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The Exorcist III

The Exorcist III

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lights...
Review: Leave the lights on and make sure the pacemaker has fresh batteries--especially in the hospital... This ties some of the things in the first movie together, albeit RATHER loosely (or wrong if you want to say it that way!), but it is also a stand-alone horror/psychological classic. Enjoy--I did and will many more times.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Sensationalism, suspenseful, but still.....
Review: The movie is almost unrecognizable from the book. It was made to draw a blood-thirsty audience, but what's missing is what is so difficult to portray on the screen: Kinderman's philosophy. After heading the homicide department for so long, he still maintains his belief in things good and beautiful, in spite of the horrible killings happening in Georgetown.

The movie (as well as the book) disagree in places with the original "Exorcist", but because of the storyline, it can be forgiven. Although in the first movie, Damien Karras and Kinderman never had the chance to really get to know each other, "Exorcist III" claims that they were the best of friends.

I think the casting was great. If Lee J. Cobb couldn't do this film, then George C. Scott would do just fine. The brief appearances by Jason Miller were great, and added to the especially frightening parts of this movie.

I still say the book is much better, though.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: HELLS BELLOWS ........
Review: A thoroughly Nasty, Evil piece of work - only for those 'Strong of Heart'. Hmmm ...... this one takes you well into the dark side, but is it the general dark side or specific, individual darkness of the soul? That's for the viewer to decide.

Odd casting too - George C. Scott as our hero - with Colleen Dewhurst [spouse # 1] as Satan ! Slightly toungue in cheek there. There's even 'fabulous' Fabio as what else but an Angel!
But those are incidentals. IF you enjoyed [if that's correct] the original, [and mercifully skipped # 2] this one will really disturb you.

Seems that something survived the long fall down those stone steps - the grotesque killings continue, including a very creepy sequence in the confessional, and some very odd and sharp surgical appliances. A Baffled George C. Scott as Kinderman [the Lee J. Cobb role] investigates.

Performances? Excellent - especially Scott, Brad Dourif, Jason Miller, Viveca Lindfors, and Zorah Lampert.

A thoroughly disturbing vision ......... as 'IT' says 'It's A Wonderful Life'" ......

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Want Scary? This One's Pretty Scary.
Review: George C. Scott's low-key, world-weary persona is an excellent foil for the evil force in this film - the huge distance between his character and that of the standard screaming half-naked teen babysitter provides for a particularly intense matchup between Good and Evil.

For me, the film's "fear factor" is also heightened by the cinematography (regardless of whether it copies Kubrick, as you can't go far wrong copying Kubrick) and, in an interesting way, by the lack of gore.

Though "The Exorcist" was a great ride on its own, and any sequels are clearly about the money, this entry is a pretty scary movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Too Smart for Today's Typical Horror Crowd
Review: Exorcist III is indeed one of the more underappreciated films in recent memory (another is Blatty's other directorial effort, the 9th Configuration). The mistake made here was one of marketing. In the studio hysteria to cash in on franchises, the boneheads marketing this fine picture attempted to sell it as another Jason, Freddy, Halloween, Scream, et al. What they failed to understand was that this was a THINKING PERSON'S horror film. I have low expectations for the 4th Exorcist presently in production without involvment from Friedkin or Blatty.

If you don't believe in God, what happens when you are face to face with the devil? This, simplistically, is the key theme in Exorcist III. It is thought provoking, horrific, and very suspenseful. There are no naked babysitters to be found, and none of the key characters are incredibly stupid. George C. Scott gives an incredible performance as the street hardened homicide detective who has seen it all...until now.

Definitely worth a rent/purchase. (I own the DVD and, unfortunately, there's no commentary by Blatty, although I'm on the lookout for a reissue.)

Perhaps today's generation of horror fan should consider this film. In a day where digital effects substitute fine writing and character development, this film illustates the most frightening horrors come from within.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not the Texas Chainsaw Massacre ...thankfully
Review: I got a good laugh at all the people who thought this movie was boring, and especially those who disparaged the jail cell sequences as being "too philosophical" or too long.

