movie: Draghoula
starring:Chriss Lee, Stephanie Seidle
genre: Comedy
year: 1995
format: VHS
plot: A lab researcher has his funding cut and ends up having to find his lab rats on the black market. Little does he know they are vampire rats. One bites him, turning him into a vampire, which he expresses by becoming a vampire drag queen at night.
I decided to go with this last night for this week's movie club selection on my movie blog (if you want to read that much longer post it's here)
This movie is pure camp.
The lead character is a grown man who lives with his mother, and is pretty much having his life controlled by the women around him. The only freedom he finds is when he starts turning into a vampire.
I'm not really sure why he dresses in drag? Unless it's just a by product of the time it was made?
I'd love to say the idea of gender identity is suppose to be a theme in this, but I can't. The lead character just shows up in drag without any forewarning.
The film itself doesn't really go anywhere either. It just sort of spins the same type of scenes over and over, which are of the lead character running around the streets in garters and a cape.
what do i think i learned from this film?
I'm not sure there is anything to learn from this, just sit back and enough the silliness.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
365 Days- Day 8
WWBD? part 4
Season 1 Episode 6- The Pack
Buffy, Willow and Xander are on a school field trip at the zoo. Some of the other students are bullying another boy, and Xander follows them into the Hyena house stopping them. Unknown to them, the Hyena is magical and possesses the group of kids. Later that night, while out at the Bronze, Buffy and Willow start to notice Xander becoming less caring and mean, as he joins in with the bullies. He then sniffs Buffy, commenting on her having bathed thus changing her scent.
The next day at school, Xander shows up with the rest of the bullies who are now his new best friends. Buffy thinks something is really wrong and starts talking to Giles about it.
Giles has the best line of the episode at this point when he says "Xander's taken to teasing the less fortunate, and there's a noticeable change in both clothing and demeanor, and otherwise all his spare time is spent lounging around with imbeciles. It's devastating, he's turned into a sixteen year old boy."
We then see the pack eat the school mascot before turning on Mr. Flute, killing him. While this is happening, Xander is attacking Buffy only to get knocked out. Willow stands guard over Xander while Buffy and Giles go to the zoo to talk to the zookeeper. They figure out that it was the actions of Xander saving the boy from the bullies that activated the spirit switch, and agree to bring the pack there to undo it. Meanwhile, Willow is trapped by the pack in the school.
Buffy and Giles realize that the rules of Hyenas apply to the kids, one of which is that the pack will hunt down their missing member and race to the school to save her.
Once they do, they bait the pack to follow Buffy to the zoo, where Giles is already waiting with the zookeeper. Only Giles finds out the zookeeper was the cause of the whole mess to begin with, as he is a devotee of a cult that worships pack animals.
Buffy and the pack arrive just in time for her to save Willow, after Giles has been knocked out, and tosses the zookeeper into the animal cage where he is eaten by the Hyenas, reversing the possession. The students and Xander are freed from the curse.
This is the transition between Mr Flute and Mr. Synder. Sort of the innocent into the devious. The metaphor is summed up in the quote by Giles about Xander's hormones kicking in.
This episode also draws from folklore about shapeshifters and possessions, which will lay the ground work for so many elements in the rest of the series.
The scenes where Xander stalks Buffy have as much to do with her being an "alpha" female as it does his general crush on her. She's the only one who he recognizes as being stronger then himself. And with the animal spirit controlling his base nature, he for the first time is in the same league as her.
I think this episode carries with it enough reality to really make you understand why the show is as good as it is.
You never know when someone will change to either fit in, causing heartache to their friends, or when someone will simply grow apart from their normal group.
I love the fact the costume department put the pack in earth tones of grey and brown for this and not the typical black. It gives that subconscious idea that they are turning into Hyenas. The sound they make though when killing Mr. Flute to me sounded more like Monkeys then Hyenas.
This is one of my top favourite episodes of Buffy. (Top 5 list)
Season 1 Episode 6- The Pack
Buffy, Willow and Xander are on a school field trip at the zoo. Some of the other students are bullying another boy, and Xander follows them into the Hyena house stopping them. Unknown to them, the Hyena is magical and possesses the group of kids. Later that night, while out at the Bronze, Buffy and Willow start to notice Xander becoming less caring and mean, as he joins in with the bullies. He then sniffs Buffy, commenting on her having bathed thus changing her scent.
