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THE EXORCIST: REMASTERED, BACK IN THEATRES & NOT TO BE MISSED!!!
Tom Joad here, let me explain a something quickly for you about this release. THE EXORCIST opens tonight (FRIDAY) in Austin, TX, Athens, GA and Ann Arbor, MI. You see, Warner Brothers is dragging their feet on this release. They are waiting to make definite plans for the re-release until after the opening weekend's grosses come in. If you're coming back from Spring Break,don't hesitate to give yourselves one more treat before kicking back into the daily grind on Monday. Help this film get the wide release it justly deserves!!!
Since my childhood, there have been three films that have given me nightmares: ALIEN, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE & THE EXORCIST. Through the years, these are the three I go back to again and again. These are the three I pirated copies for myself on VHS before inevitably buying the originals. These are the three I've upgraded in increments, as newer versions of each have been re-released, this trend continuing through laserdisc, and now DVD. Each of these have topped my list of favorites at various intervals, but tonight THE EXORCIST took the top spot for all time.
You see tonight was the world premiere of THE EXORCIST at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. The print, complete with a soundtrack that has been mastered with such digital precision that I sat in the darkened third row and watched a movie I've seen more times than I can count, for the very first time. Scratch that - tonight I EXPERIENCED this movie for the very first time.
From the opening credits, the score was already creeping from speaker to speaker, surrounding me, completely enveloping me in the world of Chris and Regan MacNeil. William Friedkin's masterful interpretation of William Peter Blatty's brilliant novel has never been as realized as it was tonight. There is a scene near the beginning, where Father Merrin is walking through a corridor after finding Pazuzu. On all previous versions, it's very difficult to distinguish what's going on the corridor surrounding him, but tonight there were so many Iraqi workers processing artifacts from the dig that I didn't have time to process all of them. The scene was transformed into a fantastic flurry of activity that plays much better than previous versions. This film is also full of new, very effective subliminal images that are on the screen but for a few frames. Pazuzu's images appear on walls and... you've just got to see it for yourself. Some of them are VERY SUBTLE - I'm going back on Friday to look for a couple of images Mr. Blatty mentioned to me that I didn't quite catch. I haven't even mentioned any of the 12 minutes that have been added.
But before I do, I need to state another reason why this movie affected me so much. Why it is the king of re-mastered, re-releases.
Deep down, we're all movie geeks - each and every one of us. Even those of you who wouldn't consider yourselves such. Be honest, if you have ever looked at a cover box at your local video store that had anything written on it's sleeve about EXTRA FOOTAGE, DIRECTOR'S CUT, or UNRATED VERSION, and gotten excited - even in the least - consider yourself a movie geek. And who among us hasn't ogled at the STAR WARS: SPECIAL EDITIONS, giggled with glee at the AUSTIN POWERS extras or a raised their eyebrows at a copy of the director's cut of BASIC INSTINCT? You know the answer. Being the ultra film geek that I am, I take extra special glee in such things. I don't believe I'll get too many arguments against the fact that the tweaked SPECIAL EDITIONS ruined some of the classic moments of the original series: Greedo shooting first? No three film buildup to the awesome and fear-instilling Jabba? Good God girl… no one gets it right, not one re-mastered film has honestly IMPROVED upon it's original version without slowing the pacing or throwing in at least one directorial decision that SHOULD'VE been left on the cutting room floor. Until now. It's taken more than a decade of re-releases and director's cuts for someone to finally get it right. I cannot thank William Peter Blatty enough for campaigning this film's true potential for over ten years and ultimately championing the true vision of the scariest and most disturbing film ever committed to celluloid, to a nation-wide, big-screen re-release. That's right - this isn't just a one time screening of a re-mastered print before it's quickly dumped onto video, THE EXORCIST is coming to a theatre near you! Let me see a show of hands: How many of you have ever seen THE EXORCIST on the big screen? Tonight I was among a unanimous audience who agrees that you've NEVER seen it like this. But you will, you've got to. You owe it to yourself to gauge how truly poor our choices for true horror films has become. Buy your ticket, take your seat and prepare to be overwhelmed with how powerful this film really is. See for yourself - prove me wrong. I declare this the grandfather of all horror films. I challenge you to re-experience THE EXORCIST on the big-screen for yourself, and then try to convince me there has been a more horrific, unsettling film made in the last twenty-five years.
