Here Be Vampires!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Between Twilight, True Blood, Anne Rice, Blade, Daybreakers (http://www.daybreakersmovie.com/), Being Human, et al., I figured we could use a place to discuss our love and/or dislike of this genre.

I first fell for vamps after reading Interview with the Vampire years ago. I had never thought of them as anything but horror before that. But Rice's vamps were hot & sexy.

I have eschewed Twilight because of the religious/political affiliations of its author. True Blood has renewed my lust for the nocturnal sanguine. Daybreakers looks like an interesting concept. Hopefully the execution lives up to that.

I saw the first episode of Being Human (http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/369/index.jsp) last weekend. It seemed a little rough, but I think it has potential. And no, it doesn't hurt that Mitchell (Aidan Turner) (http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/369/mitchell-aidan-turner.jsp) is a cutie.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

There is a relevant article in today's Slate:

http://www.slate.com/id/2223486/

[innerSpaceman]

Well, Eliza 1812 pointed out quite rightly to me that some incanations of Dracula are able to walk about in daylight, albeit a little weakened.


I still call shenanigans on that concept for any other vampire that's not King of Vampires like Vlad is.


I HATED Twilight for many, many reasons ... but on top of everything, I simply could not accept vampires that just had to stay out of the sun, or use UVA 100 protection, or live in Cloudy Oregon ... otherwise they'd get, OMG, glittery!!

Oh, and no fangs.


But, I loves, loves, loves me some True Blood. Except for penultimate episode aired, which was the stupidest of the series. I read the first two Sookie Stackhouse books, and didn't much care for them. Definitely bare bones plot for the 1st two seasons, but it's all the stuff added that makes the TV show So.Much.Better.

I'm told a lot of the addittions are from later books ... um, so what will they do if the show lasts many seaons? (Feh, not likely with HBO, who eats their best shows alive ... talk about vampires!)


And of course, True Blood's got one thing no other vampire show has. It's not vampire. Two Words: Jason Stackhouse.



I miss all the drug allegory of the first season ... but the second season is already so much better than the second book, I'm still happy with the show.



* * * *

Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula is BRILLIANT. I could go on and on, but this is already a long post. But I just wanted to put this out there, since some love it, lots HATE it.

[BarTopDancer]

I used to love a show called Forever Knight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103417/). And of course Lost Boys and Rice's vampires.

I know I'm in the minority on LoT - I really enjoyed the Twilight books. The first movie, not so much as I felt it left a lot out, more than necessary. I also thought the make-up was terrible and the sparkles left much to be desired and what's with fangless vamps? I hope with a new director some of these issues will be rectified.

I went into the books knowing they were written for teens, they are nothing more than teen horrmance, like Christopher Pike, RL Stein and VC Andrews. I think that perspective enabled me to enjoy the books for what they were. Don't get me wrong, they were full of so much teen angst and I wanted to smack a few of the characters. But they were really nothing more than teen horrmance that came on the heels of Potter, so adults got into yet another teen series.

[BarTopDancer]

Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula is BRILLIANT. I could go on and on, but this is already a long post. But I just wanted to put this out there, since some love it, lots HATE it.

That was the first Rated R movie I saw in the theaters. One of my favs.

Love Never Dies.

I think I still have a hat from that movie somewhere.

[innerSpaceman]

I wanted to punch the heroine of Twilight. Who would love her? She's an annoying, grumpy, lump of bah.



Francis's Dracula is one of those movies where something strange is going on in every shot. Usually employing their somewhat updated version of early film effects that so marvelously punctuate the entire movie.

And OMG, the costumes! Top notch cast with bizarre performances. The backstory that upped the romance quotient of Dracula to ELEVEN. Love, love, love and love it.


Lost Boys is the Best.Teen.Vampire.Movie.Ever.

Fright Night is my fave Vamp Comedy. :D

[mousepod]

iSm... I forget... did you watch Buffy?

If not, we're going to need to have a Season One weekend screening at Casa Chihuahua as soon as the Den is done (work begins Friday).

12 episodes = less than ten hours = totally doable.

[BarTopDancer]

I wanted to punch the heroine of Twilight. Who would love her? She's an annoying, grumpy, lump of bah.

