July 19th 2015

I came in here with the intention of catching up on a few posts.  Been too long since I bled all over this blog.

Since last time I post, which to my shock was almost a year ago, I've seen a few vampire movies. Haven't read any new books...all the way through that is.  I've been reading books to do with Vodun and Hoodoo more then fictional stuff, but every so often I pick up Vittorio The Vampire by Anne Rice and read a few pages.
No, I have not at this point gotten my hands on Prince Lestat...trust me when I do that you will hear about. 

So what have I got to talk about right now?   The fact the second season of From Dusk till Dawn is scheduled to air in a few weeks.  And I do have a copy of the dvd for season one. I have yet to do a review of it as I have only watched the episodes and none of the special features/extras yet.

September 25th will be the release date for Hotel Transylvania 2.  Which I am extremely hyper for. I don't care that it is a cartoon geared for kids, it stands on it's own.

I did a vampire theme week the other month on my movie blog. At which point, I will come back here later and do write ups for each new movie that I saw in that time frame.

But, to round out year 3 of the movie blog's list of vampire movies...

Year 3 day 131- Vamp U

Year 3 day 130 - Halloween 6 Curse of Micheal Myers

Year 3 day 129 -The Tomb

Year 3 day 128- Doppleganger

Year 3 day 126- The Crow

Year 3 day 125- Knights of Badassdom

Year 3 day 123- Dracula Untold

I will, do full write ups on them too...when I have a bit more time.  I just wanted to come in and post something.

Till later.

365 Days-Day 65

movie: John Carpenter's Vampires
starring: James Wood, Daniel Baldwin
genre: Thriller, Western
year: 1998
format: DVD

plot: A group of vampire hunters are slaughtered by a master vampire, leaving only two members and a prostitute who has been bitten. They are joined by a priest as they cross New Mexico with the now half turned girl as bait, while they hunt the master vampire. Along the way, they learn that the vampire they are chasing is more then just a master, he's the original and that he's out for a relic that will help him move around in the daylight.

This is based on the 1991 book Vampire$ (aka Vampire$ Inc. and later re-titled with a plan 'S' in place of the $, after the movie was released) by John Steakley.

This is one of the most original vampire stories I had read, and the movie stays true enough to the book. The lead character is a take no prisoners rebel and that's just what a vampire hunter should be.
I thought the casting was fitting, and the roughness of the characters as well. 
It set the standard for vampire hunter films in the years that followed, and helped to toughen up the genre in general.

what do i think i learned from this film? Rule #1- if your partner gets bitten never let him live.
Rule #10- never let a team member bury another team member alone.

365 Days- Day 51

movie: The Hunger
starring: Catherine Denuve, David Bowie
genre: Romance
year: 1983
format: VHS

plot: A centuries old vampire has begun to age rapidly, and searches out a doctor who specializes in genetics.  But, with only 48 hours to find a cure, he ends up having to be entombed in a box, left to live out eternity in strange state of continuing to mummify and still be aware of it.  Meanwhile, his lover who is a vampire who's been around since the beginning of creation, has begun to find a replacement for him, in the form of the female doctor who was trying to help cure him.  The doctor, is then made into a vampire against her will, with little hope to save herself.

This is based on the novel by Whitley Strieber and spawned the short lived television series, which also starred David Bowie.

Cult classic.  This movie is one of the most enduring vampire movies around. It's themes are addiction, illusion, lust, greed, desperation, time, and co-dependence.  
The lead character of Miriam is cold in her approach to humans, but simply unable to spend time without them.  It's not even about the feeding or even the sex as much as it is about the idea that she just can not seem to deal with the thought of being alone. Of not having someone worship her.
The flash backs are short and confusing at times.  We learn that she originally met her husband John (if the mummy count is right, he's lover #7) during the 1700's-1800's, and it seems has told him about the possibility (as we learn the certainty) that he might being to age at some point and becoming a mummified living corpse. You almost get the feeling that the previous lovers were unaware of the fact till it was too late.
This sort of rewrites the myths of vampirism up to that point, dropping the cinema's rules and pulling a bit from folklore (they can be out in the day, they have reflections and can be seen in photos and on video)

what do i think i learned from this film?
Seduction can sometimes come with a price all it's own, just because you are looking to be seduced does not mean that you need to be.  Love, as much as we want to believe is forever, it too will fade.
Energy does not die, but it can be displaced with the idea of time. 

365 Days- Day 40

movie: The Little Vampire
starring: Jonathan Lipnicki,  Rollo Weeks
genre: Family, Comedy
year: 2000
format; DVD

plot: After moving to Scotland a young boy starts to have dreams about a group of vampires and a hunter who is after them.  Unable to make any friends at school, he retreats more and more into the idea of the dreams, until one night he actually meets one of the child vampires he's been dreaming about.  The two become friends, and begin searching for a missing necklace that can help to free all the vampires in the area from a curse.