The infamous Spider-Walking scene that I have been looking at stills of and been trying to visualize for more than six years, was finally brought to life and it dropped my jaw to the floor. I knew the scene had been reinserted into the film, but I didn't know when to watch for it. The sequence was so incredibly creepy, fantastic and awe-inspiring, I found myself the epitome of the VCR generation as I have never wished for the ability to rewind a film on the big-screen more in my life. The chills I got from that scene alone guarantee that I'll see this at least two more times, HOW DID THIS FOOTAGE GET LEFT OUT THE FIRST TIME AROUND?!?!?! Regan scurries down the stairs of her home, bent over backwards and spider-like on all fours… absolutely amazing stuff - and the cut scene with the doctor Regan is initially taken to! Office scenes between Chris and the doctor which are referred to in the original version but never seen, fill continuity holes and tie up 26 years of loose-strings. The demon's thunderous roar of "MERRRIN!!!!!" when the exorcist arrives at the house is so forceful in digital surround that I literally shook.
Seeing this film with an audience was revelatory. Seeing scenes that I'd previously watched in muted terror, became scenes littered with nervous laughter from the crowd. As we all knew what was coming, the anticipatory laughter during the scenes of the doctor prescribing Ritilin for little, "hyper-active" Regan are instantly classic. Don't take my word for it. See for yourself. And as Mr. Blatty told us before the film started, "Good luck."
*** MY INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM PETER BLATTY WILL BE POSTED TOMORROW ***
Until mañana my friends,
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It's just gotta play the Rose City. But Cinerama in Seattle would be cool. Yes!!!!
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grrr, i'm in freakin' southern california, over here! less shipping for warners to deliver the prints! why no premiere up in la... sigh. exoricst? clean transfter? new dolby digital track? deleted scenes restored? well? in an audience? eeeeeeee.
btw, wtf were the marketing people thinking when they came up with the tagline? I've been puzzling over it since I watched all the trailers on the dvd... peace. -
The Exorcist had a full nationwide re-release in the UK about a year ago (and got to #1 in the box office I think)... so do you think they will bother doing it again here? I want to see that spider-walking scene, but I can't picture them re-releasing it twice in 2 years. This makes me sad (even if I do consider it to have faded with time). Halloween scares me more than the Exorcist, but I guess horror is such a personal thing.... 'Showgirls', heh heh. The thing is, not just the doctor scene mentioned got giggles when I went, but the horror scenes did too... BOTH times I saw it, the candle flaming up in the attic caused people to laugh... and the head turning even more so. I think this film was of it's time. And I was baptised a Catholic, so that's not it. Ah well... perhaps the new cut is better.
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Mar 16, 2000 7:14:26 AM CST
Why the "Spider Walk" scene was cut from the origional version..
by blink 182 fan
I live in Ireland and a couple of months back the ban on The Exorcist was lifted and it got digitally remastered and re-released. On the video, after the actual film, there is a superb BBC documentary on The Exorcist film and it also has interviews with the entire cast including William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty. Now, the reason that spider walk scene was left out was because, according to Friedkin, Blatty couldn't handle whats known as a "double climax" (the "spider walk" scene directly follows the scene where Chris recieves the news of the directors death). Well, if you can, you should pick up a copy of the vid - the 74 minute documentary alone is worth the price.
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So are the subliminal flashes better than the bull-in-the-road and the chick-with-the-mask in the new Psycho. What the hell was up with that anyway?
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The spider walk scene is pretty creepy (and I've only ever seen it outside of the film as part of the documentarty that was issued with the 25th anniversary edition of The Exorcist) and it was left out originally because Friedkin thought it was 'too much' after the previous scene, not allowing the audience to catch a break, plus it never quite cut into the beat of the film and of the scene right (how they have fixed this I don't know), Blatty never agreed with this view however and always thought the scene should have been in the film. And now it is. Personally I can't wait to see this legitimate horror classic back up on the big screen and better than ever, if in fact that is possible. *************Onto another subject that harry brought up, there are other director's cuts/special editions that *have* added to the original films and made them better, the most notable for me being the directors cuts of both Cameron's Aliens and even more so, The Abyss. Plus Clive Barker's Lord Of Illusions is a distinctly better film in the director's cut, at least I thought so. However that said some films are just done for the wrong reasons, with Star Wars being a prime examle of a film that was in no way improved as a 'special edition' (in fact they actually managed to make a classic film worse!)