The next day at school, Xander shows up with the rest of the bullies who are now his new best friends. Buffy thinks something is really wrong and starts talking to Giles about it.
Giles has the best line of the episode at this point when he says "Xander's taken to teasing the less fortunate, and there's a noticeable change in both clothing and demeanor, and otherwise all his spare time is spent lounging around with imbeciles. It's devastating, he's turned into a sixteen year old boy."
We then see the pack eat the school mascot before turning on Mr. Flute, killing him. While this is happening, Xander is attacking Buffy only to get knocked out. Willow stands guard over Xander while Buffy and Giles go to the zoo to talk to the zookeeper. They figure out that it was the actions of Xander saving the boy from the bullies that activated the spirit switch, and agree to bring the pack there to undo it. Meanwhile, Willow is trapped by the pack in the school.
Buffy and Giles realize that the rules of Hyenas apply to the kids, one of which is that the pack will hunt down their missing member and race to the school to save her.
Once they do, they bait the pack to follow Buffy to the zoo, where Giles is already waiting with the zookeeper. Only Giles finds out the zookeeper was the cause of the whole mess to begin with, as he is a devotee of a cult that worships pack animals.
Buffy and the pack arrive just in time for her to save Willow, after Giles has been knocked out, and tosses the zookeeper into the animal cage where he is eaten by the Hyenas, reversing the possession. The students and Xander are freed from the curse.
This is the transition between Mr Flute and Mr. Synder. Sort of the innocent into the devious. The metaphor is summed up in the quote by Giles about Xander's hormones kicking in.
This episode also draws from folklore about shapeshifters and possessions, which will lay the ground work for so many elements in the rest of the series.
The scenes where Xander stalks Buffy have as much to do with her being an "alpha" female as it does his general crush on her. She's the only one who he recognizes as being stronger then himself. And with the animal spirit controlling his base nature, he for the first time is in the same league as her.
I think this episode carries with it enough reality to really make you understand why the show is as good as it is.
You never know when someone will change to either fit in, causing heartache to their friends, or when someone will simply grow apart from their normal group.
I love the fact the costume department put the pack in earth tones of grey and brown for this and not the typical black. It gives that subconscious idea that they are turning into Hyenas. The sound they make though when killing Mr. Flute to me sounded more like Monkeys then Hyenas.
This is one of my top favourite episodes of Buffy. (Top 5 list)
Monday, January 7, 2013
365 Days- Day 7
Movie: Vampire
starring: Richard Lynch, Jason Miller
genre: Drama, Crime
year: 1979
format: VHS
plot: A vampire is woken from a three decade sleep after a construction crew begin working on a new church. They find millions of dollars of what is believed to be stolen art in his tomb, along with the remains of a dead cop turned priest. Soon the vampire takes revenge on the locals for disturbing the tomb.
This is a made for tv movie and was suppose to originally be the pilot for a show that never got picked up.
There is this brilliant scene where the Lynch character is racing to get home after having been in jail all night, and is seen running through the streets then jumping from roof top to roof top to get to the penthouse apartment, his jacket smoking as the sun touches him.
The coat is worn with a scarf through the whole movie, which is a brilliant costume choice in itself. From side views, it looks like a cape, putting you in mind of Dracula, but keeping with modern times.
I also liked the idea of changing the way the cross affects him. Instead of the typical smoke and burning when the cross touches him, it's small blue electric shocks. I haven't seen that before.
This is pretty much straight forward about revenge and feeling betrayed. The vampire feels that his friend betrayed him by telling the cops about his art collection and ends up killing the guy's wife as revenge.
This film was done at a time when the idea that vampires were connected to the devil was still a high thought. The movie I think had some inside jokes intentional or otherwise, because the actor Jason Miller, who plays the vampire hunter in this film, played the priest in The Exorcist.
what do i think i learned from this film?
Some things are better left buried.
starring: Richard Lynch, Jason Miller
genre: Drama, Crime
year: 1979
format: VHS
plot: A vampire is woken from a three decade sleep after a construction crew begin working on a new church. They find millions of dollars of what is believed to be stolen art in his tomb, along with the remains of a dead cop turned priest. Soon the vampire takes revenge on the locals for disturbing the tomb.
This is a made for tv movie and was suppose to originally be the pilot for a show that never got picked up.
