Queen Of The Damned
<div class="IPBDescription">Ok, i know i'm late.... Spoilers....</div> Recently i decided to start reading Anne Rice's Queen Of The Damned, i've read a number of her previous books, and my view of her is less than pleasant, to be honest. I find her work to be pretentious vampire waffle that i couldn't care about. Not only that but the quality of her writing is poor, i've noticed several grammatical errors and at least twice she calls "Lestat" as "leatat". This is about the eighth reprint of this book, you'd think people would notice.
But anyway, i'm not making this post about the book i'm making this about the film. To be more precise, i'm making this post about the 30 minutes i watched of this film before i turned it off. I want my money back on this waste of time.
Usually you can forgive one or two plot inconsistancies from the transfer from book to film, but this is ridiculous, did whoever made this film actually take the time to read ANY of the book? I must admit i've not seen the entire film, so all i will comment on it the amount i have seen.
Ok, this may contain spoilers from here onwards.
<li><b>The concert:</b>
Lestat's concert is probably one of the biggest events from the book. It's about 250 pages before the lead characters even make it to the concert, so they could have at least got a few facts about this correct. The concert, according to the book, is in San Francisco, this is mentioned time and time and time again in the book, why the hell did the filmmakers decide to stage it in Death Valley?
<li><b>Talamasca:</b>
Ok, so we all know the read headed Jesse works for the Talamasca, but when you first see the adult Jesse at the Talamasca London headquarters she's giving a speach about vampires to a room full of people, then David arives and speaks to Jesse alone about vampires. The fact gets raised before David arrives that she is still an apprentice, but in the book by the time David tells her about the existance of vampires she is a fully fledged operative of the Talamasca. GG filmmakers for your attention to detail.
<li><b>Marius's Paintings:</b>
In the film David commences to show Jesse painting upon painting done by Marius depicting Lestat. Oooookay. Another little fact from the book, David shows Jesse a single painting, the one with the black winged demons and a beautiful young boy in the middle, the boy being Armand and NOT lestat.
<li><b>Daniel and Armand:</b>
Ok, where the hell were they, they are quite near the start of the book, at least Daniel was, but their absense from the film was quite astonishing, although i do accept they could have appeared after i turned this pile of excrement off.
<li><b>Those Who Must Be Kept:</b>
While the film got it right that Marius had been keeping Those Who Must Be Kept, since when did Lestat stay with him? I admit i've not read The Vampire Lestat, but since Interview With The Vampire (the film) didn't go into Lestat's creation, i feel they needed to go into this in the second film. Totally unecessary if you ask me. One thing that's sitting in my mind is that Marius was the one that created Armand, was he not, and NOT Lestat.
<li><b>Lestat's Band:</b>
Urgh, Korn. So crass. Lestat is a vampire, a supposed elegant and beautiful creature, why the hell would he sing like Jon Davis's whine. I feel he would have a voice more akin to the Goth bands of the 1980's as opposed to the crass untrained voice of Korn's vocalist.
<li><b>The Twins:</b>
The red-headed twins of every vampire's dream, where were they? These dreams are rife throughout the book, nearly every lead character experiences these (except for Lestat and Louis). Ok, they may appear later in the film, but these play an awsome part in the book and should be given an equal amount of attention.
<li><b>The Vampire Club:</b>
Ok, so Jesse betrays David and does something she shouldn't... right we're close to the book... She goes to a vampire club (The Admiral's Arms, or whatever)... oh dear, spinning off course from the book. Int he book Jesse is flown to New Orleans to investigate the truth behind the book "Interview With The Vampire". She buys the deed for Lestat's old town house and begins to tear it apart to seek out facts about Lestat. She falls asleep, sees the ghost of Claudia, and lots of things to annoy David, she returns and is taken off of the case. GG filmakers, again another accurate depicting of the original text.
<li><b>Lestat's Hair:</b>
Ok, maybe i'm getting pedantic here, but why is Lestat's hair a mousey brown colour when quite clearly in every book involving him is his hair described as being "yellow", "blonde" or "golden".
<li><b>Maharet:</b>
Right, we got a good 30 seconds of seeing Maharet and where the hell was her red hair? She's supposed to be part of a long line of distant relatives from the red-headed twins of the dreams, but why would she have dark brown hair if the trait of the red hair is passed down from generation to generation (according to the book)?
In conclusion, i really dread what would happen if i finished watching this movie, these are all facts i picked up from the first half hour of it.
Also, do not go and see this dire excuse for a movie, other than the plot inconsistancies the acting is poor, the soundtrack is ill-fitting and (in my opinion) entirely full of poor bands and why, DEAR GOD WHY, didn't they get Tom Cruise back as Lestat, he was FAR better.
