| Subject: Re: QUEEN OF THE DAMNED |
Author:
Tina
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Date Posted: 13:27:19 03/10/02 Sun
In reply to:
Rich [DM]
's message, "QUEEN OF THE DAMNED" on 06:59:46 02/25/02 Mon
Sorry Rich, as I explained in my last post, just haven't had a spare thought for the boards! :( I'm a BAD BAD girl! *lol* Ooooooookaaaaaay! Here's my official Anne Rice's "Queen of The Damned" fanatical fan review:
WARNING SPOILERS INCLUDED
Queen of the Damned, (here by referred to as QoTD), the movie, actually encompasses TWO books. The first is "The Vampire Lestat", where in we learn about Lestat, and that's he's not quite the asshole that Louis makes him out to be. We learn about his human history, and WHO (*not* Marius) embraces him, and WHY. Lestat as a human had taken on a pack of wolves, armed, but alone. He slaughters them in the snow, and makes a cloak of their pelts (think Gladiator). He goes to the big city to become an actor (if I remember right, and it's been YEARS), where he is chosen by some psycho vampire to become his perfect Arian (sp?) progeny. The man leaves him with all the money he could possibley want, and then walks into the sun. Lestat is left alone, with no sire. The movie does tip a hat to Lestat being abandoned, just it's done by Marius.
The second book is the actual QoTD. This book is a sweeping saga of ancient Egypt and modern days that reveals to us the origin of Vampirism. Akasha and Enkil as rulers of Egypt were actually infected by a local demon/spirit that lives in the blood. Thereby, they become vampires. It's actually explained much better than I can do here, read the book. They were both egocentric and wicked royalty (was there ever any other kind?), and there's this whole spot about two twins from a culture that includes cannibalism of the dead in their burial rituals. These two are also infected, but not before Akasha has one of them blinded, and the other one muted. LOT more to the story. They were the ones who actually defeat Akasha in the end, though the movie decides differently.
The movie skips ALL of this. I didn't like that at all, but purposely went in there with an open mind, ready to take this as its' own stand alone movie BASED on the book. That said, I liked the movie A LOT. It was sensual and dark, just the way I like it ;) At first I thought that Stuart Townshend was overacting Lestat, and any of you who saw it may have thought so too, but then I remembered "YES! Lestat really is THAT arrogant." There is a reason he's called 'The Brat Prince' by his peers in the book. Stuart played the role perfectly.
I found the part where Lestat terrifies his first two mortal groupies to be *perfect*. It was eerie and chilling, without being "gory". It didn't HAVE to be. Jessie was acted very well also. In the books she's very much as she is portrayed in the movie. She's inquisitive to a fault, and half in love with the mystery of what she's investigating, if not with Lestat as she is in the movie. I found the dynamic between them in the movie to be very well played out. You really got the feeling that Lestat does have a heart, as he doesn't want Jessie to lose her "humanity".
Akasha, as played by Aaliyah, was a visual delight. Her onscreen presence was chilling and titilating, as she should be portrayed. Her accent threw me off, but there's nothing to be done for that. When Akasha goes to the vampire bar, in her first big scene, I was bouncing in my seat. Her dark sensuality was captivating. When she sways and slithers her way to the man she rips the heart out of, I was grinning like a fool. Go AKASHA! Her love for wanton destruction was right on the mark. What a climactic scene :) You know you're in trouble when the Vampire walks THROUGH the flames untouched. Uh oh.
The concert scene was one of the best for me. The music was perfect, I don't care what critical fans say. I am totally in love with the soundtrack. The showdown was so much fun my head was spinning.
Marius, played by the lovely French actor Vincent Perez, was also excellently acted. But then, when given the opportunity (as he WASN'T in the second Crow movie), he is an amazing actor.
Yes the movie was definitely rushed. But at least now you know why. Stuart Townshend was also a WAY better Lestat in attitude and physique than Tom Cruise was. Tall, lithe, androngenous, and feline in gait. Purrrrrrfect. :) If you haven't seen the movie, and are a fan of the books, please treat it as a stand alone based on previous literature. If you're not a fan, have a blast! It's got great special effects, a good plot, and is a visual delight. I just wish it were half an hour longer. Akasha deserved more development than she got.
God I am SUCH a vampire geekess. *lol*
-Tina
(aka: Rabid Vampire Fan)
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