There is this brilliant scene where the Lynch character is racing to get home after having been in jail all night, and is seen running through the streets then jumping from roof top to roof top to get to the penthouse apartment, his jacket smoking as the sun touches him.
The coat is worn with a scarf through the whole movie, which is a brilliant costume choice in itself. From side views, it looks like a cape, putting you in mind of Dracula, but keeping with modern times.
I also liked the idea of changing the way the cross affects him. Instead of the typical smoke and burning when the cross touches him, it's small blue electric shocks. I haven't seen that before.
This is pretty much straight forward about revenge and feeling betrayed. The vampire feels that his friend betrayed him by telling the cops about his art collection and ends up killing the guy's wife as revenge.
This film was done at a time when the idea that vampires were connected to the devil was still a high thought. The movie I think had some inside jokes intentional or otherwise, because the actor Jason Miller, who plays the vampire hunter in this film, played the priest in The Exorcist.
what do i think i learned from this film?
Some things are better left buried.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
365 Days-Day 6
Movie: Vamps
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter
Genre: Comedy
Year: 2012
Format: DVD
Plot: Two female vampires living in modern day New York try to fit in. Stacy ends up falling in love with a Van Helsing and gets pregnant, and Goody bumps into a boyfriend from the 1960's who's middle aged and looking after his ill wife. Meanwhile, the vampire who made them -their Stem- is being too reckless with her kills drawing too much attention to the community. Everyone agrees it's time to destroy her. Goody and Stacy would revert back to human if that were to happen, to their real ages. Goody is the only one who is worried about that as she's been a vampire for almost two hundred years.
When I first heard about this film, I was excited. Clueless had been a major hit nearly twenty years ago and the idea that half the cast was back together for it was worthy of giddiness.
Add to it that Sigourney Weaver and Malcolm McDowell were in it and it seemed like it would be a mega movie.
Only it wasn't. It was a mess.
It starts off with promise, then gets tangled up in it's own desire to be moral. Too much special effects are used, and not in any good way mostly for the end scene which just seemed rushed and out of sync with the rest of the movie. The pregnancy storyline given the the Ritter character is pointless... seriously, there is no building of a mythos around the vampires in this movie.
If it was going for straight up campy slapstick, it missed the mark by a few hours. If it was going for romantic comedy it missed the mark by more then that.
The trailer made it seem like it was in line with movies like Clueless and Once Bitten, and the cover art leads you to think it's a vampire version of Sex and the City. I'd say it's really about half the first draft of a script.
what do i think i learned from this film?
I need a more complex backstory and mythology in my vampire films. And never lie about your age.
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter
Genre: Comedy
Year: 2012
Format: DVD
When I first heard about this film, I was excited. Clueless had been a major hit nearly twenty years ago and the idea that half the cast was back together for it was worthy of giddiness.
Add to it that Sigourney Weaver and Malcolm McDowell were in it and it seemed like it would be a mega movie.
Only it wasn't. It was a mess.
It starts off with promise, then gets tangled up in it's own desire to be moral. Too much special effects are used, and not in any good way mostly for the end scene which just seemed rushed and out of sync with the rest of the movie. The pregnancy storyline given the the Ritter character is pointless... seriously, there is no building of a mythos around the vampires in this movie.
If it was going for straight up campy slapstick, it missed the mark by a few hours. If it was going for romantic comedy it missed the mark by more then that.
The trailer made it seem like it was in line with movies like Clueless and Once Bitten, and the cover art leads you to think it's a vampire version of Sex and the City. I'd say it's really about half the first draft of a script.
what do i think i learned from this film?
I need a more complex backstory and mythology in my vampire films. And never lie about your age.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
WWBD? part 3
Season 1 Episode 5- Never Kill A Boy On The First Date
Buffy want's one thing, a date with Owen. Giles becomes aware of a new threat called the Anointed One, an unknown vampire that will serve as the Master's secret weapon. Buffy arrives late for her date to find Owen dancing with Cordelia and goes home. Much to the glee of Xander. Owen asks Buffy out again for that night, and both Willow and Xander help her to pick out her outfit. Xander tries to talk her out of anything that might be attractive but it doesn't work.