I wanted to punch her, Jacob and at times, Edward. He really is a bit stalkerish "you have to stay away from me because I can't stay away from you".

I really liked the Cullen family better than the main characters.

[Betty]

Lost Boys is what made me hot for vampires way back when...(love me some Keifer)... which led to Anne Rice. I tried to go back and read one of her books recently and thought it sucked by the way.

But had the hots for vampires and vampire looking guys and anything spooky or whatever for quite some time.

Then I grew up, got married, and really let the vamps go.

Never got into Buffy. It was just too campy for me.

Read Twilight and got very much back into vampires. I enjoyed the books for what they are - teen lit. Light. And I hadn't read a romance in a long time and it filled the need for that. And since then I've read many vampire romance books and have enjoyed them quite a bit. The do not care for the actress that plays Bella. Blah. She seems rather bored. And the glitter effect sucks - and the meadow scene was so meh.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, which I've mentioed before, is very erotic! Pretty graphic and has a smidge of homoerotica in a few of the books that's pretty hot too. If you love the vampires - why are you here reading this when you could be reading the series?!? At first I was a bit put off by the naming of characters, but have no issue with that at all now. Can't wait for the next in the series.

True Blood though. So HOT! Can't stand Bill for the most part. He's so... uncool somehow. Love the parts with Jessica and Hoyt. She's pretty hot herself.

There's a good website called lovevampires.com that has reviews of vampire romance books that tend to agree with my own opinions of them.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I loved Forever Knight until they jumped the shark and replaced their lead. That last season was total crap. (Thought he new guy was a hottie.) I even remember watching the original (pilot?) with Rick Springfield.

Yes iSm, Fright Night is delicious campy goodness! I'm kicking myself for not going to the 20th anniversary screening last year. It was held within walking distance from my home and had several cast members speak after the show, including Stephen Geoffreys (Evil Ed) who later on did gay porn.

As I mentioned, I have not seen/read Twilight. But the idea of vamps who can easily handle the Sun irks me. This pretty well sums up my feelings on that subject (http://roflrazzi.com/2009/05/08/celebrity-pictures-count-von-count-sparkle-no/). ;)

[innerSpaceman]

Nope, have not seen Buffy. Am supposed to rent LSP's favorite season, but I can't remember what that is. I could be up for a 1st season marathon, but - um - aren't the first seaons of all later-successful shows kinda weird and unlike the rest of the series?

And per Betty's recommendation, I'm supposed to get on the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Um, but when?

[Not Afraid]

I've been a HUGE Vamprie fan ever since Dark Shadows, but haven't had much interest in Contemporary Vampire Television (CVT) mostly because I hate the TV format.

I have always liked different takes on vampires, be it Stoker, Polidori, Burton's Hindu Vampire stories, , MR James, DH Lawrence, E. Nesbit, EF Benson, Anne Rice or the Twilight Series (but the old guys knew when to shut up, where Rice and Twilightwhat'shername took it to the point of uninteresting).

Film-wise, Kinski as Nos is probably my all time favorite, but there are a lot of great Vampire portrayals out there.

I could easily segue from this to Stoker's Lair of the White Worm and Ken Russell's lovely-bad film and other "close cousins" of that realm.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

True Blood though. So HOT! Can't stand Bill for the most part. He's so... uncool somehow.Really? Wow, I quite like Bill. Granted, he's a bit stiff and old-fashioned, but I think that's totally appropriate for his background. I find Stephen Moyer very easy on the eyes. I kinda feel sorry for him being overshadowed by the mind-bending hotness that is Ryan Kwanten.

[innerSpaceman]

I've been a HUGE Vamprie fan ever since Dark Shadows, but haven't had much interest in Contemporary Vampire Television (CVT) mostly because I hate the TV format.

I should point out that True Blood is hardly what you might think of as "TV format" - though it is serial (like the books its based on).


Dark Shadows, was of course, much more bound to a much more banal TV format of its day. I was so excited when it repeats were shown a few years back ... because I used to LOVE it when it originally aired ... only to discover, like so many shows of that time (and mine at that age) it was embarassingly awful.

Le sigh.


