Top Five Vampire Movies
Continuing my series of Top Five lists of some of my favorite horror movies, tonight I bring you my choices for what I consider to be the absolute best Vampire movies.
This is a bit of a challenge for me. I quite famously hate most things vampire. They suck, no pun intended, but, nevertheless, not avoided. They're either dull bores who whine about their curse, or monsters simply to serve as target practice, or, worse yet, teenagers designed simply to promote a conservative Christian agenda.
However, there are some vampire movies I do enjoy, either because they buck the above mentioned trends, or simply because they're just fun. So, without further ado, here are my top five favorite vampire films.
5. Bram Stoker's Dracula
This movie has a lot working against it - mainly, the script's lack of focus, and Keanu Reeves. But this is offset by amazing performances by Gary Oldman as Count Dracula and Anthony Hopkins as his nemesis, Abraham Van Helsing. Both give entertainingly over-the-top performances while also adding depth to their characters. Francis Ford Coppola's direction sets mood and creates atmosphere, and the set design is Gothic and scary. It's no wonder Mike Mignola was not only asked to illustrate the comics adaptation, he also provided design work for the film.
4. Dracula (1931)
Technically the second adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel (1922's Nosferatu was an indirect adaptation), and the most widely accepted version of the story on film. It made a star of Bela Lugosi. Every vampire cliche in the world? It comes from this movie. The spooky castle, the cape, the slicked back hair, the accent. Lugosi defined the character, and every rendition since then has in one way or another paid homage.
3. Let The Right One In
Not only is this a well directed film with amazing performances by the two young leads, it turns the idea of the teenage vampire on its head. These aren't tortured, romantic souls in this movie. The vampire is an ageless woman trapped in a young girl's body. Is her middle aged familiar at the beginning of the movie a pedophile, or is she for befriending the young boy next door? It's a film that asks more poignant questions about vampire romanticism than if you're on Team Edward.
2. John Carpenter's Vampires
This movie is all about James Woods. Buffy is a teen with typical high school drama. Blade is a self hating half vampire who likes to pose a lot. James Woods's Jack Crow is just a guy who's going to get the job done. Maybe he likes the job, or maybe he just likes partying after the job's finished. Either way, he cracks wise and takes names. John Carpenter's direction is, of course, top notch, and most of the supporting cast does their job as well. Entertaining from beginning to end. No brooding, no glitter.
1. From Dusk Till Dawn
If you knew nothing about this movie at the beginning, you'd think it was a simple caper movie. Two bank robbers on the run, kidnapping a family to help them cross the Mexican border. It's all pretty straight forward. Quentin Tarantino's script doesn't do anything to foreshadow the coming vampire element, nor does Robert Rodriguez's gritty, western style directing. Like most Rodriguez movies from this point on, the cast is perfect. George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Selma Hayek, Fred Williamson, Tom Savini, Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin (who plays three different characters). There's even a cameo by John Saxon.
After being treated to Selma Hayek's snake dance, all hell breaks loose, and the caper movie turns into an all out action/horror orgy. Great dialogue, great visuals, great effects by KNB, and great action. The most fun you'll ever have watching a vampire movie.
Unless you actually prefer listening to pastey teenagers whine about their tortured existence.
Continuing my series of Top Five lists of some of my favorite horror movies, tonight I bring you my choices for what I consider to be the absolute best Vampire movies.
This is a bit of a challenge for me. I quite famously hate most things vampire. They suck, no pun intended, but, nevertheless, not avoided. They're either dull bores who whine about their curse, or monsters simply to serve as target practice, or, worse yet, teenagers designed simply to promote a conservative Christian agenda.
However, there are some vampire movies I do enjoy, either because they buck the above mentioned trends, or simply because they're just fun. So, without further ado, here are my top five favorite vampire films.
5. Bram Stoker's Dracula
This movie has a lot working against it - mainly, the script's lack of focus, and Keanu Reeves. But this is offset by amazing performances by Gary Oldman as Count Dracula and Anthony Hopkins as his nemesis, Abraham Van Helsing. Both give entertainingly over-the-top performances while also adding depth to their characters. Francis Ford Coppola's direction sets mood and creates atmosphere, and the set design is Gothic and scary. It's no wonder Mike Mignola was not only asked to illustrate the comics adaptation, he also provided design work for the film.
4. Dracula (1931)
Technically the second adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel (1922's Nosferatu was an indirect adaptation), and the most widely accepted version of the story on film. It made a star of Bela Lugosi. Every vampire cliche in the world? It comes from this movie. The spooky castle, the cape, the slicked back hair, the accent. Lugosi defined the character, and every rendition since then has in one way or another paid homage.
3. Let The Right One In
Not only is this a well directed film with amazing performances by the two young leads, it turns the idea of the teenage vampire on its head. These aren't tortured, romantic souls in this movie. The vampire is an ageless woman trapped in a young girl's body. Is her middle aged familiar at the beginning of the movie a pedophile, or is she for befriending the young boy next door? It's a film that asks more poignant questions about vampire romanticism than if you're on Team Edward.
2. John Carpenter's Vampires
This movie is all about James Woods. Buffy is a teen with typical high school drama. Blade is a self hating half vampire who likes to pose a lot. James Woods's Jack Crow is just a guy who's going to get the job done. Maybe he likes the job, or maybe he just likes partying after the job's finished. Either way, he cracks wise and takes names. John Carpenter's direction is, of course, top notch, and most of the supporting cast does their job as well. Entertaining from beginning to end. No brooding, no glitter.
1. From Dusk Till Dawn
If you knew nothing about this movie at the beginning, you'd think it was a simple caper movie. Two bank robbers on the run, kidnapping a family to help them cross the Mexican border. It's all pretty straight forward. Quentin Tarantino's script doesn't do anything to foreshadow the coming vampire element, nor does Robert Rodriguez's gritty, western style directing. Like most Rodriguez movies from this point on, the cast is perfect. George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Selma Hayek, Fred Williamson, Tom Savini, Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin (who plays three different characters). There's even a cameo by John Saxon.
After being treated to Selma Hayek's snake dance, all hell breaks loose, and the caper movie turns into an all out action/horror orgy. Great dialogue, great visuals, great effects by KNB, and great action. The most fun you'll ever have watching a vampire movie.
Unless you actually prefer listening to pastey teenagers whine about their tortured existence.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
comixbookgurl:
very nice list
zuki:
Awh, thank you very much 