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 31

movie: The Forsaken  aka   Desert Vampires
starring: Kerr Smith, Brendan Fehr
 genre:  Thriller,
year: 2001
format: DVD

plot: A young man who is driving cross country in order to get to his sister's, picks up a hitchhiker  who ends up being a vampire hunter. They then come across another vampire victim and the vampires that bit her.  Soon, the three are in a personal war with the group of vampires.

This is one of my favourites.  It's inline with Lost Boys and Near Dark, but still manages to have an identity all it's own.
It's also one of the few "modern" vampire movies that manages to make good use of a Renfield type character.  Which has been lacking in recent years.

I love the fact that this film creates a new vampire mythology and legend for itself as well, going beyond the typical Vlad Dracula storyline, and into a history more akin to Vlakyrie myths. (I know that this movie uses Greek and Hebrew mythos with the mention of Abaddon) Where in this film, the origin of the vampires starts with 8 knights who make a deal for immortality, slaying the 9th member as a sacrifice to Abaddon,  then run and hide from self loathing.  It also pulls from some of the vampire role playing games about covens and clans.

This film uses the vampire as a metaphor for blood disorders and virus.  The main way in the film to keep control over it, is to ingest a mix of drugs that were originally designed to battle AIDS.

I'm actually surprised this film has not been given a sequel, given the cult status it's gained in the last 12 years.

what do i think i learned from this film?
You should be careful who you party with. 

365 Days- Day 30

movie: Rise Blood Hunter
starring: Lucy Liu, James D'Arcy
genre: Crime, Thriller
year: 2007
format: DVD

plot: A reporter finds herself in the middle of a series of crimes that have been committed by a cult of vampires. She ends up getting turned herself, and partners up with the cop who's daughter was killed the same way.

When I first heard about this film few years ago, I thought it was going to be just another low B-movie, but after the first few minutes, you realize how top of the line this is. The star power in this is jammed, including Michael Chiklis, and Marilyn Manson.

This is another vampire turned slayer story. It's about pure revenge after having you're life stolen from you, your identity stripped away.
The lead character is made a vampire against her will, and has to learn to survive. You're taken through a series of flashbacks learning what happened to her and why she's out for revenge.

I love that this film uses silver instead of wood for the stakes and crossbow tips.  So few movies pull that element from folklore. 

There is also this sub-plot about how cults manage to draw people, specially teens in.

what do i think i learned from this film?
Revenge can be painful

365 Days- Day 29

Dracula the Series- Episode 4  The Boffin

We open with Max being followed by some guy down the street. He grabs the necklace of garlic from Max throwing it away.
We then see Chris and Sophie back at the house playing video games. The two are talking about rejection and dating, as the romance between them has started.
We then see Max running into the house with the man behind him. We learn that the guy is a Professor of Vampirology, and he claims the garlic is useless. He accuses Gustav of just being a hobbiest when it comes to vampires, not knowing that Gustav is a Van Helsing.
The Professor ends up being a mess, as he shows them his radar remote, and invites Max to his lab.

The next scene is Dracula in his office talking to another scientist about a new type of sunscreen and a new type of mirror. He then turns him into a vampire.

It's the next morning, and Chris and Sophie go on their first non-date-date. Both afraid to out right ask each other on an official date.
We then see the lab of the Professor, and Max in total awe of the whole thing.  What the Professor is working on is an anti-vampire gun, which is a laser gun that shoots a form of sunlight. He tests it on a model made from a vampire's coffin. He then tells Max that he's about to go to a meeting about a grant.  Which of course is with Lucard Industries.

We then see Dracula and the Professor talking about the  project, and Dracula learns that Max is aware of the project. Dracula then sets up another appointment and tells the Professor to bring Max along, but not to tell him that he-Dracula- will be there.
Back on the date we see Chris and Sophie talking about what would happen if they were seen by Max, and Max walks by causing them to hide under the table.
We then are back in the lab where Max and the Professor are talking about the laser gun. The Professor freaking out over loosing something. He sends Max back to the house to see if he dropped the missing piece when he had visited.  Max walks past the cafe again sending Chris and Sophie under the table once again.
Back at the lab Dracula shows up before Max can get back with the missing piece for the gun. Max then shows up just before Dracula can turn the Professor into a vampire. Max figures out how to use the laser gun but it doesn't work.  We then see Gustav who's been pretending to be working in the lab as a janitor, and he uses a cross to stop Dracula then escapes with the Professor and Max.

Back at the house, Max tells them that he saw them on their date and that Gustav knew about the Professor for weeks.
The final scene is of the castle and learn that the laser gun really works so Dracula tosses it into the fireplace.