But anyway, i'm not making this post about the book i'm making this about the film. To be more precise, i'm making this post about the 30 minutes i watched of this film before i turned it off. I want my money back on this waste of time.
Usually you can forgive one or two plot inconsistancies from the transfer from book to film, but this is ridiculous, did whoever made this film actually take the time to read ANY of the book? I must admit i've not seen the entire film, so all i will comment on it the amount i have seen.
Ok, this may contain spoilers from here onwards.
<li><b>The concert:</b>
Lestat's concert is probably one of the biggest events from the book. It's about 250 pages before the lead characters even make it to the concert, so they could have at least got a few facts about this correct. The concert, according to the book, is in San Francisco, this is mentioned time and time and time again in the book, why the hell did the filmmakers decide to stage it in Death Valley?
<li><b>Talamasca:</b>
Ok, so we all know the read headed Jesse works for the Talamasca, but when you first see the adult Jesse at the Talamasca London headquarters she's giving a speach about vampires to a room full of people, then David arives and speaks to Jesse alone about vampires. The fact gets raised before David arrives that she is still an apprentice, but in the book by the time David tells her about the existance of vampires she is a fully fledged operative of the Talamasca. GG filmmakers for your attention to detail.
<li><b>Marius's Paintings:</b>
In the film David commences to show Jesse painting upon painting done by Marius depicting Lestat. Oooookay. Another little fact from the book, David shows Jesse a single painting, the one with the black winged demons and a beautiful young boy in the middle, the boy being Armand and NOT lestat.
<li><b>Daniel and Armand:</b>
Ok, where the hell were they, they are quite near the start of the book, at least Daniel was, but their absense from the film was quite astonishing, although i do accept they could have appeared after i turned this pile of excrement off.
<li><b>Those Who Must Be Kept:</b>
While the film got it right that Marius had been keeping Those Who Must Be Kept, since when did Lestat stay with him? I admit i've not read The Vampire Lestat, but since Interview With The Vampire (the film) didn't go into Lestat's creation, i feel they needed to go into this in the second film. Totally unecessary if you ask me. One thing that's sitting in my mind is that Marius was the one that created Armand, was he not, and NOT Lestat.
<li><b>Lestat's Band:</b>
Urgh, Korn. So crass. Lestat is a vampire, a supposed elegant and beautiful creature, why the hell would he sing like Jon Davis's whine. I feel he would have a voice more akin to the Goth bands of the 1980's as opposed to the crass untrained voice of Korn's vocalist.
<li><b>The Twins:</b>
The red-headed twins of every vampire's dream, where were they? These dreams are rife throughout the book, nearly every lead character experiences these (except for Lestat and Louis). Ok, they may appear later in the film, but these play an awsome part in the book and should be given an equal amount of attention.
<li><b>The Vampire Club:</b>
Ok, so Jesse betrays David and does something she shouldn't... right we're close to the book... She goes to a vampire club (The Admiral's Arms, or whatever)... oh dear, spinning off course from the book. Int he book Jesse is flown to New Orleans to investigate the truth behind the book "Interview With The Vampire". She buys the deed for Lestat's old town house and begins to tear it apart to seek out facts about Lestat. She falls asleep, sees the ghost of Claudia, and lots of things to annoy David, she returns and is taken off of the case. GG filmakers, again another accurate depicting of the original text.
<li><b>Lestat's Hair:</b>
Ok, maybe i'm getting pedantic here, but why is Lestat's hair a mousey brown colour when quite clearly in every book involving him is his hair described as being "yellow", "blonde" or "golden".
<li><b>Maharet:</b>
Right, we got a good 30 seconds of seeing Maharet and where the hell was her red hair? She's supposed to be part of a long line of distant relatives from the red-headed twins of the dreams, but why would she have dark brown hair if the trait of the red hair is passed down from generation to generation (according to the book)?
In conclusion, i really dread what would happen if i finished watching this movie, these are all facts i picked up from the first half hour of it.
Also, do not go and see this dire excuse for a movie, other than the plot inconsistancies the acting is poor, the soundtrack is ill-fitting and (in my opinion) entirely full of poor bands and why, DEAR GOD WHY, didn't they get Tom Cruise back as Lestat, he was FAR better.
Comments
IMO, Queen of the Damned, even as a movie only, was okay at best.
Although I love Interview With The Vampire, one of my favorite movies ever. Haven't read that book either though. But I don't think I want to (see first line of post).
I wish this were true with Queen Of The Damned. But after having watched the rest of it (i'm half drunk, got back from a bar) i have further points to make. I won't comment upon anything after the concert since that's as far as i am in the book, while i have read the book before, it wouldn't be prudent to state things as facts when they're more than a little hazy to me.
<li><b>"Special" Effects:</b>
These are ok at best and laughable at worst, just watch the part where Akasha walks through the fire at the Admiral's Arms... lol.
