Queen of the Damned ***Official TRIBE Review***

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Ugh.

This film isn't really helping me take the goths a whole lot more seriously, as this is melodramatic tripe. Silly, overacted and hammed up to the max, it's hard to see this as the sequel to Interview With The Vampire. It certainly doesn't have the gothic creepy atmosphere that Interview had in spades. And, I know there are going to be those that disagree with my statement, but Tom Cruise made the Lestat character kinda menacing. More menacing than Stuart Townsend did in this. I'm still reeling over the fact that Townsend walked off the set of Lord of The Rings (he was supposed to take the role of Aragorn/Strider, which Viggo Mortensen took over). Aalyiah, well, I don't like to talk ill of the dead, but it's really unfortunate that this is her last starring role. She looks great, but that stupid mock Bela Lugosi accent was just plain silly and attrocious.

On top of that, the film looks plain, boring and is deathly dull. Special effects seem sub par, the camera effects and camera work is pretty uninspired, recycling and ripping off ideas and tricks that past vampire flicks like Blade (time lapse photography), John Carpenter's Vampires and others have blazed new ground with.

From the Ministry of vampire sex involves a lot of biting in a pool that reminded me of American Beauty.

Prime Minister Highsteppa

 

[djcheezwhiz]

hey james...looks like the february dumping ground is alive & well...what was the name of that last schwarzenegger movie you reviewed, oh yeah collateral damage, glad to see you're seeing some great movies

jc

ps hope you're having a good week!!!

 

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Originally posted by djcheezwhiz
hey james...looks like the february dumping ground is alive & well...what was the name of that last schwarzenegger movie you reviewed, oh yeah collateral damage, glad to see you're seeing some great movies

There has been a couple of great films out this month:

Brotherhood of the Wolf
Metropolis
Monster's Ball (or was that Jan?)

But the big stuff, you're right, this month isn't shaping up to be a very good one. March looks a bit more promising.

ps hope you're having a good week!!!

Fine one brother. Same to you

From the Ministry of hope to see you on Friday.

Prime Minister Highsteppa

 

[E-spot]

I was actually looking forward to seeing this movie. I didn't expect it to be too great, but apparently they took out and changed ALOT from the book. I'm not sure if I want to still go see it, as I'll probably be totally disappointed. Either way, at least I liked the book.

E-spot aka Joanna

 

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Originally posted by E-spot
I was actually looking forward to seeing this movie. I didn't expect it to be too great, but apparently they took out and changed ALOT from the book. I'm not sure if I want to still go see it, as I'll probably be totally disappointed. Either way, at least I liked the book.

E-spot aka Joanna

Trust me, this is rental fodder at best. I was very, very, very bored.

From the Ministry of recommendation.

Prime Minister Highsteppa

 

[E-spot]

I'll take your word for it.

I found this review of it (for anyone who has read the book):

Date: 17 February 2002
Summary: An insult to Anne Rice

For months I have been anticipating the opening of Queen of the Damned. Luckily my university had a free sneak preview last night. I read the book and knew beforehand the movie did not follow the book very closely (as basically none of the character's physical features were kept true to the book). If I had paid to see this movie, I would want my money back. This has to be one of the worst adaptations I have ever seen.

For those who have not read the book and/or are not Anne Rice fans: if you really want to see it, don't expect much from the script or from Aaliyah's acting. The story seems very shallow and skips around without really giving any character or situation any depth. The movie has a bright spot with songs from Jonathan Davis of Korn, Godhead, Deftones, and more.

For those Anne Rice fans: Do not see this movie unless you want to walk away mad and with your head shaking. The fact that they changed so much from the book is astounding. Let me give you some examples. Lestat has brown hair and eyes. Maharet does not have red hair, but luckily Jesse does. There is no Legend of the Twins, and there are no twins- just Maharet. The origin of the vampires is not told or even hinted at. Louis, Gabriel, and Daniel are omitted from the movie. Marius makes Lestat and teaches him all about being a vampire (but in Interview, weren't we told Lestat learned nothing from his maker? Hum.) Marius is never trapped in ice. Jesse longs to become a vampire and it is Lestat who turns her into one, she is never injured. Armand has a minute of screen time, in which he is a blond haired fop. When Akasha massacred, they were men and women. There is no "female liberation" is this movie. David Talbot is young. Akasha kills Pandora by making her burst into flames. Akasha dies when Lestat, Armand, Maharet suck her dry and because Maharet got the last drop, she is now stone.