But, mmmm, Barnabus Collins. :evil:

[innerSpaceman]

I kinda feel sorry for him being overshadowed by the mind-bending hotness that is Ryan Kwanten.

I think it's a nice change of pace that the hot vampire boys are not hotter than the hot human.

[Not Afraid]

I should point out that True Blood is hardly what you might think of as "TV format" - though it is serial (like the books its based on).

Why wouldn't you consider it TV format?


I think the thing that would push me over the top to watch True Blood would be the Alan Ball factor.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Sorry SM, but since you mentioned Stephanie Meyer's religious beliefs I have to mention this - you do know what happened to Anne Rice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_rice), right?
She returned to the Catholic Church in 1998 after several years of describing herself as an atheist. She announced she would now use her life and talent of writing to glorify her belief in God.All her latest books are about Jesus.

[innerSpaceman]

Daybreakers (http://www.daybreakersmovie.com/)

Hmmm, vampires, Ethan Hawke, and was that Willem Defoe? I'm there!



BTW, Willem Defoe is fantastic with John Malkovich in Shadow of the Vampire, one of the best vampire films ever made ... um, about one of the best vampire films ever made.

[innerSpaceman]

Why wouldn't you consider it TV format?

It's not TV.


It's HBO.






:cool:

Yes, Alan Ball. Characters and plots, not to mention hotness, you won't find anywhere else on TV. (I was stunned to learn it was based on a book series and not downloaded wholesale from Ball's brain.)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Sorry SM, but since you mentioned Stephanie Meyer's religious beliefs I have to mention this - you do know what happened to Anne Rice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_rice), right?
All her latest books are about Jesus.Yeah, I was aware of that. It makes me sad. What a waste. :(

[flippyshark]

Not Afraid's list of vampire faves seems as though it was ripped straight out of my own concho - also, amen to Shadow of the Vampire.

Anyone here enjoy Blood For Dracula (aka Andy Warhol's Dracula)? I have to admit that it delights me, along with its companion piece, Flesh For Frankenstein - but they're hard to defend.

I've read the first two Sookie Stackhouse books, but haven't yet tried True Blood. On the whole, I like my vampires old school, and could care less for the hot-body emo types so popular these days. That said, I loved Buffy, but not so much because of the vampires (certainly not because of heart-throb vamp Angel). It was just a great ensemble cast, and a real rollercoaster of emotions when it was firing on all cylinders.

[flippyshark]

Oh, and if only Anne Rice were writing books about Vampire Jesus - then she might really be on to something.

[innerSpaceman]

If True Blood's pleasures were limited to the hotness, I wouldn't bother. It's so much more than that, so much more than vampires. Of course, the first season's gay rights and recreational drug use allegories were better than what they've got this year, which is primarily Christian Fundamentalism. Still, a good thing to skewer.


I've never seen Andy Warhol's Dracula ... but speaking of the lesser-knowns ... anyone else ever see Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers?

[Chernabog]

BJ and I just got through the first season of True Blood.... frickin love that show. Although everyone has SERIOUSLY bad skin in blu-ray :p

[flippyshark]

but speaking of the lesser-knowns ... anyone else ever see Roman Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers?

Yes, what a lovely film that is. I honestly find it a little slow going for a comedy, but it's gorgeous, the casting is great, and there are some funny (and creepy) moments. Also, one of my favorite scores, especially the agitated choral piece during the credits.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I think I like the concept of vampires better than the actuality of shows about them.

We just rewatched Coppola's Dracula, and it was entertaining. Hubby didn't think much of the special effects, but I did notice they used shadow and suggestion a lot which was interesting.

I loved Buffy, the few episodes I've seen. I like camp.

I've been told I'd like True Blood, though I haven't seen it. I just set TiVo to record Being Human; I'll see what it's about.

Anything have hot vampire women? All the comments are about the boys.

[Prudence]

We've been watching Blood Ties. When I'm not reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, which has no redeeming social value whatsoever, but makes flights go faster.

[€uroMeinke]

I enjoyed Warhols Dracula as well as Frankenstein (in 3D) how can you loose with lines like "In order to understand life, you must **** death in the gall bladder"

[BarTopDancer]

I used to play Vampire: The Masquerade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laibon).