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Harry the film is ok. Stop making a big fuss about it. I have seen both versions by the way. Uncut is better even though the satanic, crazy, dicklus man Willium Friedkin doesnt think so.
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What happened to the exorcist 3? William Peter Blatley directed it. Anyone seen it and if so whaty did you think?
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Blink 182 fan, Also hailing from Ireland I saw the Spider Walk scene six months ago and it is truely spooky....
they showed you filming it - to the pint where Megan goes up to the person coming through the door and the chap jumps out with the clapper board and the actors start laughing.
They also explained how they pulled it off....excellent
It's an exceptional documentary with Freidkin walking candidly about the film and the cuts he felt he had to make...
one I have taped at home and watch time to time.
strange...for a documentary.
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#3 was pretty good, much better than #2, some good scary scenes in 3, but they left out quite a bit from the book, like the audio recording of the 'spirits', which is really freaky, the book i think is called Legion
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Thankyou for your opinions. Wasnt sure if Pete Blat wrote it as well. Any other opinions. I must admit the doc is a masterpiece. Another good film documentry is The Hamster Factor and the other tales of twelve monkeys. The exorcist doc was creepier than the film (if this is the doc i am thinking about). Did you hear how Friedkin shot a gun next to one of the actors heads to get a good take. And the way the set burnt to the ground. Also did you hear Friedkin in the 1999 Empire awards. Jonathan Ross (British film critic) made a small speech about the films success and how he was pleased to see the film was re released. Friedkin showed his gratatude by saying when his turn to speak came "I would like to thank Jonathan Ross. For whatever the hell he just said." Talk about ungreatfull for such praise of the movie from a big critic. Also I rekon the X men film will be cool. Also one day I intend to become a film Director. When i say THE FLASH IS COMING. I just mean soon
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Thankyou for your opinions. Wasnt sure if Pete Blat wrote it as well. Any other opinions. I must admit the doc is a masterpiece. Another good film documentry is The Hamster Factor and the other tales of twelve monkeys. The exorcist doc was creepier than the film (if this is the doc i am thinking about). Did you hear how Friedkin shot a gun next to one of the actors heads to get a good take. And the way the set burnt to the ground. Also did you hear Friedkin in the 1999 Empire awards. Jonathan Ross (British film critic) made a small speech about the films success and how he was pleased to see the film was re released. Friedkin showed his gratatude by saying when his turn to speak came "I would like to thank Jonathan Ross. For whatever the hell he just said." Talk about ungreatfull for such praise of the movie from a big critic. Also I rekon the X men film will be cool. Also one day I intend to become a film Director. When i say THE FLASH IS COMING. I just mean soon
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Mailed it twice and didnt finish sorry. Anyway soon I will be directing and when the time comes I may reveal my true identity. Debut will probably be a brit film. Keep on mailing. THE FLASH IS COMING.
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While I loved "exorcist 3", it can't hold a candle to the book. The description of the doctor "recording" spirits' voices
made me shudder like a little wuss. As for the rerelease of "Exorcist", I'm there. I've heard that the ending is a little more upbeat as well(and sets up the relationship between Father Dyer and Kinderman for "3").
Just for the record, Han Solo was a mercenary. He made the first move. Period. -
Evreyone perfers books nowadys to films. My mum told me years ago that the book of silence of the lambs was much scarier than the film. This is because when you buy a book (without pics) your imagination creates a disturbing and unique image of how the terror will look and how it will scare only you. Ill have to read this book.
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I posted this a while back, but no one cared:( But, I wont feel sorry for myself! Anyways, The official site rocks...It'll just make you want to see it more it's: WWW.THEEXORCIST.NET
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"Exorcist" is a magnificent movie. It is also one of the handful of films in existence that actually treats the traditions and rituals of the Catholic Church with genuine respect and technical accuracy. While in seminary, friends and I would screen such films and "Exorcist" always topped the list ("Prophecy," with Christopher Walken - NOT Talia Shire - ranked a close second). I've yet to see another film that puts the fear of you-know-who into me as much as this one. Regrettably, I live in Louisville, now 19.3 years behind any other major city in terms of getting good releases so early.