I'll just say this: if you were drawn in and captivated by the Apocalypse Now scenes in which Willard meets Kurtz, you'll "get it". Otherwise you won't. This film is NOT a slasher, NOT a Star Wars and NOT even a movie really; it reads much more like an intense novel, which--if that's your cup of tea--you'll never regret seeing.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Exorcist 3
Review: Exorcist 3 is the third of what is (at the moment) a trilogy and it is interesting to note that all three are very different films with different stances. The first is more out right disturbing horror which whilst would be unfair to suggest that it resorts to gross-out scenes, does include such scenes which raise the scare ante no end. The second instalment is more like the calm after the storm which has no scares in it, it isn't completely without merit but any film which includes the line "You have scientifically proven that a demon is inside her" can't be taken too seriously. The third is more of a psychological afterthought. There is some very good dialogue and whilst George C Scott is not Lee J Cobb, the character of Kindermann is faithfully transferred and you can believe it is a later version of him. People going to see this expecting it too be another out-right scare fest will be dissapointed because whilst it is not without its unsettling moments, they are different to the first and not as powerful. The first film has grotesque and believable changes to an innocent young girl, here there are just some fairly well crafted jumps. But little more.
Enriching and seeing more of Georgetown works well and the credit sequence is disturbing and sets the scene well. I really would not like to live there.
The ending is dissapointing and I can only ponder to the version that Blatty had originally wanted. Maybe in 13 years time we will have the intended version of E3 released.

Bottom line, is there is still enough in here to make you ponder about your place in the universe and how safe it is and this film also conveys well issues such as loss, friendship and melancholy mainly through George C Scott. Ultimately though it is a little anameic in comparison to the original. Maybe nothing will come close again.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: slow cooker....
Review: This movie is great to watch with the lights out
a candle lit and an open mind. I thought the original
EXORCIST was unforgettable at the movies and this
has many scarey moments, its not quite as powerful
as the the first one but it goes in its own direction
and has several scenes of pure terror. I enjoyed the
sounds quality on this movie and George Scott is
great in this, as he was also in the spookie, THE
CHANGELING. This is very well made and acted movie.
There
are a number of little touches that take this movie
out of the ordinary, as stated in other reviews, the
confessional scene especially, the patients at the
hospital, so many strange sounds keep your blood pumped and
keep the story moving. Very underrated movie, well worth
a look.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: In many ways, as good as the original.
Review: This was a landmark film for me when I first saw it back in 1990. And it's true, in many ways this movie is as good as the original Academy Award winning The Exorcist. I just bought the Exorcist (The Version You've Never Seen), and with the new added scenes and commentary by director William Freidkin, I'd saw that the film has been improved over it's original 1973 release. Now I am a student of this series, having also (unfortunately) seen Exorcist II: The Heretic. I have also read both of William Peter Blatty's novels: The Exorcist and Legion, which Exorcist III: Legion is based on. In both cases, the books I think are far superior to the films, but the movies are still beyond excellent adaptations of the novels and better than 90% of the films that have been made in the last 30 years. But let's stick to Legion. The title is taken from a verse in the Bible in which Jesus casts out a demon from a possessed man, into a group of pigs as I remember it. Interesting. Although Legion will scare the daylights out of any sane person, and that it is worthy of praise, I will point out a few of its very minor flaws. First off, we are told that Kinderman (George C. Scott) and Father Karras (Jason Miller) were "best friends". I find this exceptionally hard to believe based on the facts we are given in the original Exorcist. Kinderman and Karras get on very well and are friendly right from the get go in the original film. But based on their brief meeting and the fact that the story probably only takes place within the span of a few weeks, makes it very hard for me to accept that the two men grew to become as Kinderman says in Legions: best friends. Even to the extent that Kinderman has a photo on his desk with the two men laughing arm and arm. How did that happen? When in the span of the first film did the two men happen to have time to pose for this picture together? Also, Blatty who directed this time out does change up the story of Legion from a suspense thriller, to more of a supernatural piece with only overtones of the Gemini Killer story, gone into MUCH greater detail in the novel. But these are prudish comments on my part, I just felt obligated to let you know. Otherwise, the film is flawless. Excellent writing, superb acting, great story and shot in a style SO eerie that only Alfred Hitchcock could do better. Be prepared to be shocked, challenged and have nightmares at the utter evil that is conjured up in this film. You're faith may be shaken, but the final ending to the film is SPECTACULAR! Kinderman's "I believe" declaration in stunning. And lastly, some evil moments to watch for: the evil "clown/joker" priest in the hallway, elderly woman clinging to the ceiling, the confession booth scene..."she bled a great deal." Stunning. Don't hesitate, lock the doors and turn off the lights and be prepared to have the best scare of your life.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Broadway Play
Review: This movie is by far the best of the series. It is far more cerebral and in that respect may not please those looking for action or a lot of gore. Indeed, this would have made a great stage play and it is no surprise that Brad Dourif, who plays the already-dead-but-relocated Gemini Killer really shines in this role, clearly displaying his early off-Broadway stage roots with the Circle Rep in NYC. Wow, what a performance!


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