[innerSpaceman]

Anything have hot vampire women? All the comments are about the boys.
Pam's a hot gal vampire on True Blood. And, like many more gals that boys, she's a bit more open about bloodsucking both ways.


But, yeah, it seems most screen vampirism is stuck in the male vampire / female victim mold.

(Aside from some Anne Rice and 2 of the Stackhouse books, I haven't read any vampire lit, so I've no idea if the old trope holds sway in most books.)

[Betty]

Jessica's pretty cute I think (in True Blood) but she has more of a minor roll.

[Not Afraid]

But, yeah, it seems most screen vampirism is stuck in the male vampire / female victim mold.

(Aside from some Anne Rice and 2 of the Stackhouse books, I haven't read any vampire lit, so I've no idea if the old trope holds sway in most books.)

Stoker had strong (but) supporting roles for his female vampries. In Victorian society, they were the opposite of what a proper Victorian lady should be. They went after their male victims with tons of sexuality completely distant from the sexually repressed Victorian woman. Although, The Count was portrayed as more "evil" while the women were much more compassionate as vampires.

[Betty]

I'm not much for the gory scary vampire stuff. Give me the hot and sexy, bad boy and yes, even the emo ones.


Pru - glad you're reading them and I totally agree - no redeeming social values as all. But fun reads! I liked them all - but book 5 with Vishous is I think my favorite although I liked book 2 and 3 as well. book 6 was just okay and the last one that came out okay too - maybe a little better then that.

THe stories go from romance with some action to action with some romance.

I also enjoyed the overall story arc that goes through the books so it's important to read them in the right order.

[Betty]

The Dark Hunter book series is also a fun read. Some are vampire related and all revolve around various pantheons with gods of all sorts. I read the first book and thought it was just okay - but really got into the series as it went on and have read them all now. There's a story arc that goes through all the dark hunter series though so read them in order.

The Dream Hunter series by the same author is not Vampire related but the story intertwines heavily with the Dark Hunter series so I recommend reading both series in the authors reading order. New book is out in 4 days and I will find a way to buy it - even low on funds as I currently am.

[innerSpaceman]

Stoker had strong (but) supporting roles for his female vampries. In Victorian society, they were the opposite of what a proper Victorian lady should be.
I don't know that I've ever read the original. But in my fave version, the Francis, Lucy* is a really hot female vampire (and human total vamp) ... um, while she lasts (not long).





* Lucy and Mina's names are switched in some versions. Francis's has it switched from others I've seen, but I've no idea which way it was in the original. I'm pretty sure in the old school Bela, the "good girl" love object was Lucy ... but in Francis's she was Mina.

[Not Afraid]

Lucy is Mina's best friend. Mina is Jonothan Harker's fiance. Lucy is the first to be bitten and changes before everyone's eyes. She lustfully goes after her love interest (Authur?) and her behavior become inappropriate for a Victorian woman. Mina remains virtuous a while longer.

I think Coppola had it correct (although, it had been a while since I've seen that version).

This whole topic is making me want to see The Cabinet of Dr. Calligari again (not a vampire, but a somnambulist that is not too far off from Vampire lore).

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, I think Universal was pretty keen on plain-Jane names when they made their "Horror Classics." So "Lucy" becomes the main gal in Dracula, while Dr. Victor is changed to Dr. Henry in Frankenstein. Hahaha.

[flippyshark]

The proper Lucy/Mina order is preserved in the breathtaking play adaptation Dracula: Blood of Nosferatu (http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-Blood-Nosferatu-Play-Three/dp/0595208010/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1248984978&sr=8-1) by an author who clearly doesn't mind plugging himself shamelessly. Feel free to purchase, though be advised that a revised edition is coming out in the Fall.

[innerSpaceman]

Oh Brother. :rolleyes:







(And can we have the rights to stage a west coast production?)

[Snowflake]

Hmmm, this seems the proper spot to put this, Johnny Depp & Tim Burton are likely to do Dark Shadows (http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-depp-burton-dark-shadows.html).

I can totally see Depp as Barnabas Collins, about time he did a vampire flick!

