So me and Michelle went and saw Daybreakers over the weekend. For those of you who don’t know, Daybreakers takes place in the year 2019 where almost all humans have been turned into vampires. Ethan Hawke plays a vampire scientist who is trying to find a blood substitute since humans are on the verge of extinction, and Sam Neill plays his evil vampire boss. Anyway, it was really good. I thought the story was excellent and the action was all really well done. Ethan Hawke made a likable main character, and Sam Neill is amazing as usual and makes an excellent villain. I liked the fact that the vampires stayed true to vampire lore (burning up in the sun, stakes in the heart, not being visible in mirrors) rather than the toned down vampires we seem to be getting so much of lately.
What I liked most about it was how well planned out the world was. I love the Underworld movies, but they never give you a sense of what the vampires’ lives are like. In Daybreakers, you see how they live and the restrictions they face since the sunlight kills them. For example, when Ethan Hawke gets a flat tire at one point (during the day, the cars have a cool daytime driving feature) the tire re-inflates itself. Under normal circumstances that would just be a throwaway “future” thing. But here, it’s a necessity since vampires would be stranded if they had to wait for the sun to go down so they could get out and change their tire.
If I had any complaints it would be that there was a bit too much gore. I can almost understand the appeal of gore in cheesy horror movies, if that’s the only thing it has going for it. But the story in Daybreakers was so good, it didn’t need the gore, and it just felt gratuitous. Another complaint would be that it took itself a tad too seriously. Everyone was very glum, and didn’t seem to find the fact that the world was overrun by vampires as amusing as I did. I hate the idea of a comic relief character, but some joke cracking wouldn’t have hurt. Anyway, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re curious!
I wanted to see this one too.
I’m curious about this one as well. I do like a good vampire story, but am tired of the whole romantic notion of vampires. They are hunters and *EAT PEOPLE* There is nothing romantic about them. I also want to see “Let The Right One In”.
Nah, no gore for me thanks. I prefer muffins. I’m not really into vampires all that much, they have their moments but not a big draw for me. Sounds better than I expected though.
I’m kind of intrigued by that one coming about angels just since it’s a different take on that idea. Can’t remember the title so guess that says how much I really care. Oh well.
I was interested in seeing this one too, but it was getting such mixed reviews, it made me put the desire on pause. I’ll definitely have to reconsider now, though.
Tam: It sounds like the premise to that angel movie is that there are some rogue angels that try to save the human race from God’s wrath (an Armageddon type of scenario maybe?). Which just sounds so ludicrous that I don’t know if I could bring myself to watch it.
Oh, and my website will hit 10,000 hits today! Woohoo! So excited! Well, okay, it’s not anywhere near as popular as Puntabulous, but, hey, I gotta start somewhere! lol
John, John, John, they’ve been romantic since Bram Stoker. It’s unavoidable!
Craig, personally I believe the Anne-Rice-inspired change to Vampire lore was the best thing to happen to Vampires *EVER*. I grew up with the standard Bram-Stoker-Dark-Shadows style of vampire and at first Anne Rice’s versions — where they can be seen in mirrors, where they don’t care about crosses, and where everybody they kill DOESN’T turn automatically into a vampire — was a bit disappointing to me, but then I came to realize it was a huge improvement. If they were invisible in mirrors they’d have been discovered and wiped out long ago, and if everybody they bit turned into a vampire, they would have run out of human prey centuries ago.
That being said, I’m still intrigued. I am *HUGELY* into Vampires. The Anne Rice novels, the (mediocre) Moonlight series and now True Blood (the show, not the — dreadful — books) — I am a vampire addict.
Tam & Dave S: are you guys talking about Legion? That looks horrifically bad
Dave S: congrats on the website!
Get Tam a stud muffin, stat!
Oh Ryan. I love you.
Justin: Yes, that’s what it’s called. And really Dave, since when do plots have to make a lick of sense in Hollywood.
Tam: Okay, you have a point… lol
Justin: Thanks for all the support you’ve given me!! It means a lot.
Josh: I saw you sent in your entry for the contest already!
john: Yeah, Justin’s right — there’s always been a sexual/romantic thing with vampires since the beginning. Though I never quite understood that. Though Spike was hot as hell. Spike as in “Buffy,” not…well, you know what I mean…
Maybe I’ll see it when it’s available on Netflix. Just can’t be bothered to go to the cinema most of the time.
BTW, Tam, nice comment over on Chris’s blog. You nearly made her snort coffee out her nose.
This sounds interesting. I’ll keep it in mind if I go to see a movie in the next few weeks. I like it when writers think through the implications of their premises rather than doing Normal World + X.
Tam: I found recipes.
Craig: Horay for Dexter!
Thanks Mel. The web is a very small place. She e-mailed me and said “Do you know Mel?” Maybe she thought you were hitting on me or something.
Ryan: That is freaking brilliant. I am going to have to buy that for someone.
Justin & Dave S.: I’m aware about the romantic notion of vampires and its origin. I’ve read Dracula and several of The Vampire Chronicles stories. But, I don’t think the romantic image of them is unavoidable and I think there is room for more interesting stories if you look at the other aspects of them as predators.
I I really loved the movie. In fact because it was so original and well done, I’d rank it up with the best vampire movies (Near Dark & Fright Night). I agree with Craig about the wonderful way they thought out the story and depicted the world.It was great seeing Ethan Hawke again since he’s not in that much and Sam Neil was very creepy. I especially loved the action scenes and moments that surprised me.
