 I liked this movie mostly for two things: Thomas Ian Griffith and the soundtrack! I heard this wonderful soundtrack and it caught me up instantly. Music by The Texas Toad-Lickers, a band formed by director John Carpenter made up of Donald "Duck" Dunn, Rick Shlosser, Jeffrey "Skunk" Baxter, Joe Robb, Bruce Robb, and Carpenter himself. Some of these guys used to be Booker T and the MGs and this soundtrack just rocks. I ran right out and bought it, too. NOW. . .The head vampire (the FIRST vampire created) Valek, is played by one of my favorite people to look at, Thomas Ian Griffith. The story is different; The Church has created the first vampire in a botched, unnecessary "exocism". Now, the Church maintains "slayers" to hunt down and kill the fruits of it's mistakes, the vampires. James Woods is one of those slayers. He and his crew set upon the vampires with a vengeance. |
Valek is after a artifact that can make him able to walk and live in the sunlight so he must be stopped. These particular vampires don't cringe from crosses or garlic. Stake'em through the heart, drag'em into the sun with a winch; only way to get'em. The vampires are being helped by a renegade Bishop who wants eternal life. Daniel Baldwin is Woods' right-hand man. They find a girl (Sheryl Lee) who is bitten and quickly turning into a vampire so she can telepathically rat to the Slayers on where the vampires are. This is not a pretty movie. The vampires and the victims die pretty graphically. Woods is over-intense, as par, but it seems to always suit his characters. Baldwin is great and Griffith...well, I've already been there; great vampire. When you watch this flick, as I'm sure you WILL now, make a point of tuning into the music. You'll like it all, really. |
 | This movie, with DiNero as The Creature. . .well, beautiful is the only word I can think of. He's a lot taller, too; it must have been the monster platform shoes. We all know that The Creature is half-way sympathetic and a tragic figure. DiNero portrays this tragedy excellently; as only he can. It's a different take on the story, but not by much. Kenneth Branaugh as the Baron and Helena Bonham Carter as his fiance, Elizabeth, are quite good. The scenes between the Baron and The Creature are deep and emotional. This version needs to be seen. Grand staging, dialogue, and sets round it all off. You'll Love it. |
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This flick took it in the shorts with the critics so I, of course, LOVED it. Sting is wonderful as the
sleazy Baron who brings a beautiful young creature to life for his first creation. The
Creature is very disappointed that the Baron has decided to keep the lovely new creation
for himself to educate and mold her into an intellectual equal . . . AND to take
her as his own "mate". After the disagreement over that little quirk, the Creature runs away and joins up with a dwarf (David Rappapport) who gets them jobs in a traveling circus show. The little dude gives the Creature the name "Viktor" and they become fast friends, but the Creature is connected emphathically with The Bride and he soon returns for her. This movie was filmed beautifully; the costumes and the sets are just wonderful. The new twist on the innocent and doomed Creature is great. You'll like it. |
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I watched this again the other day and sat there laughing out loud - all by myself - like a fool; This flick is just wonderfulness. Mel Brooks is a genius and the players are all geniuses, too. You have to watch this little movie a couple of times to catch all the truely creative little gags. Madeline Khan - Marty Feldman - Terri Garr - Cloris Leachman - Gene Wilder - Peter Boyle - Gene Hackman. What a terrific line-up these guys are! Everyone was so very funny. . .and they used a lot of the original Frankenstein sets and props in the laboratory, too. Run, do not walk, to get this and treat yourself to laughter; the best medicine. "O sweet mystery of life at last I've found you. . . ." |