get the scoop on the Schrader version. That's the one everyone is really interested in.
-
"I can sit through this last 20 minutes going, “COOL” and “AW FUCK” back and forth 10 times a minute." -That's how I felt during the entirety of "The Cronicles of Riddick".
-
I don`t profess to be a leading authority in film,sadly,like Harry himself,you believe Harry is.Stoopid is as stoopid does....
-
Aug 21, 2004 6:01:24 PM CDT
That bloke with the shears in EXORCISTIII made me shit my pants
by fletchwon
They could totally make a 5TH Exorcist movie 'EXORCIST V:Ressurection'- they could have it set in space with the government using technologically enhanced demons to fight possessed people IN THE FUTURE!
there could possibly be a volcano in it and a speed boat chase!
and i think they should get the bloke who directed YOUNG GUNS 2:Blaze of Glory to direct it....that movie WAS THE SHITS! -
Was in the Exorcist part III in the hospital, so unexpected, even the harsh camera zoom added to the craziness of it all, just... tasty. Can someone let me know if the rumour of Schraders version being released on DVD is true?.. if so, huzzah!! Warners have met thier quota of 3 things they did right in a year (the other 2 of course are hiring Bryan Singer, which should satisfy the requirement for 1 good thing next year, and the new Batman flick). Being an Aussie we don't get the movies you all get until a few weeks later, so I read reviews to find out everyone's impressions, I was afraid that this movie was going to be popcorn balls, instead of an intense psychological thriller (which I hear Schraders version is exactly that).. anyway, can someone let me know if the other version will be released on DVD please?. thanks in advance.
-
Someone should clue the suits to Peter F. Hamilton's series "The Reality Dysfunction". It's a saga about someone finally getting a Satanic ritual right, and opening up a portal to lost souls and demons who promptly begin to possess the high-technology societies of the 34th century. By that time, of course, no one believes in possession, which only makes the shit hit the fan all that much harder. Also the possessed aren't very good at possessing, they give their hosts cancers, etc. Really futuristic and gothic at the same time.
-
...for one sentence not to be a run-on? It's like reading an 8-year-old's paper on dinosaurs. One in which they interrupt the thing in the middle to talk about something unimportant and incoherent to said paper. Like how a cell phone works. Anyway, EtB was doomed from the start. The reason the first was so good was because of Blatty and Friedken. Like the first Jurassic Park was so good because of Spielberg...and the little girl who acted by expression. Bring her in for #4, bastards.
-
With all the great psychological thrillers like "Silence of the Lambs" and anything ever made by Hitchcock, why the heck do the Hollywood bigshots think we can't handle a psychological thriller-style Exorcist film? In my opinion, Harlin's piece-of-crap gorefest should be the one going direct-to-video, and Paul Schrader's flick should be the one in theaters now. Think about all the DTV horror crap out there. Harlin's film sounds no different. By the way, good review, Harry.
-
20 years as a tea boy runner, no wonder you feel the system is fucked.
-
"Wouldn
-
Aug 21, 2004 7:19:37 PM CDT
i also shit myself at that bit with the 'crazy fiddler' in "THE
by fletchwon
"Wouldn
-
I read that this summer too and thought it was great. I don't know about a movie though. I think the story is too big and it could easily end up looking like crap. To do it right would require a hell of a budget (no pun intended) so hopefully a major studio will get behind it and do it right if it is in the works. Non-CGI Hadals would be a start.
I read his newer book "Year Zero" and it's worth picking up, too.
(Everyone that doesn't know what I'm talking about, "The Descent" is a horror/adventure book about an expedition into literally hell when it is discovered deep under the surface of the Earth. It's better then it sounds. The author is Jeff Long.) -
...and Exorcist: The Beginning looks like shit. Dammit, Harlin once made Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger. WTF happened?
-
Most underrated horror film ever.
-
If this isn't the worst film that I have ever seen, I would be hard pressed to think of another. You know what? I would rather have seen the movie that was scrapped. Director Renny Harlin has no idea how to scare his audience. He mistakes gore for horror. Worse, he targets children as victims of these gratuitous acts of violence. He shows (in graphic detail) a child being torn apart by hyenas (albeit, bad computer generated ones)... a woman deliver a stillborn baby that is covered with flesh-eating maggots... children being shot squarely in the head by Nazis. The story is equally insulting as well - particularly to anyone of jewish faith. The possessed woman in the film is clearly jewish but is only saved by a fallen priest conducting a Catholic exorcism? The director even goes so far as to have the jewish woman kissing the priest's crucifix at the end of the movie thanking him for her salvation. The priest turns to the child and tells him that the woman is with God now (we assume because she has accepted Christ into her heart). Oh brother... what sheer propaganda. I was raised Catholic, and even I was insulted by this. This movie was so bad it almost makes Exorcist 2: The Heretic look like a masterpiece.