In addition to all this, the opening credits and first 10 minutes or so are pure cheese. The theater was laughing at its corniness. Other scenes seem silly, though they were not intended to be this way. Lestat lacks the fire and cockiness that Tom Cruise's character possessed. Every character is a very watered down version of what they should be. It was also just so lovely to hear Aaliyah speak every word with a Dracula accent.

Basically, if you are going to spend any money on Queen of the Damned, spend it on the soundtrack, not this butchered, Hollywood version of a great book.

So yes, I think I'll wait to rent this instead.


E-spot aka Joanna

 

[Guest]

 

[Jeremy Jive]

I would have a review too but since you stood me up I went home and watched tv instead. So you can just buy me a drink on Saturday to make it up.

jeremy -just kidding- jive

 

[LoopeD]

Isn't that the movie starring the late Alyia (sp?)?

That's pretty weird shit - isn't she coming out of a coffin and stuff? Suprising they didn't re-shoot with a different actress............










d

 

[Soundstream]

Everytime I see this thread topic, I can't help but think of mingster.

Cheers ... Ian

 

[HappyJR]

The moment I saw an add for this movie (and the picture of some mostly naked chick on it), I was like "aww fuck, they've ruined it"

I really like interview with the vampire, and (yes, I'll admit it) I even read the books. And there was defenitely some cool sequal potential.

But... I guess not...

 

[Guest]

Anything from Anne Rice BLOWS!!!

 

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Be afraid, be very afraid.

From the Ministry of went into theatres yesterday, you have been warned.

Prime Minister Highsteppa

 

[Guest]

I don't care as long as the movie makes money I'll be happy, it makes my job better too!!

 

[zoo]

First half hour of the movie was great.

First 45 minutes of the movie were good.

Second half of the movie began to drag on, plot twists came which I did not understand, bad acting, overly dramatized scenes.

Bad lip-synching.

And 6 new important characters were introduced in the last 15 minutes of the movie, nameless yet full of importance and emotion.

Other than the fact this had holes which are obviously filled by the book, it was an ok movie.

Not amazing, but ok.

The soundtrack REALLY helped it get it's OK status.

The scene where Aaliyah goes in the bar and sets fire to everyone was cool.

I felt Lestat was "on" for most of the movie, with the exception of a few poorly acted / dramatized scenes ... and the terrible lip-synch scene.

The Jonathan Davis cameo was funny.

I haven't read the book so I was pretty clueless as to some parts of the movie.

But it didn't matter .. the point of the movie was eye and ear candy.

Kind of the MATRIX of vampires?

 

[gRoOviegurl]

I liked the movie!

It was by no means a GREAT movie but it was good enough. I really enjoy Vampire flicks and even if they are a bit cheesy, I still enjoy the general storyline.

I felt the title "Queen of the Damned" was a bit misleading as it implied Aalyiah had a starring role - which she did not.

She looked great in her Egyptian garb and it was nice to see that she at least brought a change of clothes with her when she returned to earth! "Queen" Vampires can never have too many outfits- so many occasions, so little time.

Stuart Townsend is one GORGEOUS guy - vampire or not. He is absolutely beautiful and I felt he did well in his role. However, I could not get used to him as Lestat - he was simply too good-looking and not "Tom Cruise" who originated the role on film.

I also enjoyed the special effects which were far superior to Interview with a Vampire. Of course, Interview with a Vampire was a much higher calibre flick but Queen of the Damned was enjoyable and even amusing at some points. There were some tonge in cheek moments when the vampires poked fun at themselves that I found funny.

Getting back to Aalyiah I have to agree that while she LOOKED great her acting consisted of merely posing in her chain maille/iron chest plate and talking in a strange, special effects-altered voice. In other words, not too great.