But, seriously, Pirates IV?????????

Why?? (besides the obvious carloads of money)

They lost me at Pirates II (and I do not mean to derail the vamping thread)

[flippyshark]

Oh Brother. :rolleyes:







(And can we have the rights to stage a west coast production?)

Yes, I know, and yes you may.

[Not Afraid]

And, may I say that the play is wonderful and you should all buy copies. However, mine is yet unsigned. So, buy copies of the play so the author can make a trip to CA and sign my book. Oh, and I suppose he can sign all of the books you have purchased too. ;)

[flippyshark]

pretty good chance your book will get signed in October - still a few hurdles to jump first

[LSPoorEeyorick]

...everyone has SERIOUSLY bad skin in blu-ray :p

This is true for just about everyone on Blu-Ray. Even flawless skin has pores, and now we can see all of them in their full glory.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, the only blurays I've watched to date have been animation and Harry Potter 3.


13-year-olds have good skin, even in BluRay. ;)



Alas, not for long. But they'll always be 13 in Prisoner of Azkaban!

[innerSpaceman]

Entertainment Weekly lists the 20 Greatest Vampires (http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/07/31/58stephen-moyer-robert-pattinson-entertainment-weekly/).

[flippyshark]

Any list that doesn't include Max Schreck as Nosferatu, doesn't call Kinski by that name either, and has no Barnabbas Collins is decidedly forfeit.

[innerSpaceman]

Well, in all fairness, "Nosferatu" is not the Name of either character in the movies of that title.

Heheh, assuming what I know from Shadow of the Vampire to be correct, the character in the original silent was Count Orloff and, yes, both Nosferatu films are barely-disguised versions of Stoker's Dracula.

I haven't seen the Kinski version in decades, so I can't recall what his name was ... if any was given. But "Dracula" is a lame, if understandable mistake. In a sense, Kinski does play Dracula.


Boo for no Barnabus Collins. Huh?

Pfft, Edward coming in one ahead of linked Bill and Eric (and I call shenanigans on linking different vampires who happen to be in the same show). Pfft, he has to be all pursed-lipped on the EW cover with Bill because he has no freaking FANGS. Lamest.Vampire.Ever.


I'm glad they killed Cedric Diggory!

[CoasterMatt]

Shadow of the Vampire is an AWESOME movie, and now they're showing it on HD Movies, to give me another reason to watch it again :D

[Not Afraid]

Any list that doesn't include Max Schreck as Nosferatu, doesn't call Kinski by that name either, and has no Barnabbas Collins is decidedly forfeit.

Agreed.

Miriam Blaylock and Sarah Roberts made the list but they left off John. You DON'T leave out my man!

[innerSpaceman]

Opening in L.A. this week, a vampire film called Thirst, which L.A. Weekly critic Jim Ridley praises as a worthy counterpart to The Hunger, and not just in the complimentary title.

Love this, from his review:
In Thirst, which shared this year's Jury Prize at Cannes, Park [the director] zeroes in on the moral and sexual squeamishness underlying the cult of Twilight - wannabe Lestats whose idea of eternal night is a Hot Topic midnight sale.


Hahahahaha. :D

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Miriam Blaylock and Sarah Roberts made the list...I first read that name as Max Bialystock.

I need a nap.

[Snowflake]

I first read that name as Max Bialystock.

I need a nap.

Now I want to answer the next phone call "Bialystock & Bloom" with a Swedish accent.

[Not Afraid]

Well, I'm singing "Bella Lugosi's Dead".

[€uroMeinke]

We started watching Tue Blood last night - it was good. Can't wait to see the rest of season 1 - so how many seasons are out on this?

[Not Afraid]

I think 2 seasons are out and season three just started. But, I may be wrong. If you go to Target today you can pick up season 2 as well as Mad Men.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ok, ok, here I am in the vampire thread.

Just saw this trailer (http://www.thevampiresassistant.net/) for Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. The books are very popular young adult titles at the library and I have to say I've considered giving them a try.

When we saw that it was John C Reilly we were definitely more intrigued than we might have been.

[Not Afraid]

Vampires, John C Reilly, Willem DeFoe and Salma Hayak, plus the Director of "About a Boy". Something for everyone!