-
Aug 22, 2004 12:56:19 AM CDT
Mine plays "Honeymooner's Rap" whenever Piscopo calls
by crimson dynamo
-
Alien was a horror film with the trappings of sci-fi, it had a slow and wicked build up of dread. The alien was not seen in totality. It involved the audiences subconscious. This is what horror should be. The second Alien movie was an amusement park ride with Ripley being mother to "Newt" or whatever the name of that damn McGuffin kid was. Complete with stomach churning one liners from Ripley in her destructo machine to make the audience yell,"right on" at the right moments. It looks like this movie follows suit. If you can't direct horror well, it's easy to go for the video game thrill ride schtick. Such a shame we have so few good horror directors out there anymore. Another turd hits the bowl. Splash!
-
THE HAUNTING? I seem to remember five legitimate actors making fools of themselves in the Haunted Mansion at DisneyLand. And alot of slimy glassy CGI.
-
Is almost as horrible as Bay. Has he ever made a movies that was remotely good?
-
IF SOME COKED OUT, BALD ON TOP, PONYTAIL HAVING,"PRODUCER" ON HIS PORCHES LICENSES PLATE HAVING DICKWAD MOVIE EXEC. TOLD HIM TO MAKE ALL THE ALIENS SHORT AND BLUE BECOUSE THEY SHOWED TEST AUDIENCES 2 HOURS OF SMURF RERUNS HE WOULD DO IT, HE WOULDNT FIGHT AGAINST IT, HE WOULDNT SAY HOW MUCH OF A BAD IDEA IT WAS,IN FACT HE WOULD NOT GO TO BAT FOR THE MOVIE AT ALL. HE WOULD JUST FUCKIN DO IT FOR HIS PAYCHECK,AND THATS WHY HE SUCKS. HE CAN MAKE MOVIES,BUT HE DOESNT LOVE OR LIKE THEM.
-
Aug 22, 2004 3:57:17 AM CDT
TUBULAR BELLS was used very effectively in the teaser trailer...
by frankdrebin
It was played backwards, while that iconic scene of Father Merrin approaching the house through the fog was also run backwards, to indicate that we're moving back in time to "the beginning". And if Mike Oldfield let them use the music for the trailer, I'm sure it wasn't him blocking it's use in the movie.
-
Just saw it... Even Skarsgard couldnt save it... 1-5 stars! Man if Satan isnt scary anymore wtf will be...
-
Cause I can't remember one. Cheers...
-
Are you suggesting that these were good films? Ford Fairlane was the only semi-decent film Harlin has hacked up and to be honest, anyone could have made them.
-
Aug 22, 2004 7:02:16 AM CDT
The Descent is a repulsive ripoff of LeRouge and Verne...
by salvatoregravano
...and consists of a mish-mash of moronic ideas, out-of-the-blue, never-mentioned-again pseudoconcepts - the hack throws in anything he can find, even some reincarnation idiocy that he never speaks of outside the chapter it's in - and the most predictable "villain revelation" since Scooby Doo. Perfect for Renny Harlin to adapt.
-
Not Harlin.
-
...actually I can't really remember the last time I was really enthusiastic about seeing a film. What a shower of bollocks! I can't wait to see Max Sydow's Jesus take on Willem Dafoe's Jesus and Jim Caviezel's Jesus in 'JC v JC v JC: Trinity - Golgotha Smakkkdown'. What a cabal of syphilitic whoremongers these studio honchos be.
-
...might come of this. If nothing else, maybe people will finally get around to reevaluating Exorcist III -- a seriously creepy and disturbing horror film. I guess Long Kiss Goodnight was the only good movie Harlin had within him.