<li><b>Missing Characters:</b>
Having watched it all know i can verify some characters complete absenses, or some getting minimal mention at best. Armand is at the end, but due to the recognition with Antonio Banderas (Interview...) this is not at all obvious as his name is not even mentioned. Daniel is completely mising, as is Louis. Pandora gets no mention and there's only a handful of camera shots with her in it. Khayman, i don't even remember seeing him, but according to the credits he was there, a man who gets a whole section or two in the book deserves at least his name spoken, since he is one of the "First Brood". And last of all Mael, his name not spoken but due to his role of "bodyguard" to Jesse, i figured it was him.
<li><b>Before The Concert:</b>
Why the hell was Marius talking to Lestat before the concert, he was supposedly stuck under rubble at one of the Those Who Must Be Kept's "sanctuaries" with Pandora and another immortal on the way to his rescue. Also, when Marius and Lestat are speaking, Marius tells Lestat to hear for Akasha, which he does. The book is abundantly clear that Lestat is entirely ignorant to the coming of Akasha.
When Lestat finally turns up to the concert he's supposed to be accomapnied by the loving Loius, but as he was entirely missing from this film, he is absent.
<li><b>Goths:</b>
I know that the whole attracting to Lestat's music is the vampirism and so on, which you'd expect to attract goths, but seriously, a crowd of several thousand to see <b>Korn</b>? I know there is no such definition of "Goth Music" (please don't ask, that opens up a whole new can of worms), but i guarentee you that if you go to any Korn concert you will not find hordes and hordes of "Real Goths" (The extras used for the crowd at the gig are all real Australian goths, that part was filmed in Aus... duh)
Oh well, this film was crap.
i LOVE aaliyah she was a true god
Watch JasonX, lol. There is one point where the female robot dresses up commando style and blows Jason into pieces. But guess what? He landed on a special table used for re-construction of limbs. He is 'reborn' as this armour-plated tank thingy because the machine used 'DNA information' from his hockey mask.
I never saw QotD (thankfully judging by the comments so far) because it looked pretty shoddy.
Watch JasonX, lol. There is one point where the female robot dresses up commando style and blows Jason into pieces. But guess what? He landed on a special table used for re-construction of limbs. He is 'reborn' as this armour-plated tank thingy because the machine used 'DNA information' from his hockey mask.
I never saw QotD (thankfully judging by the comments so far) because it looked pretty shoddy. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Bahahaha, the sad thing is that I saw JasonX. I laughed my **** off when jason was "reborn" after landing on the table, and the one girl says, "He's Upgraded!". That movie was sooooooo damn funny....And now there will be another funny addition to it all....
<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><a href='http://www.freddyvsjason.com/' target='_blank'>FREDDY vs. JASON!!</a></span>
hahahah.....oh man...
/edit
BTW: Jason will win....10 bucks he wins... <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
<img src='http://www.freddyvsjason.com/media/desktops/desktop_official2_800x600.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'> hahahahahah
I hope Freddy wins. I saw "Nightmare on Elms Street" when I was 6 (+/- 1 year) and I was scared to go to bed at night, he truely frightened me. I'm not sure what it would be like to watch it now though.
You mean the Lestat from Queen of The Damned was supposed to be the SAME Lestat as from Interview with the Vampire?
Gah.
Man, even if you didn't read the books its full of plot holes. I had always assumed they were different Lestat's... (You know, like to Frank's or Kevin's)
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Man, even if you didn't read the books its full of plot holes.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DOOManiac, reading is good, reading is your friend. Reading the books fills those potholes, and books are always, always, <u><i><b>ALWAYS</b></i></u> better than the movie, when it comes to movies based on books.
I have been following the Interview storyline, I finished <u>The Vampire Lestat</u> not too long ago. Still searching for <u>Queen of the Damned</u>, but its impossible because none of the local bookstores ever have it in (I usually preffer to buy my books). So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed the series, Anne Rice is one of my top favorite authors (along with Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, and a few others).
As for the major diferences between the book and the movie Esuna, don't let it bother you too much. The movie companies are only in it for the money, so they change what they want to be sure that everything will be more appealing to the general populace who has not read the book (i.e. DOOManiac).
Although I am sure they are better off not trying to get the "perfect" match to Lestat's singing, because everyone imagines what happens in the book differently, so what I think Lestat and the band should sound like is most likely very different from what you think it should sound like. Although I must agree that they would have been better off having the music done by an '80s gothic band, perhaps The Sisters of Mercy
OMG I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, OMG UBER!!!!11one!@eleven!GGBBQ
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Best goth band ever.
DOOManiac the potholes came from skipping the book called "The Vampire Lestat" with absolute half **** hashing over parts that wasn't explained so really only half the story was told in the movie