365 Days- Day 28

movie: Highlander
starring: Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown
genre: Sci-fi
year: 1986
format: VHS

plot: Immortal beings have been fighting each other for centuries, always taking the lifeforce of each other in order to stay alive and gain strength. We see the final few as they battle in modern day New York in what they have called the Gathering, for the ultimate prize.

So we have here, immortal creatures that get stronger by destroying each other and absorbing their life energy, and the only way to destroy them is to decapitate them with silver.   Classic vampire.
They get the knowledge, skills, memories and strengths of the other Immortals after they've feed off of their energies. And they are unable to reproduce.
You almost have to wonder if the original idea was taken from pieces of folklore or what?

Add to it, Clancy's character looking like Frankenstein and the quickening being a lightening, and you really can not help but see the resemblance to classic horror stories.
Dead but unable to die, as they don't get "activated" until they have first died (as long as they are not beheaded) much like the idea that a vampire isn't activated till after it's died. 
I liked the little nod to the vampire mythology when Connor is standing in the doorway of  Brenda waiting for her to invite him in. We then see a shot of him staring at himself smirking in the mirror, showing that he has a reflection. (folklore has many myths about vampires actually having a reflection but which seem to move onto themselves)

what do i think i learned from this film?
Clancy Brown can be truly frightening.

365 Days-Day 27

Dracula the Series- Episode 3 Get A Job

We open with Chris riding his bike into a store, trying to get a job as a bike messenger. He ends up with a crush on his boss. We then see Dracula drive up just as he leaves.

Back at the house, Gustav and Max are doing research about the company Lucard. Here we are given some of the mythos for the show- the three ways a vampire can affect you by killing you, mind control leaving you a zombie, or turning you into a vampire-
Back at the store, we then see Chris's new boss trying to sell a painting to Dracula, and we learn just how wealthy he is. And Chris sees Dracula and hides in the closet. When he tells his boss that Lucard is really Dracula, she figures it's just where he's got a crush on her.
Back at the house, they discuss the fact Dracula was out in the day.  It's the next day and Max decides to dress up as a reporter and follow Dracula trying to get proof he's a vampire.
We then learn that Chris's new boss is really a thief and con artist.  Chris and Sophie then break in to the shop and get arrested.

Back at the house, the kids talk about telling the cops about Dracula. Next scene is Dracula on the phone talking about the painting. We then see Max at the police telling them what he learned from watching Dracula the day before. Which of course no one believes him.
Back at the shop, Chris starts looking around again trying to understand what's really going on and uncovers copies of all the paintings.
At sundown, Gustav and the kids go to Dracula's castle and use holy water to un-magick the doors to break in.  We see Dracula having dinner with Chris's boss. Gustav then pulls a cross on Dracula threatening him. Dracula then turns into a dog to get away.
The police then arrive to arrest her, and we learn that Dracula was actually working with the police to find the art thief.

We then learn that the police captain is a vampire, and he's turned Chris's boss into one.

365 Days- Day 26

Dracula the Series- Episode 2 Double Cross

We open with the bedroom of Chris and Max, the window is open and Max is having a nightmare.  Dracula is at the window and comes into the room fangs bared.  His brother wakes him, and their uncle Gustav runs in. He then explains about the cross that protects the house.

The next morning we see Max acting like a normal teenager annoying his uncle.  He then decides to read a large volume on the folklore about vampires.   Their uncle gets a call from an old buddy who invites himself over.  This distracts Gustav and allows Max to remove the protective cross which he takes to be re-blessed. Which ends up being a massive mistake.
We then see Dracula working out in his office reading into a recorder about firing people.
We then are back at the house with Gustav and his old friends chatting about when they were younger.  Gustav then hurts himself dancing.
Back to Dracula still working out and doing business, he learns that Max has removed the cross from the house.  Max then arrives to pick up his cross but no one is around. 

Back at the house, Gustav's friends are commenting on how nice the house is.  The kids are then left alone in the house as the sun goes down. Chris and Sophie realize that Max's removing the cross from the house has now put them all in danger.
Back at Dracula's office, and we learn from a phone call that one of Gustav's friends has told him about the cross being removed. The kids then learn that all the holy water and crosses are gone as are all the stakes and they are left without any way to defend themselves from Dracula.
Dracula then arrives in a storm and fog, flying through the window.   He has the kids trapped in the house, just as Gustav comes home.   We then learn which of Gustav's old friends sold them out.
Then the man who worked at the church as the gardener comes in with the newly blessed cross scaring Dracula.  Who then runs off into the night.   Gustav then tries to save his friend from turning into a vampire.

It's the next morning, and Gustav's friends don't remember anything. We then learn that the cross never needed to be re-blessed as it was made centuries ago by a saint.