This is based on a series of children's books from the 1980's and an original tv show of the same name.

This is one of those cute movies that has a good moral without coming across as preachy or dumbed down.  It's about standing up for yourself, but showing tolerance to people who are different.

what do i think i learned from this film?
In the end, everyone is equal

365 Days- Day 32

movie:The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
starring; Sean Connery, Stuart Townsend
genre: Adventure,
year: 2003
format: DVD

plot: in 1899 the threat of a world war brings together a strange match of characters, one of which is Mina Harker, a vampire scientist and the immortal Dorian Grey.  The group soon learn that there is a traitor within them, and that the mission is not what it first appeared to be

You know, for all the young heroes in this film, I still get a big kick out of seeing Sean Connery do the fight scenes. 
This is based on a comic with is in turned based on a bunch of different books.  I wish my knowledge of comic/graphic novels was better but sadly I lean more towards cartoons based on comics then actual comics. So I can't compare this film to the original graphic novel.

The first time I saw this film back when it first came out, I hated it.  But it's grown on me over the years.  When you look at the characters and realize that almost all were originally in other works from the turn of the 19th century, you can't help but be in awe over their longevity. Just the fact that the characters are still finding a home in modern stories speaks volumes about the authors.

There is in fact, so many characters, you have to wonder if too much was jammed in for the short time frame.  I would have loved to have seen more interaction between Mina and Hyde.

what do i think i learned from this film?
I really need to read more

365 Days- Day 12

movie: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter
starring: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper
genre: Action, Historical,
year: 2012
format: DVD

plot: Following the life of Abraham Lincoln, as he destroys vampires from the time he was a teenager to his death.

This is based on the book by Seth Grahame-Smith

I know I made the plot seem less then it is, but it's pretty much that simple to sum up.  This film is a lovely mix of reality and fiction.
It's a beautiful weaving of pure action flick styled like Blade or Underworld, taking on the idea that there is a secret world that very few are aware of that has slithered into governments.
There are elements of a love story between the characters of Abraham and his wife Mary, which otherwise might have detracted from the story, but works perfectly as a underlining theme.

I loved the fact that the vampires are sturdy in their beliefs. They are either down right evil or they are heroes, but none of them are wimpy or shy about their natures.  All the vampires drink blood with vigor.

There is one scene when the vampire Adam is making a deal with a human and lifts two glasses, when the other guy turns it down, the vampire takes a drink from one glass and nearly chokes on it spitting it out. You have to assume he drank the wine instead of the blood, which I thought was a neat little moment of humour.

what do i think i learned from this film?
Love and Honor are the only things we really have.

Thinking of...

 

Bram Stoker  Nov 8th 1847- April 20th 1912

It is the anniversary of the birthday of the man who created such works as Lair of the White Worm, The Jewel of Seven Stars, and Dracula.

Random vampire stuff Nov 6th

The big ending to the Twilight movies comes out next week.

I've never been shy on the fact that I have lukewarm feelings for this series.

My favourite characters from the novels were Alice and Jasper, and I really just did not care at all for the idea of the character Renesmee.  I think it's the name as much as the idea that Jacob imprints on her.  But that's another topic for another post.

I've pointed out my views on the whole relationship that Bella gets into with Edward and Jacob throughout the last four years throughout the internet. (again, another time another post)

At the same time, the series does have some good qualities.


Let's face it, every generation or so the genre needs a kick in the arse. Anne Rice did it back in the 1970's and 1980's with the introduction of her novels Interview with the Vampire (the Vampire Chronicles book 1)  and Vampire Lestat (Vampire Chronicles book 2)   it made people view the world, the idea of vampires in a new light.
L.J. Smith created her vampire world with the offering of the Vampire Diaries in the early 1990's, Then Joss Whedon gave us Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the 1990's and 2000's.

And because the vampire is a metaphor that is excellent for everything and everyone, it was the perfect metaphor for sexual repression, then it got well... sleazy.  Really sleazy to the point you couldn't toss a stake without seeing the vampire as the posterchild for sex.

And this is where I have to say, Stephenie Meyer was needed. Her Twilight Saga helped to clean up that side of the image. It opened the vampire once again to a new generation of fans, and with a new outlook on how it was connected to society.
I think it reminded people that there were other metaphors, other issues that were rooted with the image of the vampire.

There is a purpose and a time for everything, but it was sort of sad and disappointing there for a few years when everything with a vampire on it's cover or in it's title was about sex.

Meyer has managed to take the sleaze out of the modern vampire and still keep the sexuality.

The sparkles... well that's another issue for another post.