I wasn’t as bothered by the gore but do agree it seemed to be more there to please the Tom Savini/gore/fx fans, than necessary to the movie. Though I must say I was even surprised how desensitized kids are now. I showed an episode of NCIS to my freshmen (since it was computer related) and not one of them blinked or ewwwed during a scene that had three bodies cut up (“a meat puzzle”). :O
John – I think sometimes both the sexual and the predatory aspect is done very well together and at the same time — in True Blood especially. But honestly. But do we WANT the sexual aspect to be avoided? Predatory monsters are a dime a dozen!! There are TWO reasons Vampires are interesting: (1) we get to think about immortality, what it would mean to be immortal, etc.; (2) the vampire’s biggest tool in his predatory arsenal is his seductiveness: the fact that he doesn’t LOOK like a monster. The fact that he can be attractive.
Plus — penetration? Exchange of bodily fluids? You don’t have to be Freud to see the sexual connotations
Tam/Mel — Chris’ blog? Which Chris? Confuuuuuuused!!
And — David S? Josh? Competition? I’m so easily confused. My head asplode.
I want to see Daybreakers, but will probably watch it on Netflix. I haven’t even seen Avatar yet.
Mel – I love the term “cinema’. You are a classy guy : ).
john – Let the Right One In was good. I highly recommend it. I heard they’re doing an American remake as well.
Justin: Seems Mel and I have a blogger friend in common. Mel for the knitting, me for the books. Well, maybe Mel for the books, but I think mostly the knitting. I could knit a scarf if Mel would cast on the stiches for me.
I seem to have no concept of how to do that and am too lazy to google it.
Michelle: My daughter is 14 and loves Bones so yeah, I think they are pretty desensitized to gore on the screen, likely real life would have them heaving though, I know it would me.
Why Mel, I don’t know how I managed to miss following you on twitter until now, let alone fail to discover your blog OR the fact that you live barely an hour’s drive away from me! Cool!
There’s quite a lot of twitter knitters, I’ve noticed. @madhatter7zero, @knitboy, and @vtknitboy come to mind in particular.
Justin: I’m giving away $50 in 2(x)ist gear on Fun With Grindr to celebrate reaching 10,000 hits. I saw that Josh sent in his entry to win it.
Dave — “Duurrrhhhh”
I re-tweeted that tweet of yours this morning. You’d-a thunk I would have been able to put 2 and 2 together
Justin: Because of your tweet, I was confused about why you were confused.
I know!!! I’m sooooo stuuuuuupid
First off, I am still looking forward to seeing Daybreakers, which will most likely be sometime next year (blah, blah, small town, blah, blah, netflix, blah, blah.)
Second, I had no idea there were this many knitters reading Puntabulous (or are within 2 degrees of seperation from Puntabulous,) we have enough here for our own “Stitch and Bitch”
Tam: Techniques with Theresa over at Knitty is a great place to start learning to cast on, and I am sure there are a few folks here that would be willing to give advise too.
Dave S.: does the winner have to submit a Grindr photo wearing said undies? If so, can I rig the contest so Josherz wins? *keeps sharp lookout for approaching D-Rex*
Justin: Oh I don’t deny that at all and sometimes that aspect of vampire stories is done very well, nor am I suggesting that it be dropped completely. I’d just like to see a story where it wasn’t as prominent.
I think there could still be all the conjecture around immortality as well as the fact they blend right in with humanity. Ever see a full story about an ugly vampire? I’m not saying they don’t exist, but I’d like to see a story that explores these themes out of the love/sex story could be interesting.
This is the book for you John. A 350 lb cab driving vampire in New Orleans by Andrew Fox. Certainly not the traditional view of the suave sexy vamp.
Nico: Maybe I’ll take up knitting THESE or all the Puntabuboys for next Christmas. Let me know your size.
Hahahaha. Gives a whole new meaning to the time-honored phrase “sock-puppetry of the penis”
Tam: Hahaha! I know what my next project is going to be, now I just need a model for, ahem, sizing.
Well, duuuuhhhrrzzz! The puntabuschlong, of course! Perhaps Craig would be kind enough to send a plaster casting.
Or he could dip it in hot wax?
Justin: a live model would be best ’cause I would need to make sure there is plenty of stretch to the material to accommodate the full, um, “talent” of the model, should the need arise.
I’m not sure they make enough yarn to fit the Puntabuschlong.
Tam: Awesome!
Justin: They make a kit for that. It also comes in chocolate.
Note: If you can’t figure out that those links are NSFW on your own, you have troubles.
Ryan, ok, so, first off, yes, I gathered; secondly, HIGH-liarious; thirdly, *ahem* care to share with us how you happened to come across these?
Justin: I think I discovered them shortly after discovering that Amazon had a listing for “Sexual Wellness” section, which amused me.
Mmm. That *is* amusing.
…
*pokes around Amazon*
…
Huh. “Sexual wellness” doesn’t seem to be particularly easy to find. I wonder how hard it is to “discover” that section
Hm, I must be living under a rock because I haven’t even heard of this movie. Guess I gotta check it out, because who doesn’t love Vampires!
You had me interested until you said there was a lot of gore. I have an extremely low tolerance for gore. Although I have a high tolerance for Al Gore. Otherwise it actually sounds like an interesting film. Oh well.
David I’m with you on the gore thing PROVIDED the gore is “realistic” — i.e. something that in my mind “could” happen (like a film about organized crime or about hit-men-with-hearts-of-gold or serial killers or what-have-you). If it’s fantasy/scifi gore, it just doesn’t bother me