-
Aug 22, 2004 10:48:23 AM CDT
Ever since I heard that Harlin was directing I knew that it woul
by eye_h8_u
Seriously, the studios are only hiring the hacks these days to kill off all our beloved franchises. I still blame Renny Harlin for shoving a stake through the heart and soul of the Nightmare on Elm Sttreet series. "Dream Master" was the first of the campy, comical, shitty Freddy movies culminating in Freddy'd Dead. All this guys movies are shite. He deserves to be in the hack hall of fame along w/ the likes of Uwe(no Vision)Boll, Paul Wank Stain Anderscum, and Stephen(can't do CGI)Sommers!
-
Aug 22, 2004 10:56:54 AM CDT
As long as it's better than E2 I'll check it out. I hate sequels
by theginger twit
-
Aug 22, 2004 11:06:41 AM CDT
A stillborn child covered in maggots? So this chick got pregnant
by theginger twit
-
You were responding to my post regarding Cruising. I reread my post and I guess I should clarify. I do think the movie Cruising is a good film. What I meant is that Friedkin went down hill from there. My post was an attempt at cynical humor it did come across as homophobic and ignorant. That wasn't my intent.
-
Aug 22, 2004 11:34:56 AM CDT
No, the barometer is bubonic plague - if it likes it, it means..
by salvatoregravano
...that the flick is on the level of kiddie porn and necrophilia. Of course to bubonic that spells "entertainment". Yay!
-
No offense taken, but I failed to see ANY horror in Aliens at all. In fact I laughed everytime that stupid kid was in danger.(Ripley being the surrogate Mother, because women do that you know...give me a break!) There is a big difference between Horror and Thriller. Aliens was a cliche ridden video game and nothing more. If Aliens was a masterpiece then so were the masterworks of Ed Wood. Cameron should never direct, he would be a superb technical advisor however. The only film that Cameron directed which was any fun at all was the first Terminator movie...with no small help from Harlan Ellison. But even that had it's painful dialogue moments (ala Attack of the Clones).
-
Another overrated film that isn't scary in the least. THE EYE was a snoozer as well.
I dunno. maybe i'm just not scared very easily. I like TWILIGHT ZONE/TALES FROM THE CRYPT stuff that questions one's sanity and/or morality -
Aug 22, 2004 5:42:06 PM CDT
SCARY-GUY-IN-SHEET-WITH-GIANT-SCISSORS(From EXORCISTIII) VS. SCA
by fletchwon
Wasn't there a bit in that crappy remake of PSYCHO with him from swingers where he kills that guy at the top of the stairs then a picture of a cow appears on screen...subliminally or something?
I seem to remember being scared by that.
-
....why don't you put down the fucking donuts and go on a drastic diet and exercise routine before your heart explodes and your family has the humiliating task of having to figure out how the hell they're going to bury your massive girth. I can see it now...the serenity of your funeral is going to be marred with the "beepbeepbeep" of the crane lowering your gigantic fat ass corpse into the grave...
-
Ok......time to stop talking to your toys arranged as a make believe movie set and jump into bed before mummy catches you. See you just don't sound like you belong on a real movie set mate.
-
"I Believe in miracles", in case a girl calls you by mistake. Anyway, you
-
(I realize there are many twelve-year-olds in here, who are incapable of comprehending sarcasm, but SHIT, will some of you mongoloids shut-the-fuck-up?!!!!). And you are puzzled at my nastiness??? And WOW you can list the different departments on a movie production, big deal, I also work in the film industry mate and seldom meet people on set who seem to enjoy talking out their arse like you do. And while you fart your next post give us a clue as to what productions you've been involved in, I could do with a laugh.
-
than see this movie again. Stupidly bad CGI, awful mattes; just a bad movie. The woman who starred was a looker, though.
Re: Friedkin: his worst movie, "Deal of the Century", still has moments of terrific black comedy and filmmaking. I'll still see anything with his name on it. Wish he'd do more. -
99 percent of everything that comes out sucks ass anyway. It may actually be higher than 99 percent. And I'm sorry, unless you're the director, DP, editor, or some other such above-the-line position, than who gives a flying fuck? And even if you were above the line, unless you're Scorese or Spielberg and have earned the right to start making total shit, then who gives a damn? Everyone else in town sucks ass. By the way, the independent film asthetic is worse and more predictable now than the goddamn hollywood asthetic. At least Hollywood is honest about their motivation - MONEY. Nobody working in independent film or supposedly independent film has any other agenda than A) promoting their own ego or trying to be the "rock-star" as film director they've come to read about in Peter Bart's books or B) they're a total bullshitter who's extreme ability to bullshit has elevated them above the ranks of their fellow trust-fund babies. Working on any movie set is bullshit anyway. There's tons of people standing around doing absolutely fucking nothing, and most of them haven't a clue what makes a decent movie but they sure as hell make sure everything goes according to protocol. Oh, they LOVE protocol and all seem to know the supposed 'way' that everything should be done. The whole process needs to be reinvented, or at least dialed back about thirty some odd years. So please... SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!