To the questions Harry repeats, I have to add: Why in the HELL did they make "Exorcist 2: The Heretic?" What was the freaking point? If I wanted to see Richard Harris all zoned out ("Pa-zoo-zoooo"), I'd get any of the "A Man Called Horse" films! The only good that came of it was to piss off Blatty to the point of his writing "Legion." -
I was at last night's screening also and urge everyone to see this remastered version too. Those subliminal images are so creepy! This is a film that I can only watch once every few years since it's so disturbing to me, but I'm ALMOST thinking about going to see it again this weekend to try to catch anything I might have missed. By the way, anyone in Austin who hasn't seen a film in the Paramount Theatre, do go! I hadn't seen a film there since before they had the sound system re-done and I was completely amazed with the clarity. It certainly added to the ultimate horror film experience.
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Still the BEST horror movie ever made. I can't wait to see the spider-walk scene that I've heard so much about.
It's amazing that in the early 70's, a movie could get released with scenes like the "Let Jesus fuck you" or the "Lick me! Lick me!", but now, in the year 2000 that sort of stuff would get hacked by studio execs and only wind up on director's cut video versions. -
It was said on mcfarlaneguide.com that they will probably replace the Snake Plisken (to be put in a new movie toy line) with Reagan from the Exorcist.
No word on what the toy will look like, or come with. My hope is that it will be the "tied to the bed, green faced Reagan".
But who knows...thought you would all like to know that. -
I was on hand at the Paramount screening last night as part of the SXSW fest...Wasn't expecting much, but was really surprised. After having seen the film 6 times, I was interested in this cut as more of a novelty than anything - but shit, it was pretty creepy. The new digital soundtrack is incredible! It brings out all the layers of horrifying sound effects...I can't remember the last time I sat in a dark theater and felt that little chill run up the back of my neck - due mainly to a sound mix! As for the added footage, the spider walk is cool-but is over in less than five seconds. The new subliminals are what really spices things up visually. The scene where Chris returns home to a dark house got most everyone squirming in their seats!...Sure, the film and its visuals are a little dated at times, but the new cut and sound mix just jump off the screen! For the first time, I saw it on the big screen with an audience that was, for the most part, creeped out by what they were seeing. I don't know what the studio is waiting for. There are a lot of kids out there who have never seen the film (or only caught the lame TV or video versions). The Sixth Sense only wet their appetite for "serious" dramatic horror. Take advantage of the movie lull between spring and the summer blockbusters and open this thing wide! The right promotional push - emphasizing the great acting and creepy tone - would be golden!
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Tubular.
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...You know, I just got the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Exorcist on DVD. It has excellent additional materials, including the documentary on the making of the film, the "Spider-Walk" scene, running commentary with Friedkin and Blatty, and the original recordings of the actress (Mercedes Cambridge?) who did the voice of the possessed Reagan. This last thing is VERY creepy. Try listening to it in the dark. The film is also remastered with a surround sountrack which enhances the scares and contrasts between silence and very loud sounds that Friedkin built into the film to amp up the uneasy feeling it gives off. My question is, to anyone who has seen this re-release version: Is it very different from the (fairly) new DVD? Is it worth seeing and/or buying?
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It's stuff like this that made me move to Austin (from L.A., no less!) I have to agree whole-heartedly with Harry on this one - I've seen THE EXORCIST a zillion times, but this is the first time I've EXPERIENCED it. What a pristine print and remastered soundtrack! I'm STILL reeling from it. If and when this magnificent re-release comes to your corner of the globe, don't wait a second to go out and see it, and once it's over, stick around and see it again.
