I saw Exorcist: The Beginning, and I liked it despite what people say. It was good, nuff said. I knew about the original version, and I thought "maybe something was a miss..." or something.
So let me ask this;
Exorcist: The Beginning and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist.
Please list the pros/cons of each film, and which is better and which is worth getting?
Both films suck. It's hard to believe that either director ever saw The Exorcist. They certainly don't have a clue as to what made the original so effective and successful. (The story was simple and straightforward, set in a recognizable world, the characters complex, the religious themes subtle but unnerving, and the psychosexual implications of the victim's burgeoning puberty really struck a nerve.) These prequels don't even TRY to tap into all this disturbing subconscious stuff. Here are my ratings:
EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING. 5 out of 10. Sure, it's lame but at least it has a fun cheesy quality that's goofily entertaining in a SciFi Channel Original Movie kind of way. Renny Harlin blows Paul Shrader away when it comes to constructing a suspenseful montage, scene for scene.
DOMINION: 1 out of 10. I expected an "intellectual" approach, but all I got was a boring, talky, shallow, poorly orchestrated yawn-fest. Absolutely terrible. No wonder the studio shelved this turkey. It's like Satanic Sominex. Zero atmosphere, zero supense, zero stye, zero substance. Everyone involved should be slapped. William Peter Blatty's estate should sue.
And shame on everybody for all those stupid CGI hyenas. When will Hollywood learn? CGI EFFECTS ARE NOT SCARY!
I have both films in my collection now, as well as the Exorcist Trilogy. I wouldn't say both films suck, although I have to agree that Exorctist: The Beginning has a lot more suspense than Dominion. The build-up from scene to scene also seems to go a lot smoother than in Dominion. The story seems to go somewhere, where in Dominion I was actually a bit bored near the end.
Still, both films are a lot better than that horrible pseudo-cop movie The Exorcist III: Legion.
My ratings:
The Exorcist --> 9.5
The Exorcist II: Heretic --> 5
The Exorcist III: Legion --> 2
Exorcist: The Beginning --> 6
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist --> 4
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Ive seen both films and I like Harlin's marginally more than Schrader's version.
Mainly because at least in Harlin's there was a final conflict between the demon and Merrin (yeah it was over the top and stuff but oh well), In schrader's version Merrin and the demon like have this long ass conversation, like the kind you have in college when your smoking a lot of pot. It was interesting but it wasnt scary. Schrader probably crafted deeper characters in his version but making the possesed boy healed and stuff..like uplifting him (versus making Linda Blair slowly rot) was a stupid move.
Harlin may be formulaic but he does have a good formula for horror here. Maybe somewhere between the two films there is a perfect version, but for now, I say stick with Harlin's and realize going into it that nothing can really top the original.
I watched Dominion first intentionally. I liked Harlin's version a little better, mainly due to pacing and tonal issues... though Schrader's version has stronger characters and a more believable plot. Though it would be interesting to see how Schrader's version would've fared if they simply gave him a little extra funding and mandated a objective editor to trim the movie with him.
sharei agree, i like dominion, but in terms of pure entertainment the begining wins hands down, each exorcist film had something to offer, and i own all five movies but.....
exorcist 8
the heretic 7
the beginning 6
legion 5
dominion 4
just my opinion....(-0
Would also have to agree. Have just watched Dominion (saw The Beginning a while ago) and enjoyed it far more. For a start didnt have a demon from the evil dead attack Merrin in a ridiculous "twist" ending..... Didnt have any over the top nasty gore, and was a far more thoughtful take on the subject.
Sticking a horrific scene in a film does not make it horror (the Hyena attack in Harlins). Just gave a good grounding to where Merrin was coming from in the original, where he gained his strength, and why people turned to him.
And to those who said the demon was defeated to easily in this, well, he comes back stronger, and for me that was the point. Also indicates he took a different plan of attck by using the innocent loved person as opposed to the outcast. Maybe the outcast was easier to posses due to the fear he has of the world while Linda made the harder but more effective target second time round due to peoples love for her....i dont know, just rambling now so will go....
Doesn't make sense to me, but then you are very small
Exorcist: The Beginning
+ Stellan Skarsgard
+ cinematography
+ Soundtrack
+ the way they reveal the flashback
+ some convincing scenes
- the ending (Scorupco flying !)
- terrible scene in with the madman
- Harlin cares more about action than character development
7/10
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
+ Stellan Skarsgard
+ cinematography
+ Pazuzu's face returns
+ Schrader cares a lot about character development
+ asks the question: what is evil?
+ the Germans are not pure evil for a change
- horrible and inappropriate rock song
- a few special effects were awful
8/10
Martha? Rubbing alcohol for you?
Richard Burton, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ? (1966)
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I will start by saying that although I prefer "Dominion", I like "The Beginning" too.
"Dominion"
Pros:
-Better story
-Much better atmosphere
-Better pace -not meaning that it is quicker or more entertaining to follow, but that the inner pace of the story is better.
-Overall better acting, and the characters are more believable
-The character of the demon/Pazuzu is much better here
-Overall a quite decent movie
-The dream sequence is very scary
Cons:
-The ending lacks punch
-Can be too slow sometimes
"The Beginning"
Pros:
-It's more exciting and more conventionally scary -it will please horror fans who like scares and gruesome imagery
-Izabella Scorupco's acting is better than Clara Bellar's (although I thought Bellar was good as a Holocaust victim)
-Quicker, it is never boring
Cons:
-BAD ending (albeit fun)
-The sense of atmosphere is badly dealt with -it practically has none
-Pointless supporting characters, only added for gore or easy scare value
-Overall a less good film than "Dominion"