-
Aug 23, 2004 10:37:25 AM CDT
It was actually Harry that was clapping for his own cell ring.
by rev_skarekroe
Can't you just imagine him sitting in the theater, setting off his cell phone and clapping and laughing like a retarded 12 year old? Well I think it would be funny. sk
-
You talking to me? Because if you are, just to clarify, I kind of agree you don't need to be working on a movie set or in the industry to have an opinion on film, good or bad, a point I was trying to get across to GayMovieGuy who felt 20 years in the film industry made him God......and can you keep a secret, I'm a Mac Operator, the nearest I've come to a movie set is as an extra in the upcoming movie Libertine. Funny enough there was alot of people stood around doing nothing.
-
... a moron is still a moron whether they have "twenty years experience on set" or not. What are you even doing here? Don't you know AICN is of and for wannabes? Piss off. No one is impressed. In fact, we wannabe-filmmaker geeks are 'unimpressable'. Don't you know ANYTHING?!
-
The only thing I've ever done on a set was boom mike operator. You are right when you say most of the time is spent preparing and waiting for equipment, actors, props, make up blah, blah, blah. It's best to ignore the bitter sheep that hang around here and whine like bitches. Best to just ignore them and reserve your strength to talk to the the people that actually talk out of the right hole!
-
How could it NOT suck.
The first Exorcist was effective because it had all of that creepy dark Catholic spirituality in it. The movies that followed only had the minor trappings of Catholicism and just gave us a standard run of the mill slasher pic(ExIII) and a mess(whatever the hell ExII was). -
you dork... friedken has never called you, admit it geek.
-
Hey, don't feel sorry for this extra, I had a cool 3 days off from sitting in an office ... great food, at the same tables as some of the main cast (no Johnny Depp) It was freezing in Wales so the thick period clothes were a Godsend, everyone was really friendly PA's, Sparks, Makeup and all the cast including John Malcovich and Mr Depp. All in all a cool experience, I'd do it again. I'm sorry your experience of the film indusrty has left you bitter and angry toward the people who pay your wages, see I have done some editing work and to be honest the long hours and stress ain't for me so I went down a different road. Still gives me a chance to view a film how I like to, learning just enough about the production not to spoil the magic. A true film fan see. I will however bow to your superior understanding of everything film GayMovieGuy if it will end your futile rant. One last thing I'm sure there must be exclusive forums on sites especially for ELITE crew members like yourself. Saves you having to chat and have a joke with the "mongoloids" (as you put it) in here. That's all I have to say about that.
-
...if you mean they should release the director's cut of Exorcist III and rename it "Legion," I'm with you. That's a fan-fucking-tastic film (even despite having Fabio in it) and gets a lot of shit talked about it without much thought. How can one not appreciate the sublime banter between the detective and the priest? How can one not get the heebie jeebies when Spider Gramma crawls on the ceiling? How can one not mess one's self when besheeted giant hedgeclipper guy pops out of the hallway in the hospital? And Douriff's work as the killer inside the priest makes Hannibal Lecter sound like Mister Fucking Rogers (or Mister Rogering Fucker... whichever). It's a shame this prequel appears to be crap. We could've used another good film in the series to counterbalance the waste of celluloid that was "The Heretic." And I hope nobody gets too offended by this, but I don't know that I'd go touting the fact that you work in movies when offering opinions on this site. These days that's akin to saying "I've been in the tobacco industry for years and you smokers bought and paid for the cancer we made of your own free will." It just doesn't enhance your credibility in my eyes and I doubt it does much for anyone else but to make you sound like a self-congratulatory prick. Of course, with Harry dropping the names off his unreturned calls list as an example to all, I guess I can understand the pressure to be able to say you stood near someone famous at some point.
-
Agree with you on Douriff's work as the killer inside the priest, outstanding. Let me just explain though, The standing next to someone famous bit meant nothing to me, the
-
Aug 23, 2004 3:22:08 PM CDT
I still don't get it: Why Renny Harlin for an Exorcist movie?
by curryice
-
Mongloids of the world unite.