Meanwhile, there is a bus accident killing five people, and when Giles finds out heads over to the funeral home to try to stop the Anointed One from rising. He ends up trapped, while Buffy is back at the Bronze on her date. Cordelia and a few of her friends spot Buffy and Owen, trying to ruin the date but to no avail. Angel then shows up to warn Buffy about the Anointed One, and when he realizes she's on a date, we begin to see signs of jealousy from him. Willow and Xander arrive to get Buffy, and the three take off to rescue Giles.
Only, before they realize it, Owen has followed them. He thinks checking out the funeral home is a game and ends up getting hurt by one of the newly made vampires. Buffy fights with the vampire and kills it, thinking that the Anointed One has been stopped.
The next morning at school, Buffy sees Owen and he asks her out again, but it's not her he wants as much as the danger she brings. Turning him down, she realizes being a normal girl and the Slayer is not really an option.
We then see the Master talking to a little boy, who had been part of the bus accident. It's reveled that the little boy is in fact the Anointed One.
This sets up a few of the arches for the rest of both the season and the series. One being the character of the Anointed One, who plays a major role over the rest of the season. Another is the competition between Buffy and Cordelia throughout the series to the end of season 3. This is also the first real suggestion that Angel has some feelings for Buffy himself.
But I think the biggest bit of story arch that is set up in this episode is that Giles begins to be seen in a father figure role. His reaction to her dating Owen is much to be expected of a parent when their kid starts dating.
The last few episodes I've pinpointed the theme of jealousy, which plays a part here too. But this episode is about knowing when to go for the thing you want and when to hold back.
Buffy is disappointed to learn that Owen isn't what he appears at first, and that he's attracted to the danger of being with her.
There is a scene near the beginning of the episode where the character talks about not getting out much and how he is drawn to the morbidness of Emily Dickinson, and then admits later that he gets a complete rush from sneaking around the funeral home. He ends up being this sort of closeted goth guy - adrenaline junkie. Buffy has to acknowledge that a guy like that is not the kind of guy she needs in her life. It also gives her some more perspective on her own life and the job she's meant to do.
Buffy want's one thing, a date with Owen. Giles becomes aware of a new threat called the Anointed One, an unknown vampire that will serve as the Master's secret weapon. Buffy arrives late for her date to find Owen dancing with Cordelia and goes home. Much to the glee of Xander. Owen asks Buffy out again for that night, and both Willow and Xander help her to pick out her outfit. Xander tries to talk her out of anything that might be attractive but it doesn't work.
Meanwhile, there is a bus accident killing five people, and when Giles finds out heads over to the funeral home to try to stop the Anointed One from rising. He ends up trapped, while Buffy is back at the Bronze on her date. Cordelia and a few of her friends spot Buffy and Owen, trying to ruin the date but to no avail. Angel then shows up to warn Buffy about the Anointed One, and when he realizes she's on a date, we begin to see signs of jealousy from him. Willow and Xander arrive to get Buffy, and the three take off to rescue Giles.
Only, before they realize it, Owen has followed them. He thinks checking out the funeral home is a game and ends up getting hurt by one of the newly made vampires. Buffy fights with the vampire and kills it, thinking that the Anointed One has been stopped.
The next morning at school, Buffy sees Owen and he asks her out again, but it's not her he wants as much as the danger she brings. Turning him down, she realizes being a normal girl and the Slayer is not really an option.
We then see the Master talking to a little boy, who had been part of the bus accident. It's reveled that the little boy is in fact the Anointed One.
But I think the biggest bit of story arch that is set up in this episode is that Giles begins to be seen in a father figure role. His reaction to her dating Owen is much to be expected of a parent when their kid starts dating.
The last few episodes I've pinpointed the theme of jealousy, which plays a part here too. But this episode is about knowing when to go for the thing you want and when to hold back.
Buffy is disappointed to learn that Owen isn't what he appears at first, and that he's attracted to the danger of being with her.
There is a scene near the beginning of the episode where the character talks about not getting out much and how he is drawn to the morbidness of Emily Dickinson, and then admits later that he gets a complete rush from sneaking around the funeral home. He ends up being this sort of closeted goth guy - adrenaline junkie. Buffy has to acknowledge that a guy like that is not the kind of guy she needs in her life. It also gives her some more perspective on her own life and the job she's meant to do.
