a99kitten's Musings

I finally finished reading the Entertainment Weekly mag featuring vampires. I must admit, I wanted to buy it to see where Angel/Angelus and Edward Cullen placed :) But I have loved vampires much longer than I have been familiar with these 2 characters.

I was first really intrigued by vampires after seeing the 1979 version of  “Dracula” starring Frank Langella. I remember seeing that movie with my Mom and just thinking vampires were the *coolest* ever. I didn’t go to public school. I had a private tutor (my Dad did not like the local public schools) and so I was allowed 1 period of my study for a subject of my choosing. So I chose vampires, werewolves, witches, etc. I was already kinda there with so much Arthurian reading and delving into Merlin,Morgan Le Fey and paganism. So just one or two more steps…I read every book I could find. I was such a regular at the library.

Although, in looking back, it does seem strange that neither my parents or my tutor thought this troubling. I guess since I had excellent grades, never caused any trouble, did all of my chores voluntarily and didn’t wear black – I could safely study the pagan arts and creatures of the night without causing any adult worry :)

I was quite annoyed by EW’s assertion (or the story’s author’s assertion anyway) that the first “sexy” vampire was Tom Cruise’s portrayal of LeStat.  Langella was HOT in this role. By far sexier and certainly before LeStat was ever even created. This entire movie is GREAT. Sir Laurence Olivier plays Dr. Van Helsing. And Frank Langella as the Count – awesome. And very creepy parts too. I *highly* recommend watching this version.

Frank Langella's Dracula

I read Interview With a Vampire before the movie was cast and enjoyed it. But when I heard Tom was cast as LeStat I was mortified. And I actually LOVE Tom Cruise – especially back then!  But I simply could not see him as LeStat. He was Maverick.  And Maverick-like characters. Completely different characters from LeStat.

Now, I really liked this book. But I didn’t love this book. Louis is a frackin’ whiner and I simply could not deal with his constant whine, whine, whine. LeStat was a welcome distraction to his whining for sure! And when I saw the movie I was taken aback by how much I loved Cruise’s LeStat. He definitely made the movie fun. And did not have to have a creepy movie kiss with kiddie Kristen Dunst (heebie-jeebies…). Good for him going against type and showing the nay-sayers (me included!) that he could rock the role.

I did NOT like Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” at all. And not because of Keanu Reeves. I just thought it was a boring, overly pretentious movie. And I liked the book, like the director and all the actors. Just the movie as a whole practically put me to sleep and I’m not that hard to please in the movie-watching department. How Gary Oldman ended up on the EW Top Vampire list (#10??) and not Frank Langella is mind-boggling. I like Gary Oldman…but not as Dracula in this movie.

And Gary’s vamp (#10) was ahead of Kiefer (#14) in Lost Boys?? Kiefer’s David was excellent. That movie ruled! Obviously completely different version but thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining, jumpy/scary and funny. The Coreys simply couldn’t do better (and so they seriously took a digger to avoid any kind of comparison obviously.) Dianne Wiest was excellent as the clueless Mom. Plus *great* soundtrack. I will always watch this if I come across it on TV.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie) – meh. I can remember I only really cared to see it because Luke “Dylan McKay” Perry was in it! However, Buffy the series – I loved from Episode 1. Still love it. When I’m flipping through the channels and come across a rerun – I will absolutely watch it. My favorite character was Angel/Angelus. Yes – he is absolutely physically hot (met David Boreanz at SD Comic Con – RAWR!! and very sweet in real life too!) But Angel was also tortured and bad but good and just awesome :) I was so sad when he left Sunnydale but watched every single episode of Angel (more than once) and feel they did a better job with the Angel series than Buffy after Angel left Buffy. The writing was darker, more grown-up but they also kept a dark humor to it. One of my favorite episodes was “Smile Time.”

My Angel puppet from the "Smile Time" episode

And of course whenever Angelus took over and came out to play…he was great when he was being the ultimate baddie (and yes, where I got my dog’s name from.)

Sure, they lost it a bit during the whole Conner/Cordelia and Jasmine story lines but still – always loved the show. Buffy went downhill with Angel leaving, then Dawn arriving, Buffy turned into a whore, died, came back and then fell for Spike?? No. Eww. No offense to Spike – great character – but as a BAD guy!!! He and Drusilla were awesome together! Second vampire with a soul who Buffy falls for – no, yuck. Cheap, blonde imitation of Angel at that point. But was sad to see Buffy end. And was VERY sad when Angel ended. Much darker series ender…I just recently found out they have made some graphic novels as a follow up to that ending. I need to get on reading those (into my never-ending stack of reading!) But now with both off the air…there were no more vamps :(

We did have the Blade movies (first movie was good but the others – meh) and the Underworld series which I liked. But again – the first one I loved and the rest – ok. Although I did just read a rumor today that Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is returning in #4 (she was not in #3.) Notice though having said meh to the movies…I did see them :) What can I say – I love the vampire/werewolf story.

And to really capture the apparent epic battle between vampires and werewolves comes Twilight. And yes, I fell for Edward Cullen’s charms :) The author definitely hit a nerve in the girl market with these. She writes teen-angst very well. Edward is written as the perfect soul mate. Oh sure, there is one small issue – he’s a vampire – but whatever. True love conquers all, right?! :) I made fun of this movie when I saw the ad for it and heard all the commotion for it on TV. They (the cast) came to a mall in San Francisco to promote it before it came out and he (Robert Pattinson) was nearly trampled to death (according to the news.) I remember thinking “Are you kidding?” But then a friend and I saw it on a lark – and I think we were swooning in about 10 minutes :) Such suckers for the idealized romantic hero. So then I bought the books and am now a proud member of Team Edward. hehehe…

But now that I am almost done with Book 4 of the Twilight series and have to wait for each of the next 3 movies to come out, I will start watching True Blood and reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Not sure how I will like it. I saw about 10 minutes of an ep and didn’t like it when it first aired on HBO last year. But everyone I know loves it so I bought the Season 1 DVD set and will give it as try. But none of the guys are very cute :( At least in the pictures I see of them – I want my vamps hot! ;)

Plus the EW article had a couple other book suggestions that I will check out (maybe once I get a Kindle!?) namely the “Blue Bloods” series by Melissa de le Cruz (probably my next one) and “Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter” by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Plus the CW has a new Twilight rip-off/copy coming this season called The Vampire Diaries (starts Sept 10 – set your DVR!) Who knows, it could be entertaining :) At least worth watching the first couple…

Our company has an office in Romania…aka Transylvania. I’d like to go there sometime. Prince Vlad “the Impaler” Tepes’ castle is big tourist attraction. You know, because why wouldn’t it be? :) Many more vampire tales elsewhere but can you find and go into those castles? And it’s where the name Dracula started so I think a fun visit!

All the newer tales have definitely changed up the vampire (and werewolf) lore though. So no matter how many books, legends, historical tales, and movies you consume on the subject, you can’t be sure you know everything. Because then they come along and sparkle in the sun on ya!

But at least I can say I was way ahead of this fangy fad :)