-
"Tubular Bells" was a musical representation of a simple and gentle nursery rhyme which served as a symbol of Regan's innocence. It would have absolutely no place in Harlin's drivel. Using it, out-of-place, out-of-the-blue, would be too idiotic even by his "standards".
-
Every time Harry says that he can live with a movie up until the ending, which is so indescribably horrible that it completely molests everything that came before, do your thing.
-
Aug 24, 2004 4:12:09 AM CDT
exorcist is and will always be classic...ex 2 is used to pull i
by cherrycola
But the "beginning"? Damn, I actually wanted to give this movie a chance when frankenheimer was up for the role as director. Then that dude that did catpeople (what the hell is his name again??!) jumped on board and I was relieved. But when I heard harlin was doing this I knew it would SUCK. People, stick to the first one and the third. Stop watching this crap or the studio will THINK we want more and keep cranking it out. BTW, the scariest goddamn scene in all the series HAS to be the woman with the huge clippers in EXIII running down the hall. Oh my god I actually jumped off the fucking couch when that happened....then I rewound it over and over again. lol. Good stuff. Too bad the ending seemed *very* rushed...but then again, the studio had something to do with it...same with that exorcism scene at the end, very silly.
-
http://www.chud.com/chudvd/reviews/ex2.php3
Makes you wonder if theres a conspiracy involving making this series into a star trek type territory where the even numered movies are king and the odd numbered ones are shit. Even though I liked star trek 1...but I digress. Read the above review if you are so inclined. Gotta love those pics of james earl jones. ha ha -
As poor as this film is, at least try listening to the dialogue without steaming. She isn't Jewish. She's an ex-prisoner of a concentration camp. Contrary to what US history books probably say, the Nazi camps were filled with prisoners from numerous nations - even "unfit" Germans. She and her family were sent to an unspecified camp because they were caught hiding a Jewish family in their house, which is clearly explained in at least a minute of dialogue. Once again, all together? "SARAH NOVAK, THE CHARACTER FROM E:TB, WAS NOT JEWISH AND RENNY HARLIN NEVER INTENDED THE VIEWER TO THINK SHE WAS". There. Considering her last name plus the fact that the punishment that the Nazis set in Poland for harboring a Jew was either camps or execution, she was probably supposed to be Polish. Stop trying to bash Harlin idiotically for his supposed use of nonexistant "racial insults", and instead criticize him for what he *should* be criticized - his ineptitude to make a good film.
-
Once again, I'm reading people say Alien is a cinematic masterpiece and Aliens is "just" an action flick. I had a chump boring me in a pub recently spouting the exact same horseshit and almost spat beer when he called Alien a "dark, psycho-sexual drama". For the record, I love them both, but if Aliens is just an action flick, then Alien is just a dumb hooror film. Even if the Alien's head was supposed to look like a dick (which it didn't). Perspective, people.
-
I agree, Harry should set up a pay site to weed out the idiots and 12 year olds. I come to this site beacuse I, too, am interested in a site for lovers of film to engage in thoughtful discussion. This site often disappoints, mainly in the talkbacks. Do you have any alternate site suggestions? PS, I always read your posts, because they are intelligent and relevant. I skip over many other posts. Keep up the good work.
-
...to see that Gay Movie Guy made a love connection in the talkback. Maybe now his posts will be less uptight. Seriously, you two... if you want an "exclusive pay site" where you can all slap each other's hinders over how much smarter and better you are than everyone else, more power to you. Many of us think the talkbacks are the best part of this site and are far more entertaining than anything Harry and his name-dropping brigade of glad-handing sycophants deem "newsworthy." The last thing we need are even more insecure asshats cluttering the boards with their "But I'm insider informed and ever so important, too" posts. Be sure to lube up before commencing your cinematic circle jerk. It helps prevent painful chafing.
