JumpCutz

This looks interesting, especially for those who followed the evolution of this unique situation.




http://www.schradersx.com/

GoldenJCJ

Looks good. I'm fascinated by the whole Exorcist 4 story, this should be very interesting. Although I must admit I'm in the minority and prefered Renny Harlin's version better.

TheMovieman

Yeah, I want to check this out. Looks like it could be just as interesting (maybe more so) as Lost in La Mancha.

EdTheRipper

Looks extremely interesting. I just ordered a copy from the site.

NoirFan

Love that Stellan Skarsgård soundbite.

"Your mother sucks cocks in Hell!"

Troy Stiffler

Didn't watch the Renny Harlin version.

Saw Dominion. Excellent movie. The 'unfinished' effects were a little jarring. But it didn't bother me too much. It's a completely acceptable, competent Exorcist film. Probably my favorite behind the original (though the third was very enjoyable). The original is a classic, but a bit dated (five-or-so years before I was born and I just saw it a few years ago). I'd actually prefer to sit down and watch Dominion.

And, to be fair, Dominion did get relatively poor reviews. While *I* really like it, I wouldn't consider it a masterpiece, trashed by a studio.

I wonder what Morgan Creek was expecting. Like, did they ever hear of Paul Schrader? Did they see his Bob Crane picture? Or did he 'talk his way' into the job - making promises that he didn't keep? I think I read somewhere that the execs actually never read the script; don't know if it was heresay or what.

GoldenJCJ

Can't say I'm proud of it. I always support a director's vision and oppose producer/studio interference. But in this case I just found Harlin's version scarier.

Of course I'm not sure how "finished" Schrader's version really was so if he had been able to complete his film it may have been the better version.

Either way I enjoyed them both and appreciate the fact that both versions have been made available.


And yes, I think Skarsgård's remarks were dead on.

Rypro 525

And i found out a few nights ago that one of my favorite bands did a majority of the score for Dominion.

JumpCutz

Angelo Badalamenti and Trevor Rabin are the credited composers but
Dog Fashion Disco wrote and performed the ending score/song "March of Satan".

BullGooseLoony

I don't know if it's because it's probably not the definitve cut, but Schrader's Dominion was a terrible movie. I thought "The Beginning" was a watchable, but very C-grade reduction of the franchise. The original is obviously a classic, and the third movie is a a very creepy mystery thriller (which clearly inspired "Fallen"), and the fourth one was, while not at all good, passable.

I wanted to like Shrader's version more, because it would be more psychological, and not rely on scare tactics, but not only was it not psychological, it wasn't scary, either. It was slow, boring, and completely uneventful.

The documentary should be interesting, but I wouldn't be surprised if Shrader looks like an idiot for defending a movie that really wasn't all that good.

Daytripper

"Dominion" was rather slow and not terribly exciting. But it was a masterpiece compared to that Renny Harlin piece of shit. Shame on Morgan Creek for not allowing Schrader to fix or "punch up" his version.

Geofferson

Definitely want to check this out.

EdTheRipper

My copy arrived with today's mail. I'm hoping to watch it tonight.

xfilekr

let us know how it is....what kind of case did it come in?

EdTheRipper

I watched it last night. It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. It was interesting and all but it didn't get into it quite as much as I would have liked. Plus, the feature itself is roughly 47 minutes, minus credits. There are bonus materials featured on the disc but I haven't gotten to those just yet. The disc comes in a standard keepcase.

RyoHazuki

I don't know if I'd consider Schrader a "master" when it comes to directing. Dominion was slightly better than Harlin's Beginning but its really not that great of a film overall. I can see why the studio was worried when he turned in the final cut. If only they had given over the reigns to a more competent director we could have had one more good Exorcist film.

JumpCutz

Well when the smoke cleared, Schrader delivered the better movie, by far. Dominion is sublime, just not for everybody. The Beginning is dreck.

The production history of these two films is one for the ages though. I still haven't caught up with that 47 minute documentary Schrader's Exorcism.

TomOpus

Mods should change your name to BumpCutz

Jules Winfield

I like to call him HumpButtz.

gogogo31

Nobody should base their opinion of Schrader on his for-hire Exorcist prequel.... He has a really imperfect filmography, yes (LIGHT OF DAY, anyone?), but he's been masterful at times, absolutely, and not just as a writer (though TAXI DRIVER and RAGING BULL would make anyone a legend for the writing alone): MISHIMA and AFFLICTION are very, very fine films (I'd probably include AUTO FOCUS in there, too) that will stand the test of time. He knows cinema backwards and forwards (before he ever wrote a screenplay, he published a book, TRANSCENDENTAL STYLE IN FILM: OZU, BRESSON, DREYER), so I'm always interested but am always disappointed when he follows his trend-chasing, of-the-moment impulses (AMERICAN GIGOLO, and this new Lohan thing he's done sounds like the same sort of deal) when it seems like he really, really should know better and is capable of much stronger and deeper stuff.

JumpCutz

JumpCutz

(Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

brayzie

I saw Exorcist 4 in theaters and thought it was scary enough, not like the original or even the third but there was a couple times when I jumped. Would never want to own it on DVD though, so I was excited to hear about Exorcist: Dominion, and after Time Magazine said it was a much more artistic interpretation of the script I thought I was going to be blown away. I guess the dream sequence with a figure unwrapping bandages from his face with a ticking clock in the background is artistic, it wasn't anything crazy like The Ring's video tape.

I wasn't scared at all, and the only part I liked was when they saw the mural of Lucifer inside the church, an interesting musical score is played in the background, and the father talks about how Satan was called the "bringer of light."

Everything else was not scary and lacked the atmosphere of the director's other films like American Gigolo. As much as I like the Director I definitely sympathize with the studio on this one.

Abob Teff

It took 4 1/2 years for the smoke to clear?!

JumpCutz

Sure did, thanks to studio interference, but the Schrader film is far more interesting than Harlins. Neither movie was particularly "scary", but Dominion is an interesting counterpoint to the original film. I especially like the reverse transformation of the Cheche character near the end of this film, a refreshing take on the whole mythology. It's a shame this didn't find it's audience, and was sullied by the hurried release of Harlin's fixed up "scarefest" (which resulted in a resounding thud). Schrader's was a noble failure if nothing else, but at least he told his story, and despite all it's flaws and it's sense of spiritual agony it remains a powerful piece of filmmaking and a worthy entry into the series.

Still, through all the sequels and prequels...The Exorcist remains an impossible act to follow.