365 Days- Day 5
movie: Vampire Clan
starring: Drew Fuller, Kelly Kruger
genre: True Crime, Bio-pic
year: 2002
format: DVD
plot: Follows the weeks leading up to the arrest of the group of teens who committed the brutal killings in Florida back in 1996, claiming they were a group of vampires.
Based on a true story.
I've been vocal before on my thoughts about this film (talked about it before on other blogs). The film itself is not the greatest. Drew Fuller is the only reason to keep the dvd player on.
The topic, could have been handled better as this was one of the most shocking events of the mid-1990's; and this film seems to come off like a made for Sunday night movie.
This is unfortunately, a true story. This crime happened when the vampire role playing games were at their peak, and the teenagers fell victim to the misguided hype.
This is one of those times when the style gets in the way of the topic. I followed the events through news reports and two of the biographies (in book form) back when it all happened, and feel that so much is left out of the background on why they did this. The drug use, the emotional and mental instability, the abuse, the grief and loneliness that this group of kids felt all were down played in this film.
what do i think i learned from this film?
Anyone can fall victim to the whim of illusion.
starring: Drew Fuller, Kelly Kruger
genre: True Crime, Bio-pic
year: 2002
format: DVD
Based on a true story.
I've been vocal before on my thoughts about this film (talked about it before on other blogs). The film itself is not the greatest. Drew Fuller is the only reason to keep the dvd player on.
The topic, could have been handled better as this was one of the most shocking events of the mid-1990's; and this film seems to come off like a made for Sunday night movie.
This is unfortunately, a true story. This crime happened when the vampire role playing games were at their peak, and the teenagers fell victim to the misguided hype.
This is one of those times when the style gets in the way of the topic. I followed the events through news reports and two of the biographies (in book form) back when it all happened, and feel that so much is left out of the background on why they did this. The drug use, the emotional and mental instability, the abuse, the grief and loneliness that this group of kids felt all were down played in this film.
what do i think i learned from this film?
Anyone can fall victim to the whim of illusion.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Vampire Diaries recaps
The Vampire Diaries Season 1 Episode 1- Pilot
We see a couple driving late at night, and they hit a man standing around in the middle of the road. It ends up he's a vampire, and kills them both.
Next morning, we're at the high school, and a new guy arrives, Stefan, sending all the girls into a heat. We then meet Elena, who is dealing with the death of her parents and decides to go to the graveyard to be close to them. Stefan shows up, but not before a mysterious crow that spooks her.
Stefan, notices she's dropped her diary and picks it up.
The rest of the school, Elena's younger brother included, decide to head to the school party and a few more students end up dead. Bitten by some wild animal. Only Stefan seems to really be rattled. We then met Damon, Stefan's older brother, arrives. The two vampire brothers have a fight, Stefan getting the worst of it. The episode ends with one of the victims laying in hospital remembering what she believes was a vampire attacking her, and Stefan returning the diary to Elena.
I've commented before on how surprised I was with the transition from book to show this ended up being.
There is so much to cover in this first episode, it's almost impossible to pinpoint the major themes going on in it. I suppose I'd have to go with lies and trust. How secrets can mess up everyone no matter how well they are buried.
It's also about control vs recklessness. Stefan is quiet and doing his best to be normal, while Damon is going with a more base nature.
We see a couple driving late at night, and they hit a man standing around in the middle of the road. It ends up he's a vampire, and kills them both.
Next morning, we're at the high school, and a new guy arrives, Stefan, sending all the girls into a heat. We then meet Elena, who is dealing with the death of her parents and decides to go to the graveyard to be close to them. Stefan shows up, but not before a mysterious crow that spooks her.
Stefan, notices she's dropped her diary and picks it up.
The rest of the school, Elena's younger brother included, decide to head to the school party and a few more students end up dead. Bitten by some wild animal. Only Stefan seems to really be rattled. We then met Damon, Stefan's older brother, arrives. The two vampire brothers have a fight, Stefan getting the worst of it. The episode ends with one of the victims laying in hospital remembering what she believes was a vampire attacking her, and Stefan returning the diary to Elena.
There is so much to cover in this first episode, it's almost impossible to pinpoint the major themes going on in it. I suppose I'd have to go with lies and trust. How secrets can mess up everyone no matter how well they are buried.
It's also about control vs recklessness. Stefan is quiet and doing his best to be normal, while Damon is going with a more base nature.
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