365 Days- Day 62

Movie: The Lost Boys
starring: Corey Feldman, Corey Haim
genre: Horror, Comedy,
year: 1987
format: DVD

plot: Sam and Micheal move with their mother after she gets a divorce. To their horror, they have moved to what seems to be the murder capital of the west coast, as hundreds of people are either dead or missing in the small sea side town. Soon, both boys have made some new friends, Micheal has been hanging around a group of teenaged bikers, and Sam a couple of guys who work in their parent's comic book store. They soon find out that neither is really what they first appear to be. Micheal's new gang are actually a group of blood sucking vampires and Sam's buddies are the hunters that are set to kill them. Meanwhile, their mom ends up dating the head vampire.

Cult classic!
There is so much to say about this film, but at the same time nothing to say because it's all been said a million times over the last twenty plus years.

What at first seems like just another teen horror film from the 80's, is more a discussion on finding the truth about yourself, and how far you are willing to go to learn it. (as seen in the classic line uttered by David "How far are you willing to go Micheal?" )

What do i think i learned from this film?
I think the film fits better of what have I not learned from it?  This movie single handedly changed the way I think, act, breathe for that matter.

365 Days- Day 61

movie: From Dusk till Dawn 3 Hangman's Daughter
starring: Michael Parks, Marco Leonardi
genre: Western
year: 1999/2000
format: DVD

plot: When an outlaw is saved from death by hanging, he escapes with the daughter of the hangman. While on the run, his gang rob a stage coach, and soon all involved find themselves stuck in the same saloon over night. What they learn is that the hangman's daughter is the princess in a long line of female vampires.

Personally, this is my favourite of the three films.  I have to wonder though if naming one of the main characters Johnny, and another John was suppose to be some sort of inside joke?
This is the prequel, set in the 1800's, and if you want to watch the story happen in order, you would watch this first. 
One of my favourite scenes, is a black and white dance. One of the vampires hypnotizes one of the main characters and we see this strange seduction done like a black and white silent film. It's only about a minute and a half scene but it lends to a sense of humour and comes off like a bit of a tribute to the 1922 version of Nosferatu.

My one criticism of this film is the use of modern style underwear on nearly all of the vampire hookers.

what do i think i learned from this film? You never know who you can really trust in the end, or where you're love will end up leading you. No matter how good your intentions are. And karma is a bitch.

365 Days-Day 60

movie: From Dusk till Dawn 2 Texas Blood Money
starring:Robert Patrick, Danny Trejo
genre: Crime, Western
year:1999/2000
format: DVD

plot: A group of bank robbers plan a job in Mexico, and we see the situations they get themselves into when they mess with the wrong gang.  Ends up, they double crossed a gang of vampires.

It teases you, making you think that Bruce Campbell might be one of the main characters in the opening scene, but he's only in about two minutes of the film, as Bruce Campbell doing a late night movie.

This is the first of the two prequels.  It's a bit confusing, as there are moments that hint at it taking place before the events in the first movie, and hints that it is taking place at the same time as the events in the first movie.

There are some genius points of view in this, from people being filmed in reflections (mirrors, sunglasses, phone booths, to the point of view of a bat flying, and the point of view of weapons being used)  This film starts off with so much promise, the dark comedy and soundtrack make it feel like it's going to rock the roof off, but midway, it looses so much steam. 

I think what makes these films so good, is the fear factor. Being trapped in a small place with a monster.

what do I think I learned from this film? Don't disrespect a bat.

365 Days -Day 59

movie: From Dusk till Dawn
starring: George Clooney, Cheech Marin
genre: Western, Crime
year: 1996
format: DVD

plot: Two bank robbers on the run kidnap a preacher and his two kids, in order to get over the border in order to make their drop. The find themselves at an all night biker bar, where the staff are a bunch of bloodsuckers, literally.

This has to be one of the most popular vampire-westerns around. Not the only one, and not the first, but one of the most popular.
It has part to do with the fact vampires were starting to get a bit soft and this was a well needed kick in the teeth.  It also comes at a time when Tarantino was the biggest thing going.

It managed to mix a few sub-genres together, a great crime/mobster film with a straight up shoot'em up/western. This film manages to be dead on funny with it's dialogue, as well as just bloody enough to be outrageous when it needs to.

what do i think i learned from this film? Faith.  You can do anything as long as you have faith in what you are doing. We see the character of the preacher have to admit to himself that he hasn't completely lost faith in his life or those around him. At the same time, we see the character of Seth have to admit he's lost all faith in his brother, and that the loss of his brother to the vampires is what is best for everyone. 

Just a note

What's going on?

I've been really bad at keeping up this project this year.  But, I'm still working on it. I know, I've lost like another week and a half on it.  Just means I'll end up going way way over the year mark into next year, cause damn it, I will have a full 365 days worth of vampires on this blog.

Bloggers blog for different reasons, and I've sort of lost my way lately.   Last year, when I did the one different movie a day for the year, all I wanted to do was vampire movies, and now this year doing the all vampire project, other stuff keeps popping up to distract me.  But that's life, even for the undead.

But with all that said, the franchises are coming.  Subspecies, From Dusk till Dawn, Blade, Underworld, Twilight, and of course, the Draculas.

I'm sort of spacing out the Dracula films for later in the year as much as I can, given there is going to be a new tv show on NBC in the fall based on Dracula, and want to wait. 

I'll be back over the next few days cramming in as much vamp time as I can on here. Feedback is always welcome.

I've been doing a weekly (okay yeah I've missed a few weeks) series of blog posts over on my movie blog, about vampire films.  Just picking one vampire movie a week and breaking it down, talking about certain themes and stuff.  Some have been really detailed, others have been short and to the point because of lack of time.
So if you ever want to jump in on there and chatter with me, please do.(Weekly Movie Club)

till later