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Post by Bartwald on Oct 16, 2005 11:39:43 GMT -5
I waited for this one with lots and lots of expectations. Having seen it just several hours ago I can just say - Renny Harlin's version is the better of the two prequels. Here's why:
* believe it or not Exorcist: The Beginning is grittier than Dominion; meaning, you get the better feel of the danger, sickness and heat of living in the African desert,
* The Beginning is twistier, less predictable,
* it also is no doubt far sexier,
* it has a much better connection to the original Exorcist.
Has anyone seen Schrader's version already?
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Post by Quorthon on Oct 16, 2005 11:44:50 GMT -5
Oooh, it's out? I haven't seen it yet. Nuts. Another "gotta get it" DVD!
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Post by Bartwald on Oct 16, 2005 11:49:58 GMT -5
Oh yeah, by the way: I forgot to add that I *liked* Schrader's version, just not as much as Harlin's (which got a fair 8/10 from me).
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Post by Fenril on Oct 19, 2005 20:32:08 GMT -5
I really do want to see this movie, but it doesn't seem to be coming to Mexico anytime soon, even in DVD format. And since I can't afford much of anything form online stores as of right now, I guess I'll have to wait a while for this one.
But if I ever do get a hold of it somehow, I'll definitely return to this thread and post my opinion.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Dec 11, 2005 10:52:17 GMT -5
Well, I finally saw THE EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING last night.
Can't actually vote because I haven't seen DOMINION yet. As expected, Stellan Skarsgard gives a good performance as Father Merrin, though to my eyes, he looks nothing a younger version of the character played by Max Von Sydow in the original.
[red]SPOILERS!![/red]
Trying to look at it objectively, and not as a big fan of the original, the movie works on some levels. It has a great opening with all those soldiers crucified upside down. and it does have some decent scares in it. Some good death and injury scenes. But there were a few things that I thought just didn't work. The CGI hyenas for one. They looked just like CGI hyenas and completely pulled me out of the movie. Would have been a much more effective scene if they hadn't been so phoney looking. Same goes for other CGI effects in the movie. It's obvious they were trying to outdo the original by not having the victim simply tied to a bed, but having them walking on walls and running around could've been toned down. Also when the possessed girl reveals herself near the end, her voice sounded more like the half comical screeching voices of the possessed girls in EVIL DEAD, than to the truly scary vocals of actress Mercedes McCambridge in the original EXORCIST. The makeup wasn't as good as Regan's (Linda Blair) in the original either. How can they have those things be less effective in a movie made thirty years later?
5/10 Average
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Post by Bartwald on Dec 11, 2005 11:10:20 GMT -5
[red]SPOILERS!![/red] The makeup wasn't as good as Regan's (Linda Blair) in the original either. How can they have those things be less effective in a movie made thirty years later? Yeah, I wondered about this, too. And though I agree that the ending makes this film much less powerful than it would have been otherwise I still like it a lot. I also think that in the final scene of putting the hat on Skarsgaard looks very much like von Sydow. That's another point The Beginning gains over Dominion. |
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Post by frankenjohn on Dec 11, 2005 11:25:23 GMT -5
I saw the first hour of "Exorcist: The Beginning" on Mischief Night before going out and I loved it. Actually, I just recorded the full movie of HBO last night!
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Post by Bartwald on Dec 11, 2005 12:01:45 GMT -5
Waiting for the thoughts then, frank!
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Post by frankenjohn on Dec 11, 2005 13:27:28 GMT -5
Ok.
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Dec 12, 2005 17:51:06 GMT -5
But there were a few things that I thought just didn't work. The CGI hyenas for one. They looked just like CGI hyenas and completely pulled me out of the movie. Would have been a much more effective scene if they hadn't been so phoney looking. Same goes for other CGI effects in the movie. I agree...it kinda took some of the tension outta the movie. At least for me it did. A little CGI goes a long way & I hate when they overdo it. I have Dominion on my rental list. Anxious to see how much it differs from The Beginning. |
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Post by Quorthon on Dec 13, 2005 9:58:35 GMT -5
I forgave the average-quality CG (which, mind you, I thought looked better than what I saw in previews for Van Helsing) because of the backstory for these two movies.
They filmed Dominion, the studio hated it and ordered them to redo the film with a new director (and writer as I recall), so they had to hurry up and film almost another whole movie. Money, time, the studio--all contributors. I thought they pulled off damn near a miracle in completing The Beginning as well as they had considering everything.
But I still need to see Dominion.
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Post by Termination on Mar 5, 2006 23:01:00 GMT -5
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist - 2/4 stars - 5/10
I prefer Exorcist: The Beginning over Dominion on all aspects you pointed out Bart & also would add that I think The Beginning is faster paced even though both films have the exact same running time. The CGI is better, the cinematography is better, even the acting. Both films have a simular plot & even some scenes I thought I'd scene before when I saw The Beginning awhile ago. If in fact the studio did order the makers to redo the film, than that would explain certain simularities present in Dominion. I didn't hate the film as you can see by my rating, but expected something completely different; story, style, actor. In the end, I guess I'll always consider Dominion a different or alternate take of The Beginning sinse I saw that film first.
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Post by Bartwald on Mar 7, 2006 12:03:03 GMT -5
One, and perhaps only, advantage Dominion has over The Beginning is this very creepy character of a boy with dead limbs. But you know, I'm still most surprised that Schrader's version is not grittier than Harlin's (after all, Schrader is supposed to be the more realistic, "dirtier" director) - and it loses here by a mile!
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Post by slayrrr666 on May 14, 2010 9:55:32 GMT -5
Exorcist: The Beginning as well, even though I am stating that I thought Dominion was pretty good (there's parts of it I like better than similar stuff in Beginning, and vice-versa) but in order to do that I'm going to have to give them both a revisit, and I don't know if I have the energy or willingness to do that. Maybe someday, but in the near future is a real long-shot.
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