-
You can't possibly be as obtuse as you play-act at being. Roland said exactly what the rest of us who find your style offensive have been thinking all along. Yet you chose to only address the statements that allow you to mount/climb-on "the gay rights/persecution horse/soapbox" once more. You made no attempt whatsoever to rebut the pertinent parts of his post. So I've taken the liberty of editing and re-posting so that even YOU can get it: "I
-
...Alatar_Blue, for translating. Apparently my English-to-Asshole dictionary is missing some key phrases. And, for the record, I don't recall typing anything about gay sex or impinging that lifestyle choice. In fact, Gay Movie Guy, I merely implied that you and monorail would probably have lots in common. You were the one to make an ass-umption about monorail's gender. Whether you're gay or straight, what you obviously need is a good fuck to relax you a bit... and a swift kick to your hubris. I resent no one for his or her experience or good fortune... but I definitely resent anonymous asshats who hold themselves as somehow superior to the rest of us "mongoloids" because they may have happened to land a job waiting around to do something on a movie set. It really doesn't qualify you to talk about anything on this site at a higher level than anyone else here because, thanks to your precious IMDB, any monkey with an Internet connection and enough banana paste to smear on the keyboard could learn just as much about film as you profess to know. Go screw whomever or whatever floats your individual boat and get the fuck over yourself.
-
HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH AN ENORMOUS SLEDGEHAMMER OR WHAT??!! We don't resent that you've "worked in the industry" (Don't forget everyone: FOR 20 FRIGGIN YEARS!), GayMovieGuy! We resent your constantly REMINDING us of it to reinforce your belief that your opinion matters more than ours because YOU HAVE WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR 20 FUCKING YEARS! *** Fuck it I'm done; it's like talking to a conceited fence post... NOW DID EVERYONE GET THAT?! GAYMOVIEGUY IS A 20 YEAR VETERAN OF THE FILM INDUSTRY AND DON'T YOU FUCKING FORGET IT!
-
GayMovieGuy, it's impossible for me to determine whether it's your chosen user ID that has brought on this wave of dislike or other reasons. If it's the former, I'm truly sorry for that. Let me just enumerate (and I guarantee that your alleged sexual preference does not influence my opinion in any way) the reasons why I don't like reading your posts...aaah, that ground's already been covered on this talkback. Beautifully, I think, by Alatar and Monorail, who unlike you have managed to marry an educated mind with a good sense of humor (anal sex references aside).
As for the movie, I was too much of a weenie to see the first three Exorcists and probably will chicken out of seeing this one too, so I'm not even sure why I'm on this talkback. Any advice about not taking horror so seriously so I can actually watch movies I'd like to see would be much appreciated. -
No, no, no - the reasons I dislike GayMovieGuy's posts have been beautifully enumerated by Alatar and *Childe Roland*, not Monorail (GayMovieGuy's paramour). Forgive...
-
I went back and carefully re-read Alatar_Blue and Childe Roland's posts and found no references to anal sex - sorry, it was *masturbation* references aside. I'm just too clever today, obviously. Sorry.
-
It was the Catering who fucked up, the 2nd Assistant Director was a lovely lady who was having to shift things around on a very tight schedule as they had a historical landmark booked for 5 days of filming during a VERY cold and wet week (even for Wales). So the Extra's marquee became the catering tent for all the extras, crew and yes all the cast except Johnny Depp who ate in his trailer, which I prefer to think was because of a security problem he was having with some crazed fans than a 'I'm way to good' attitude that you insist on displaying. All in all I suspect the 2nd AD had to roll with the punches as I would think most productions on a tight schedule and budget have to, so your comment "There is a vast difference between the reality of the industry, and the commentary regularly found here" is true. Your text book response regarding the 2nd AD leads me to believe you might not of had too much experience on a real film set, most film fans including myself on this talkback can list the hierachy of the crew and their responsabilities big deal. Don't you realise the negative response to most of your comments isn't the fact that you have experience and know what you are talking about, that's great, I think it's more to do with your attitude toward the ordinary Joe (or Jane) who just loves to chat and have a laugh about film without getting bogged down with all the bullshit.
-
You guessed it. I'm a 15-year-old Star Trek fan. Very astute. Come now. Anyone who begins their argument with "you folks" ought to just bow out gracefully, since their back's obviously to the wall and they must now rely on silly generalizations to defend themselves. Ironic, considering one of your chief complaints about this talkback. If you hate AICN people so much, go away.
-
1.) Revealing personal information on this site is like waving a red flag in front of a bull, throwing a bucket of chum to a school of sharks, or holding a plateful of Taco del Grandes in front of Harry: You do it at your own risk, and the results are not likely to be pretty. 2.) Credentials are the easiest thing to falsify on the internet . If you're looking to impress anyone on this site, forget it. Just by the simple act of posting, you automatically become equal to every other retard here--in other words, welcome to the club 3.) And this is most important:: There's really no point in waving your resume around here, ain't no one gonna give you a job here no how.