I don't know why so many singers feel the need to cross over to the acting world (and vice-versa) when most of them cannot act their way out of a paper bag. They should stick to what they are good at. Why do they feel they have to be a great singer, actor, dancer,producer, etc etc?

I guess it's an ego thing.

 

[HypaTee]

This movie sucked... If you're a Chronicle fan, don't see it... It is nowhere close to the book. Stuart Townsend is not a convincing Lestat at all...

I'm an Anne Rice fan, but I hated how she prejudged Tom Cruise's acting before she even saw the film. Tom Cruise played a perfect Lestat...from the way he walked to way he talked...even right down to his breathing.

Ah, can't waot to hear what she has to say about this!

 

[OTIS]

Kay I'm posting without reading the reviews in here.. then I'll go back and see what you guys thought.

Well I just got back from this movie and the only reason I saw it was cuz the better movies were 2.5 hours away. Also cuz everyone's been tagging Anne Rice's name onto it.

How dare they. How dare the marketing department for this movie compare it to Interview with a Vampire. This movie is nothing short of a trendy, stereotype supporting, 2 hour long industrial-goth video.

I mean Lestat the rock star?? Wha?

What, no one investigates puncture wound murders anymore?
The fact that he comes out of the closet err coffin I should say, doesn't make him prime suspect for disappearances/murders of the vampire type.

What I'm getting at is that this whole movie was a dream sequence and a badly scripted one at that. It had no element of humanity-reality preventing the viewer from relating with any of the characters presented on screen.

To put it simply, this movie was like a synthed-out reverb-washed trance tune absent of a dry kick drum to anchor the sound.

Not worthy of further review.

Rating out of 5:
**

P.S. too bad Aalyiah's last movie did nothing for her legacy.

 

[xtollo]

Originally posted by el presidente Highsteppa
Aalyiah, well, I don't like to talk ill of the dead, but it's really unfortunate that this is her last starring role

What about the Matrix 2 Reloaded? Did they re-shoot?

Jon

 

[OTIS]

Originally posted by gRoOviegurl
I liked the movie!

It was by no means a GREAT movie but it was good enough. I really enjoy Vampire flicks and even if they are a bit cheesy, I still enjoy the general storyline.

I felt the title "Queen of the Damned" was a bit misleading as it implied Aalyiah had a starring role - which she did not.

She looked great in her Egyptian garb and it was nice to see that she at least brought a change of clothes with her when she returned to earth! "Queen" Vampires can never have too many outfits- so many occasions, so little time.

Stuart Townsend is one GORGEOUS guy - vampire or not. He is absolutely beautiful and I felt he did well in his role. However, I could not get used to him as Lestat - he was simply too good-looking and not "Tom Cruise" who originated the role on film.

I also enjoyed the special effects which were far superior to Interview with a Vampire. Of course, Interview with a Vampire was a much higher calibre flick but Queen of the Damned was enjoyable and even amusing at some points. There were some tonge in cheek moments when the vampires poked fun at themselves that I found funny.

Getting back to Aalyiah I have to agree that while she LOOKED great her acting consisted of merely posing in her chain maille/iron chest plate and talking in a strange, special effects-altered voice. In other words, not too great.

I don't know why so many singers feel the need to cross over to the acting world (and vice-versa) when most of them cannot act their way out of a paper bag. They should stick to what they are good at. Why do they feel they have to be a great singer, actor, dancer,producer, etc etc?

I guess it's an ego thing.

It's funny.. not to take a stab at why you liked it but by reading every paragraph of what you wrote it's evident that eye-candy means alot more to you than actual plot & character development.

Same reason why boy bands will always thrive despite their crappy music.

:/

 

[el presidente Highsteppa]

Re: Re: Queen of the Damned ***Official TRIBE Review***

Originally posted by xtollo

What about the Matrix 2 Reloaded? Did they re-shoot?

Jon

I've heard conflicting reports that they do have some footage, but are completely re-writing the character into a minor role and allowing someone else to take on the intended role, and I've heard that they never got any footage at all of her, and that they've recast the part entirely.

From the Ministry of heard more of the former (some photography done, but rewriting the role)

Prime Minister Highsteppa