And while you're at it, check out a buncha really cool short films at www.screen47.com and www.shorttv.com - mine's up there! (But if you're gonna leave comments - be nice!) -
I remember when I was about sixteen I went to the cinema to see The Exorcist for the first time.I have always been a fan of horror and I can honestly say that I haven't ever looked forward to a film as much.Perhaps I had built it up too much in my mind but I found the film to be very dissapointing.People in the cinema laughed throughout the movie.I had expected people to leave in terror but several people left halfway through because they thought it was such a dissapointment.I can't condone this-laeving before the end of a movie is a cardinal sin.However I left the cinema bitterly dissaapointed as did many of my friends.I didn't bother with the film again until my sister obtained a pirate copy on video.One night I decided to give the film another chance.I watched it alone in the dark and I have to say that it made all the difference.Although I wasn't outright scared I was genuinely unnerved.Personally I was always more scared by The Shining.Those two little girls scared me shitless.But that's the whole point about horror , isn't it.Different things scare different people.
By the way Jak Flash 2000,you sound English.If so you may be interested to know that Exorcist 3 is on Carlton Cinema (available on cable)on 17th March at 11:30 pm. -
I'm dying to see this on the big screen, but I live in the UK. I hope to God it makes it over here.
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Did they put the originally slated score for the film back in? I know there were several Penderecki scores(including "Polymorphia"), and "Bad Boy of the New Viennese school" himself--Anton Webern. Also George Crumb's infamous "Black Angels" was supposed to make an appearance, but was left out. Are they back in? If they are, people will run screaming mad from the theater as if having gazed into the horrible visage of Nyarlathotep himself!
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I've had the distinct privilege of seeing both BLADE RUNNER and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND in their re-edited "director's cut" special editions. They are both quite a bit better than the (already great) originals...but good Lord, I can't wait to see the new EXORCIST. The power of CHRIST compels you!!!
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The Exorcist, whichever version you see, does not hold a candle to the great movie that is REPOSSESSED. That has to be the scariest movie of all time. Even Jesse Ventura is in it.
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And when it is released again a second time around it will be even better...
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Isn't he the reason WHY "Repossed" was scary? Or was it Leslie Neilson's bad lipsync job...
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I sure hope so! There's enough big-ass theatres around this city that'd probably cater to a brand-spankin' new re-release! The Exorcist is finally getting a new audience who, hopefully, will wince or scream at the most film's most grotesque scenes, rather than giggle or point and laugh. Actually, the main reaction I get from people who've seen it is a shudder and a mention of "that cross scene." (You know what I'm talking about!) I couldn't be happier with my special edition VHS boxed set, and my rare t-shirt, and perhaps finally seeing on the big screen this movie that's haunted the s%#t outta me will give me a sense of closure.
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Hey, everyone. Good TALK BACK, but why do you keep addressing Harry? He didn't write this piece. Check the bottom of the article, where it's signed. Tom Joad, one of our long time AICNers, is the author of the whole piece, top to bottom. Harry's still out of town. Just thought you guys should address the actual author with whatever praise or scorn you have.
"Moriarty" out. -
I'm all for an Exorcist Movie Manics version of characters from the movie but NOT at the expense of the Snake Plisskin figure. Been waiting for that one for years! That figure is NOT gonna be pulled. Trust me, That is the most anticipated figure in the group more so I dare say than Ash. (Still don't get the big fucking deal with crap ass Evil Dead and Army of Darkness.) And when the hell are they gonna release Escape From New York on DVD??!!?? Escape From L.A. is out and it SUCKS!!!!
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In response to a previous post, Louisville isn't so bad. It is quite true that these days we do not get a lot of the "exclusive three city only" sneak peeks that even such cities as Indianapolis (!) get, but oh how short is your memory! The theater I work at (www.louisvillepalace.com) was home to several "World" premieres from the 1920's up to the 1960's. Hell, last year we were host to hometown boy Stu Pollard's freshman effort "Nice Guys Sleep Alone" (did anyone see that one?). But hey! For the past two summers we have run a pretty damned fine movie series during the summer featuring such films as "Gone with the Wind", "North by Northwest", "Pink Flamingos", "Harold and Maude", "West Side Story"...you get the point. We are all over the map for our flicks. If you don't mind watching old movies, and you happen to be in town during the summer months, stop by and see us on 4th street. Hell, we might even be showing "The Exorcist"!!! PS-for the record, ALL of my Catholic friends are like 10X as frightened of "The Exorcist" as I am. What gives?
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Mar 16, 2000 10:23:49 PM CST
HEY ALL YOU EXORCIST FANS,AND WILLIAM FRIEDKIN FANS IN GENERAL,
by herman snerd
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Exorcist 3 was a great movie. It has some very chilling scenes, and a great sense of humor. It's based on the book Legion, and I think its good enough to mke up for the piece of shit The Heretic was.