[Kevy Baby]

I think 2 seasons are out and season three just started. But, I may be wrong. If you go to Target today you can pick up season 2 as well as Mad Men.True Blood is currently in Season 2 (http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/season2/)

[Not Afraid]

Is that all? I'm not as far behind as I thought. However, I don't get HBO, so I'll have to wait until it comes out on DVD anyways.

[CoasterMatt]

I was fortunate enough to see much of the production of Coppola's Dracula firsthand - it is one of my favorite movies, and a REMARKABLE demonstration of classic in camera effects and overall craftsmanship.

I'd love to have a movie night at our house, to watch "Martin" followed by Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" - it's a fantastic Bluray now :D

[Kevy Baby]

Is that all? I'm not as far behind as I thought. However, I don't get HBO, so I'll have to wait until it comes out on DVD anyways.As you may or may not know, the series is based on the Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire series of books by Charlaine Harris (http://www.charlaineharris.com/bibliography/bibliog-sookie.html). The first season followed the first book fairly decently, but so far, the second season is a bit more distant from the second book.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Ok, ok, here I am in the vampire thread.

Just saw this trailer (http://www.thevampiresassistant.net/) for Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. The books are very popular young adult titles at the library and I have to say I've considered giving them a try.

When we saw that it was John C Reilly we were definitely more intrigued than we might have been.

The script is pretty fun, actually. I'm looking forward to it. The film is a combination of the first few books but it distances itself from the series quite a bit, I believe.

[Betty]

True Blood! OMG! I love this show. There's one episode left I think. It all comes down to this! :snap: :cheers: :snap:

I've read the books and I still can't wait to see how it all plays out. :D

[€uroMeinke]

We're still working our way through season one and I can't wait to get started on season two

[Kevy Baby]

I've read the books and I still can't wait to see how it all plays out. :DSeason 2 has had so very little to do with the books. Not a complete disconnect, but nothing like the connection between Season 1 and Dead Until Dark (the first book in the series).

Don't get me wrong: I have been loving the show!

[flippyshark]

I was fortunate enough to see much of the production of Coppola's Dracula firsthand - it is one of my favorite movies, and a REMARKABLE demonstration of classic in camera effects and overall craftsmanship.

I'd love to have a movie night at our house, to watch "Martin" followed by Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" - it's a fantastic Bluray now :D

The old school in-camera effects, the costume design, and general sumptuous visuals make this movie worth revisiting, but I hated what they did with the character of Lucy (turning her into a blatant c**k-tease), and the whole reincarnated-love-from-my-past angle is completely alien to Stoker. (Which wouldn't matter if they hadn't made such a big deal out of supposedly being a faithful adaptation.) But any movie with Tom Waits as Renfield deserves a look.

I haven't seen Martin in a long time, and only once, at the dawn of the VHS era. I'll have to put that in the queue again soon.

[innerSpaceman]

Bah, two week break till the True Blood finale. Yes, a much bigger departure from the books for the 2nd season, but I think that's the norm for TV based on books. Pretty much for the better, but the denoument of the Dallas adventure was SO MUCH BETTER in the book. Other than that, the TV series rules over the novel.


The better parts of the first season were also those that were not in the book. Loosely Based On is the way to go for this show, bravo!



* * * * *


As for FC's BS' Drac., the reincarnation bit may have been an invention, but I believe it's the single best invention of the entire prolonged, many-hands-in-the-pie, continuing evolution of the Dracula story.

[flippyshark]

As for FC's BS' Drac., the reincarnation bit may have been an invention, but I believe it's the single best invention of the entire prolonged, many-hands-in-the-pie, continuing evolution of the Dracula story.

Not for me, but then I guess I should have known when the tagline for the movie was "Love Never Dies." (I want my vampire movies scary, not swoony romantic - but I'm living in the wrong era for that.) Given my resistance to the idea, I will admit that the denouement was handled very effectively.

[innerSpaceman]

Vampire movies, maybe. But Dracula has been a romance story since at least the 1930's.

In fact, I take that back. I'd say most vampire movies and tales hinge on sex and romance far more than horror.