-
I think your expertise in the Industry doesn't gift you with the ability of ESP, unless (shock horror) you where there aswell. I never said there was a shortage of tents, so that lets off the location manager, the 2nd AD was just so very nice and could not be at fault for anything except being a slayer of men with her beauty. "There are always weather contingencies", you haven't been to Wales then. It was a fuck up on the catering which was made clear enough, this left no time for several lunch sittings, by law we had to be fed (unless they wanted a riot from a load of hungry Welshmen and women) so I guess they decided to feed all in the one tent at the same time. John Malcovich sat less than 12 feet away still sporting his false nose eating Thai Green Curry I do believe, he even signed an autograph for some young lad (which before you say it is not normal protocol on film sets, to bother the main cast, I know......read that somewhere) which he seemed really happy to do. Johnny Depp even bought a round of drinks for everyone on the last day of shooting which a few of my friends were lucky to have received, I finished the day before, paid, fed, but I missing out on a free pint, bah. All in all they seemed a rather happy friendly bunch, not the least bit uptight or up their own arses. Hmmmmm
-
...if you think Signs is one of the worst things you've ever seen, you need to see more bad movies. -
As you can tell from my nickname, I love the Exorcist. I can't stand, really, to wade through Harry's insnaely long reviews or even much of this talk back.
But I saw this movie and it is the worst Exorcist yet. Sucked. Hard. Not even entertainingly bad. Just sucked. -
Last post to you ever. The ignoring starts now, 'cause god knows I want you to go away.Might have been different if you didn't have the conversational skills of a hedge, and could acknowledge an opinion other than your own, but, oh well. Bye.
-
...you remember when that GayMovieGuy was in here, talking down to all of us about how 20 years as a fluffer in mail-order porn made him the difinitive expert on all things cinematic? That sure was funny in a pus-dripping-infected-hemorrhoid kind of way. I wish he'd come back and post more. Oh... wait.
-
I had no idea! I checked this board after posting days ago, and I'm amazed at what I learned. I have a secret (or not so secret)internet "paramour" (as one fellow put it). Actually, I feel kind've cheated. I didn't even get a dinner first, and already we're a couple. Dating in the nineties just moves so fast. Hell, its not even the nineties anymore. This is all a great shock, I can tell you. What am I going to tell my wife and 3 kids?
-
When I say that I don't mean that the movie was good; I'm saying that there was no pea-soup hurling. Unfortunately this movie didn't deserve to have the word Exorcist in the title. So far we've had 2 sequels and now a prequel with none of them being able to hold a candle to the original.
What made the original so scary? It was a combination of a few things.
1. The disturbing imagery
2. The sound (there is nothing like hearing the demons bellow from outside Reagan -
"unnecessary over bloated bullshit"
Sounds like something (or SOMEONE) on this website. -
that's the Exorcist 2 trailer music
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Antepenultimate THRONES!! Lane Pryce Returns To MAD MEN!! Roger Waters On 60 MINUTES!! Plus GIRLS, VEEP, SIMPSONS, BURGERS, KILLING, METALOCALYPSE, SHERLOCK!! THE LAST SUNDAY OF SWEEPS!! -- 102 total posts 95 posts
- Duncan Jones To Tell The Story Of Ian Fleming! -- 64 total posts 64 posts
- SNL Says Goodbye To Kristen Wiig!! -- 56 total posts 56 posts
- Hercules Picks Next Season’s 10 Most Promising New Broadcast Series!! -- 131 total posts 43 posts
- The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day will traumatize you. -- 37 total posts 37 posts
- "Some Men Are Coming To Kill Us. We're Going To Kill Them First." Teaser To SKYFALL! -- 34 total posts 34 posts
- There Can Be Only One... Ryan Reynolds?! -- 404 total posts 30 posts
- Dan Harmon Done As COMMUNITY Showrunner!! -- 148 total posts 21 posts
- Quint thinks John Hillcoat's prohibition-era flick LAWLESS is violently awesome! Cannes 2012! -- 69 total posts 20 posts
- Adrian Hieatt Gives Us His Second Daily Report From KAPOW! Comic Convention in London! The AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! TOTAL RECALL! DC NEW 52! DAVE GIBBONS! And More! -- 18 total posts 18 posts