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I know this isn't "Exorcist" related, but I thought this would get a laugh out of y'all. They're reporting over at Variety that a shipment of 40 Oscar statuettes has been stolen. This, on top of the missing ballots, Wall Street's article and the pre-list mishap, proves that the Academy is cursed because of the bad karma stemming from all the people they screwed over this year. Next thing you know, Billy Crystal will get laringitis and Whoopi will host again in May after the Oscars are delayed two months.
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I have to admit I'm pumped at the thought of the one...the only ...and best Exorcist,
is finally BACK on the big screen. When I first heard about the cut "spider" scene, I was remind of the same
event happening in Exorcist 3. It was HORRIBLE...not "scary"
horrible, just plain suck shit bad horrible. In the Exo. 3...George C. Scott is visiting in a mental ward when this old lady scampers across the ceiling like a New York cockroach. In a MSTK3 moment, George is TOTALLY unaware that somebody is crawling across the ceiling. The audience when I saw it let out a...BWwwwwahahahahha. EXORCIST 3 sucks shit my friends...don't waste your time unless you thought Exorcist 2 was pretty spiffy. --Syd.
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It woulda been much more cool for Linda Blair to SHIT on Max Von Sydow, eh???
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Mar 17, 2000 7:22:29 AM CST
" . . . robot sentries . . . they really kick ass . . . "
by ol' painless
My vote for the best SE is Aliens: The Directors cut. That extra fifteen minutes fleshing out Ripley's lost daughter trauma, and the bits like the robot sentries firing, watching the display count down to 20%, 10% . . . spooge-tastic!!Damn, I love this film, it's my first-equal Best Action Movie Of All Time (along with Hardboiled, go on, flame me, it won't change my mind!)
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The terminater 2 SE is my fave. We see terminater learn to smile, a more evil T-1000 and the resetting of arnies terminater chip. If you were lucky enough to buy it in the UK in the first week of its release you would have had a free liquid T-1000 hologram. Groovy or what? Aliens is also cool didnt like the alien spider scene though it was too cheesy. I agree the guns was the best scene. Has anyone noticed that most SE's were made by James Cameron. The Aybyss SE, Aliens SE and Terminater 2 SE. I have also heard rumors of a Titanic special Edition. What a bastard. Him and George Lucas are constantly making special editions so they will get more cash. There may even be (for those of you who care) A Star Wars 1 special edition. For those of you who read the script you might have noticed some scenes and dialouge to be strangely missing. The best of these being a scene where Anakin sees the future in a nightmare. Talk to me people voice your opinions.
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I've watched the Ninth Configuration a number of times, its written and directed by Blatty, and I've often wondered if its related to the Exorcist. I think that the astronaut in the mental ward, Captain Cutshaw, is the same one that Regan talked to in the Exorcist (or at least the character is inspired by him), the one she told was going to die up in space. Cutshaw's actions in the Ninth Configuration seem to support the idea that his breakdown was brought about by something really traumatic. In fact, at one point in the movie while going off on one of his philosophical rants, he claims that he knows for a fact that the devil exists. Similar themes in both film, crisis of faith that needs to be restored, but completely different stories otherwise (no demons or backwards English, but there is a bitching fight scene with Stacy Keach and 20 bikers). Any ideas on this one?
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Mar 17, 2000 9:43:01 AM CST
I'm glad people still are frightened by this 20+ years later...
by nordling
but I'll hold my own personal opinion on The Exorcist to myself. A note about Exorcist 3, though - I thought it was pretty good, better than I anticipated. And creepy, too. George C. Scott remains one of our most interesting actors.
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I'll have to check out the SE Terminator 2 ...I'd like to REALLY
see a SE T-1 but not much chance of that. The SE Aliens was well
worth it to get for me...seeing Newt's family, how the abandoned alien ship was discovered and some
groovey new vehicles never before shown. Fun stuff also...Blade Runner Directors Cut
is a keeper too. --Syd. -
Exorcist 3 is an interesting movie, but more a sequel (I thought) to Blatty's _The Ninth Configuration_ than to the original Exorcist regarding the ideas that drive the movie. It is essentially a treatise on the relation of evil to madness and how to address evil in theistic cultures. Few filmmakers address the problem of evil more thoughtfully than Blatty.
