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Reviews
The Exorcist (1973)
Why add to brilliance?
I just saw the reissued "Version You've Never Seen". I was
mortified!
Why did they feel the need to add those 11 minutes? There
was nothing in it that clarified the plot or did anything but
make it 11 minutes longer. Most of it was dialogue that is
represented elsewhere with the exception of the spider
walk. And the spider walk doesn't make any sense...why
does she have blood dripping from her mouth? Did she bite her tongue in her sleep or something?
Also, why did they add those effects? When Chris walks in
the night that Burke is killed, you can see one of the
subliminal faces flash in the hood of the stove and an
image of the statue in Iraq in the corner of Regan's bedroom. That wasn't in the original release as far as I
know...why add it? I also noticed a digital effect before
Regan attacks the hypnotist where her face morphs into
one of the subliminal faces for a split second. Ew.
And what's with the extra underscoring and sound effects?
Moments that were completely silent in the original release
had "Shining"-esque chords under them. Also, I noticed a
lot more background noise in the crowd scenes...most notably when Kinderman is talking to Karras, there are
some obnoxious college students talking rather loudly and
obscuring the dialogue.
All in all, I'm glad I got to see this movie in the theatre.
However, why all the additions that made it less effective?
The Fantasticks (2000)
If you haven't seen it, don't judge it!
I have read all these comments that are solely talking about the stage production. My suspicion is that none of these people have actually seen the movie.
Before judging it as not needed, you should really see it. It's a wonderful adaptation of a show that I NEVER NEVER thought could be filmed. When the concept of the traveling carnival is described, it sounds bad...but it works and it works well.
Joel Grey is wonderful. Jean Louisa Kelly is surprisingly luminous. Jonathan Morris takes some getting used to but is good. The only performance I don't like is Joey McIntyre's...and I had hoped for more since he is primarily known as a singer.
The reason it hasn't been released so far is because the studio didn't know how to market it. This is what I don't understand as millions upon millions of people have seen and loved the stage production...those people would most likely go. The title itself is famous and, even releasing it in an art house would bring in some money.
It is not by any means awful. And it is not by any means the best musical movie to ever come down the pike. It's just pleasant...and that's all that a movie should be.
Animal Farm (1999)
WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING?!
First of all, let me comment on other comments. This is not a companion piece to Babe or a film for kids to sit down with grandma and grandpa on Sunday night. It's an allegory for the rise of Communism in Russia...a very adult topic. Second, what was TNT thinking? They completely rewrote the story (I don't remember Jones boinking the next door neighbor's wife in the novel). The animals were all cheesy and the voices sucked. Rent the animated version from the 50s. It changes the ending but is more faithful than this new
Lost & Found (1999)
Move over Plan 9...
...because there's one that's even worse now! This film is devoid of any wit and warmth. Very unfunny and unoriginal and yet there was so much potential on the part of the cast and the script. What a shame that they had to go for the cheap laughs.