[Not Afraid]

Can everyone please spoiler True Blood posts with information in them?

[flippyshark]

Vampire movies, maybe. But Dracula has been a romance story since at least the 1930's.


Lugosi certainly made Dracula a more handsome devil, charming yes, but romantic? He's still all "sneak-in-bite-your-neck-while-you-sleep." His victim(s) go from Victorian prim to slightly immodest and sorta alluringly predatory, but they don't seem to fall in love. The moral center of the story is "we've got to save her," as opposed to the later "we don't get to choose who we fall in love with" angle.

Christopher Lee's bosomy victims were his slaves after they had made the transition, but none of them, to my memory, went through the "isn't he a heart-throb" phase.

Frank Langella (in the 1979 movie) strikes me as the first "cue the violins, it's true love" Dracula. Here, the romance is clearly completely reciprocal, as opposed to merely bait for a trap. We're meant to root for the vamp and his new bride at the end, and see the vampire hunters as short-sighted fools, unworthy of our broadminded heroine. It's a shame that the final scene of that film is botched so badly, because they came so close to achieving something tragic and lovely.

[flippyshark]

Oh, I should mention one of my favorite, and little talked about, Dracula movies, The Return of Dracula from 1958. Here, Francis Lederer plays the Count, posing as the exotic European cousin of a family in the heart of conservative white America. It plays off as a very strange episode of Peyton Place, or a vampire variation on Hitchcock's Shadow Of A Doubt.

Anyway, in the film, young Rachel certainly has a recognizable crush on her older, very interesting "cousin," and he seems to at least feel a grubby kind of lust for her. (For a late fifties movie, I was surprised at how tawdry it felt. In a really fun way.) and the way he asks after her blind friend Jennie is very creepy indeed. He's more like a bad uncle than an intriguing cousin.

If you haven't seen it, this one is a fascinating overlooked curiosity.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

the denoument of the Dallas adventure was SO MUCH BETTER in the book.For those of us who have not read the books, how did that bit end? (spoilered, please)

[Betty]

Just started watching Blood Ties. I'm thinking I should read the books first as I like the show but I think Prudence said the books were better.

What do you think Pru? Should I stop watching and read the books?

[Prudence]

I haven't read the books for Blood Ties - just watched the first season.

[innerSpaceman]

Ugh, True Blood finale tonight and I won't be home to watch it. (No, I have no recording capability). I'll have to wait for the repeat Monday or Tuesday. Bah.

[Betty]

I have to wait until tomorrow to download it from the net.

[Betty]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/troll_slayer.png

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I Kissed a Vampire (http://ikissedavampire.com/)

Even though I really like vampires and I LOVE musicals, I'm just not all that excited about this one. The featurette (available for free on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTVSeason?id=331789890&s=143441)) says it's supposed to be a parody, but I didn't get any of the humor. Maybe that will be more apparent when it debuts on iTunes October 13th.
from the official web site:
I Kissed A Vampire

High School Musical alumni Lucas Grabeel and Drew Seeley and newcomer Adrian Slade star in this musical look at the torment of falling in love when you’re in the middle of becoming a vampire…

High School Musical alumni Lucas Grabeel and Drew Seeley and newcomer Adrian Slade star in this musical look at the torment of falling in love when you’re in the middle of becoming a vampire. Dylan (Grabeel) is terrified when a nasty bat bite transforms him into one of the living dead. His world is turned upside down, and he has to figure out how to balance his budding romance with the girl next door and the bloodthirsty desires his magnetic vampire mentor Trey (Seeley) is constantly urging him to give in to.

Act 1

Dylan is crazy about his neighbor Sara but when he starts developing fangs and a thirst for O positive he’s terrified that if he kisses her he won’t be able to stop himself from drinking her blood and draining her dry.

To Be Continued...As a side note, is "available on iTunes" (and nowhere else) the 21st century equivalent of the old term "straight to video"?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

An Esquire article by Stephen Marche (http://www.esquire.com/features/thousand-words-on-culture/vampires-gay-men-1109) suggests vampires are a way for straight women to (metaphorically) have sex with gay men.

[BarTopDancer]

I just started watching True Blood via Netflix. I think I may need to get HBO now and hope for reruns since Season 2 isn't available on DVD yet.