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Have to disagree that the longer ALIENS is better. The original is close to perfect. The longer cuts of all of Cameron's films are self-indulgent, redundant and totally slow down the excellent, but somewhat deliberate, pacing of the originals. THE ABYSS is the only exception, since it was neutered the first time out, with an huge story elements left out that left it feeling incomplete. The original Aliens and T2 never felt incomplete, and are the better versions for *suggesting* character and story elements that the expanded cuts spoonfeed. Thank God I found the THX laserdisc of the original Aliens cut on sale recently! So, I'm a little wary of this new Exorcist similarly hammering on what I already got in the original... but I think the enthusiasm displayed above has convinced me to check it on the big screen when it plays in LA. So, thanks for the heads up, Tom Joad and AICN. You rock. Duke Ray out.
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You make a good point, Mr Ray, about the Aliens SE, BUT I have to disagree (politely) with your disagreement. The original shorter Aliens was not Cameron's original vision - the 15 minutes were chopped out at the sudio's demand, shit scared at the prospect of a 2 1/2 hour , and Cameron, not having quite the weight then that he has now, was forced to comply. Any suit trying this shit on him now would would be sent back to his office with his head shoved up his own ass. Could it be if the Aliens SE had been the ORIGINAL version released, might not THAT have been your favourite version? I think SE is the perfectly-formed version, but you may want to send ME back to internetland with my head shoved up MY own ass . . .
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Jimmer Negamanee, you're the man. In previous versions, Karras' self-induced exorcism was composed of two distinct visages. One with a white face and green eyes while the other is normal. The two were previously separated by a sharp, very noticeable cut which has now been morphed with CG. I had no problem with the old version - it always creeped me out, the jarring worked for me, but the new one is pretty damn cool.
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this sounds pretty fucked up right here.
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Does anyone have any info about the special edition with the extra footage inserted into the movie being released on VHS or DVD?
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I can't wait for this thing to get up to where I live. So far the only horror flick that ever truly scared me was BLAIR WITCH; none of the others--not even the recent DRACULA--came close. Here's hoping this one will do the job. Since I've never seen it before at all, the director's cut should be a treat. Oh, and how can anyone mention directors cuts that actually worked and leave out BRAZIL? I caught that in the theater a few years back and it was magnificent!
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I`ve never seen "Exorcist II", not at video stores and not ever on TV. Must be pretty bad. What was the story of the movie, wasn`t Linda Blair in it? And also I`ve never heard of "The Ninth Configuration". When is it from and what`s it about? In unrelated news, I saw Polanski`s "The Ninth Gate". If two hours of buildup with no climax sounds good to you, then this is your movie!
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I went to see The Exorcist tonight at the Austin Highland Pavilion 10 theaters. Yes, the sound is great. Yes, the picture is clean. I noticed a few new scenes and some nice touchups on various special effects -- from the subway to more of those creepy-ass subliminal frames. Unfortunately, the audience was probably the most restless and inconsiderate crowd I've ever had to watch a movie with. There were at least 8 everyday-volume conversations going on. Someone received 3 (!!!) cell phone calls within the first 45 minutes. After the 3rd, I had had enough, and got a refund from the manager. In that kind of atmosphere it was impossible to enjoy almost anything. I hope I get to see this movie from start to finish, without all the yakkers. I can't tell you how disappointing this was. Also, what's the deal with people, usually teenagers, who always get up like a dozen times during a movie? What are they doing? Don't they care that they're missing the movie?!?! Why pay money to see a movie if you're just running in and out of the theater? I never got that. PS you Austin locals -- I am new to the Austin area. The Highland Pavilion cinema is near to me. Is it always a crappy theater with obnoxious clientele, or was this just a fluke?