Sept 25th 2012 Random vamp stuff

Hey my Spudguns! 

I just wanted to run in here and say hey... hey!

I have been putting some energy into this blog as of late, to bring it back from the dead... it's alive!... well, it's Un-dead...  anyways, because I have been doing my damnedest to balance out my blogs.  I have a few, and if you're a loyal Spudgun, then you know it's hard to keep up with it all.  And if you're a loyal Spudgun, then I LOVE YOU!!!! ... except the zombie in the back of the room who is spewing zombie goo all over my crypt. I don't love you, you're making too much of a mess.  And who let the werewolf in here? Dude, I just had the carpets shampooed.

Yes I'm in a good mood and part of that is the fact that there are some new vampire films being released in the next few weeks.

The movie Hotel Transylvania is being released this coming weekend.  A 3D cartoon done in the style of classic monsters.  I may have to rent a hearse for this one. 

Tim Burton's Dark Shadows  is getting a DVD release next week on the 2nd of October.  


While, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is getting it's DVD release on the 23rd of October.


And of course,  the final installment of the Twilight Saga- Breaking Dawn Part 2 (Twilight #5) is going to be in cinema on November 16th. 

Hope everyone is having a groovy week.  

all dates are Canadian and American release dates.

Sept 14th 2012

Just a note... again, I'm on a roll... to say that I just posted over on my one movie a day blog about the movie The Moth Diaries. (Day 264)

This film is based on a book, which is based on another book - the classic novel  Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu.

I have not read The Moth Diaries, but I have read Carmilla, and this (the movie version)  is one of the better remakes of that story.

Thoughts on the ....

Okay, so I got to see the first episode of the show.
As in Episode 1 Season 1.

I know, I mentioned that even though this show has been on air for the last few years, this is the first it's been available in my area.   Now, I wasn't going into this completely blind, as I've read the original books ... 20 years ago.

My first thought while watching this was, I could have sworn the lead female character was suppose to be this mega blonde. As in near albino blonde.  But, it has been 20 years since I've read the books and my memory is not what it should be.

I've also seen trailers and commercials for this over the last couple of years, so the reveal of the two brothers wasn't much of a shock either.
Sort of takes away from the whole point when you look at it from that point of view.

So far, episode one was good.  I think it laid down the ground work for the feuds well.  Honestly though, it could have had at lest one more fang-filled scene.  But, for a one hour episode, it managed to get the baseline of the story told in a clear and understandable way without coming off as egotistic.

If by chance, you're like me and haven't seen the show before, it's about two vampire brothers who are fighting over the same girl.  One will stop at nothing to get the upper hand, while the other just wants to be able to live in peace.

I actually talked about the original books on another blog about 3 years ago.  Comparing the story plot to a few other vampire movies/books with the same theme.
I believe, the theme is used so often because it's a theme that defies generations and fads.  It's something that happens all too often.

I can see why this show has gained the following it has. Which, had you asked me a few years ago I might not have.

From book to screen

Vampire Diaries.

I know this show has been on the air for a few years, but we're only getting it in my area now.  We'll be getting this on Cosmo Canada starting in a few weeks.
I'm not sure how this show is going to be.  As a fan of the original books by the original writer L.J. Smith (I know the new series is being ghostwritten by other writers now) I'm not sure how the updates are going to play for me.
In a way, I think newer fans have a leg up because there are no expectations.

With that said, it will be interesting to see how the 20+ year old books are translated to modern tv.

Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home-review

Book #4 in the Broken Heart series by Michele Bardsley.

Plot:  A paranormal investigator shows up in Broken Heart just in time to be attacked by two dragons in the middle of a deadly fight.  But she's not the only one, a recently turned vampire who was hanging around the tomb of his late wife, also finds himself caught.  Soon both are running from the one dragon while fighting their own passion for each other.

By introducing an entire new set of characters to the mythos, Bardsley manages to bring her series back from the edge {yeah my last post I talked about not caring that much for book #3}
Not much is really given about the already established characters from the first half of the series, but it does draw you in quickly.

The books in this series are easy to understand, they don't take themselves overly seriously but still manage to not be cheesy.  {if you're a fan of Buffy or Charmed you will understand what I mean} They are also highly addictive.

Because Your Vampire Said So- review

This is book 3 in the Broken Heart series by Michele Bardsley.

Plot:  Patsy the vampire who runs the local beauty salon, has just been told that she's the center of a prophecy.  Soon she's being hunted by half the Ancients, and finds herself able to copy their powers.  Can she handle suddenly being the queen of the undead, and keep her teenaged son in rehab?

I loved books 1 and 2 of the series, but this one left me cold.  It just felt way too Army of Darkness for me. {there is literally a scene where the lead character raised an army of zombies}

I don't know if this book was meant to be the end of the series originally, or if the author was just going through something major in her life and decided to make it as serious as she could? But it just felt out of place with the rest of the mythos already created in the other two books.

Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire -review

The second book in the popular Broken Heart  series by Michele Bardsley, is Don't Talk Back to Your Vampire.

Plot: Eva is a single mom who's been turned into a vampire like half the people in her small suburb. Her and her daughter are now being threatened by a group of rouge vampires and lycans.  As her powers grow, so does her attraction to the vampire prince.


I literally read this book in less then five hours.  I just could not put it down.
The author combines a modern 'reality' perfectly with Irish myth. You're drawn into the world completely with every sentence.  It's got a slight soap opera feel to it but that is what makes it so enjoyable.

There are a few scattered sex scenes, but thankfully they are so skillfully scattered and well written that it heightens the plot; and does not overwhelm the reader. {unlike so many other so called vampire stories that just feed you sex for no reason}

I originally did a review of the first book in the series on my old blog which you can read here

The Vampire Book -Review

This is the Third Edition of the very popular Encyclopedia of vampires by J. Gordon Melton PHD.   The original was published back in 1994, and the second edition in 1998-99.

The need for the update is obvious, as so much has taken place in the world of vampire fiction and fact in the last 13 years since the second edition.   With updates on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight etc.  What this volume lacks however is the one thing that made the original book back in 1994 the cultclassic it's become; and that is the intense listings of vampire movies/books/plays/shows.   The original was a mega centerpiece for any vampire collector's library.   This one is nice, but it just doesn't have that extra bite.

I can only hope that the Doctor has up his sleeve a second round of his Videohound's Vampire Film Guide.   {which was printed in 1997 and a collector's item as is the original 1994 First edition of the encyclopedia}

1 movie a day

I've ventured to challenge myself to watch 1 different movie a day for a year.   Today, marks Day 35 and it's a vampire movie day.  

Movie Blog

Given the fact that I'm sort of lazy and just do not want to have to re-type each time,  I will post the link to that blog.  There will be many vampire films to be seen over the year as it is my favourite genre.

P.S.   I just got my hands on a copy of the Third Edition of the Vampire Book  {Encyclopedia}  by Melton.  So I will be doing a review on that later in the week.

CSI:Miami 2011 October

Every year one of the top television dramas do a vampire episode for Hallowe'en, this year CSI:Miami did theirs.

The plot runs around a murder in the house of a famous vampire writer, which at first looks like it was committed by a crazied fan.  As the course of the show progresses, we learn that it was done by the author's staff who are blackmailing her.

One of the better takes on vampire drama I've seen in a few year, and bonus points for having both Orlando Jones{From Dusk till Dawn 3 Hangman's Daughter, Vampire Assistant} and Johnathon Schaech{Forsaken, Masters of Horror} in it.

It's easy to understand why such a popular show would tackle such a popular topic as vampire authors given that they are the new breed of creature.  Some would even say the business of writing about vampires is a vampire in itself.  It's even created a subgenre of fans that would make the great Renfield run screaming for the hills... or laughing as he was known to do.

Happy Hallowe'en.

The Element Encyclopedia of Vampires by Cheung

For a book that is roughly 3 pounds and claims to be the A-Z book on the topic of vampires, it really doesn't have anything new going for it at all.

I've been collecting these types of encyclopedias for the few decades, and honestly, have seen better.


This one is edited by Theresa Cheung, and is part of the Element Encyclopedia  series (others in the series include witchcraft, secret societies, mystical creatures etc)  and has limited drawings and most entries have only a short paragraph, compared to other books on the topic which give things their own page.

The only real plus this has for it are the quotes that start each new chapter.

The book is fine if you are thumbing through it at the library, but don't waste your time buying it.

Let Me In (2010)

This is a remake of a Swedish film Let The Right One In (2008).
Originally based on a book as well.

I know that when I first saw this the original version back in 2009, I had mixed feelings on it.  Sitting down and watching the English version, I still have mixed feelings.  (maybe I need to read the book?)

Plot:  12 year old Owen is being bullied at school. Abby moves in next door with her dad.  Soon the bodies start to pile up and we learn that Abby is a vampire and her dad is not really her dad, he's her familiar.  Once Owen and Abby realize they have a budding romance, Abby does everything possible to keep Owen safe.

The questions here are what are we willing to do for dignity and desire?  There is a scene where Abby climbs into bed naked with Owen after having killed her familiar.
As a straight up vampire film, it's brilliant.  The subplots of pre-teen self awareness and unconditional love are something you don't see done honestly in any genre.

This film is as brutal as it is honest, which at times can be very disturbing to sit through. 

If you have seen the original version, there isn't much difference in the English one.  From what I can tell, it was shot scene for scene.