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I saw the Friday, 9.55 pm show at Athens' Beechwood Cinema and hoped beyond hope that the distributors were not present to see the sad, sad sight of the screening, before a house, only about 2/3 full, of the inept, the stupid and the noisy. I thought the movie, which I know little of and haven't seen in over a decade, was extremely well served by the new cut. I had never heard of the spider walk scene, but was well startled by it. Its place in the film works very well, and reading above about Friedkin's fear of the double climax is somewhat odd... it seems like the revelation of the director's death is extremely predictable, and not jarring at all. Regan's sudden, freakish presence, however, is extremely jarring and weird. The subliminals are really great as well, though I think most of the "twelve extra minutes" are possibly "tops and tails" of a few seconds on the beginning and end of several scenes. But that crowd... oh, it was embarassing and infuriating, watching a constant stream of people taking potty breaks and other parties just walking out, and hearing what was by far the noisiest movie crowd I've been in since we used to see Rocky Horror midnights in Atlanta in the 80s. It was pathetic hearing people laugh and giggle as Regan vomited the green stuff or turn her head around... and I've never wanted to commit murder as badly as I did with the cacaphonous, cackling couple behind me providing color commentary to the exorcism. "The power of Christ commands you!" "Yeah, you tell 'im, 'oney." Now, partly this is because, despite any reputation Athens has as being full of cutting-edge art types, it's also full of drunk sorority girls, boys drunk on green beer, and uneducated dolts who think every single horror film that ever comes out is the "scariest movie ever made," but I also fear that a film as leisurely paced as this one is frankly too damn good for Athens in 2000. We couldn't even support an arts cinema for four months. I hope the other two cities had better crowds who could fill the theatre and do it quietly... I'd have preferred to watch this one at home.
Grant -
One kinda creepy "did you know" about exorcist 3 was that everyone's 2nd fave serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, told police it was his top movie and he used to watch it before doing his bad deeds because he identified with the Zodiac killer.
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Friday night audiences tend to be rowdy, and Saturday's are more
serious and attentive. This, re.
complaint about Friday EXORCIST
audiences in Athens and Austin. -
'preciate your mentioning that, since in my entire life I have never even once ever seen a film on a Friday night, and was obviously unused to the Neanderthalic behavior therein. No, but really, I've probably seen more films at the Beechwood on Friday evenings than a lot of Talkbackers have had hot dinners, and I have never seen an audience anywhere close to being as boorish and obnoxious as that one.
Grant -
friday night audiences are raucous
and have come to party and chat. -
did you know that blatty's son ran for mayor of salem massachusetts? i met him. nice guy.
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"He won't let Jesus fuck you!"? Ouch, I can't believe I said that. Anyways, staying in tonight, and the Rock sucks on SNL....blech, can't wait to see him in the Mummy 2 (HEAVY SARCASM). Should've gone out.....
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Mar 19, 2000 12:05:22 AM CST
There better not be any idiots in the audience when I see the re
by robin goodfellow
It's very sad to see a bunch of unappreciative fools being noisy at any film that deserves attention, especially "The Exorcist", a cinematic classic. The fact that it's a Friday or Saturday night is NO DAMN EXCUSE to be noisy or disruptive in a theater. Sorry kids, but some people paid $8 to go see a movie and enjoy it, not to hear your trivial bullshit and failed attempts at mocking dramatic cinema. I'm just hoping that my movie going experience isn't destroyed by noisy college kids who praise the "Scream trilogy" as being the pinnacle of horror film making. The entire reason I'm so excited about this re-release is to be able to say that I saw "The Exorcist" in the theaters and was scared out of my wits. How cool is that? Very damn cool. Disruptions of any kind will not allow me to enjoy this film or any film, for that matter. I will not allow this to happen. If there's any disruption at critical scenes of the movie, I'm bringing a damn baseball bat with me to crack some heads. I may have to make stops at theaters playing "The Exorcist" all over the country. Beware, morons of the world, beware... *smirks*
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Hey, Can you guys point me to a place w/ all the little tidbits I should look out for? like what are these subliminal frames you guys are talking about and the pictures on the wall?? I'm really into these things in movies that you usually catch the second or third time around when you have time to observe rather than be scared shitless or concentrate on the plot. Thanks a lot. -Mike
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Applogies from me Mr J. Its just that Harry is constantly taklking about the exorcist and it is now getting boring. No disrespect intended but can you find and X men or marvel scoops. Good to see Moriarty talk back (Moriarty how do you pronounce your name). Moriarty talks back why doesnt Harry. Maybe if i offended him he would send me an e-mail or something? Keep up the good work fellas.
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