[Betty]

I just started watching True Blood via Netflix. I think I may need to get HBO now and hope for reruns since Season 2 isn't available on DVD yet.

You can probably get them as a torrent pretty easily.

[3894]

An Esquire article by Stephen Marche (http://www.esquire.com/features/thousand-words-on-culture/vampires-gay-men-1109) suggests vampires are a way for straight women to (metaphorically) have sex with gay men.

An emphatic no. It's about the female. if we're talking the vampire romance genre.

You write a vampire romantic hero in the same vein* as a ruthless mogul hero. He's a bad, bad boy who would do who-knows-what to you behind closed doors. He wants to have power over you but you. must. resist. until he somehow redeems himself. However, the male vampire isn't the only one who redeems himself. Through resistance to what she knows is not good for her, the heroine becomes a better person.

The reader knows these two are going to end up together but it can't be before both of them have grown/changed. It's a very mechanical genre.

I hope I didn't rain on anyone's parade. Didn't mean to.


*ha!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Just for the record, I'm not saying I agree with it, I just thought it was an interesting hypothesis.

[Betty]

An emphatic no.

I hope I didn't rain on anyone's parade. Didn't mean to.


Nah. I've been quite enjoying romance novels lately. Don't mind a bit. I like counting on the happy ending I think.

But it's true what you said - they are all such the same story, to some extent, over and over.

[Not Afraid]

An Esquire article by Stephen Marche (http://www.esquire.com/features/thousand-words-on-culture/vampires-gay-men-1109) suggests vampires are a way for straight women to (metaphorically) have sex with gay men.

Only if gay men were as hot a most vampires.

[BarTopDancer]

OK, so True Blood watchers - I need to know if that dog dies and if it's graphic, and if so, is it season 1 or later? I know they show a dead dog in the opening. I can handle people being killed, but not animals.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

OK, so True Blood watchers - I need to know if that dog dies and if it's graphic, and if so, is it season 1 or later? I know they show a dead dog in the opening. I can handle people being killed, but not animals.Just FYI, the opening credits are not clips from any episodes.

But here's the answer to your question.The dog featured prominently in Season 1 doesn't die.

[flippyshark]

An emphatic no. It's about the female. if we're talking the vampire romance genre.

You write a vampire romantic hero in the same vein* as a ruthless mogul hero. He's a bad, bad boy who would do who-knows-what to you behind closed doors. He wants to have power over you but you. must. resist. until he somehow redeems himself. However, the male vampire isn't the only one who redeems himself. Through resistance to what she knows is not good for her, the heroine becomes a better person.

The reader knows these two are going to end up together but it can't be before both of them have grown/changed. It's a very mechanical genre.

I hope I didn't rain on anyone's parade. Didn't mean to.


*ha!

So, will your NaNoWriMo novel be about vampires?

[BarTopDancer]

Just FYI, the opening credits are not clips from any episodes.

But here's the answer to your question.The dog featured prominently in Season 1 doesn't die.

Thank you.

[innerSpaceman]

The article was right about one thing. Edward was so gay, and that whole thing reeked of teen girl lust for the impossible gay guy.

I don't think that's necessarily the dynamic in the majority of vampire stories, but Twilight was absolutely that.

[Betty]

The article was right about one thing. Edward was so gay, and that whole thing reeked of teen girl lust for the impossible gay guy.


Being that I was once a teen girl and have a teen girl, I'm going to disagree with you.

Vampires are sexy, tend to be described as very good looking, and have that bad boy thing going on.

How is that exclusively gay?

[innerSpaceman]

I'm not saying all vampires are gay, I'm saying Edward is.

(as portrayed in the film ... I haven't read the books)

[Strangler Lewis]

Lestat and Louis etc. were gay.

Edward's not gay. The entire series began as the erotic dream of a nice married Mormon lady. It's one big dump on her husband (the Jacob figure). Or so I see it.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm not sure how it is in the books, but I know mo when I see it ... and Edward was a fag in the film.

[Strangler Lewis]

I haven't read the article, but if Edward is gay, then since he and his whole family are in straight relationships, they must all be converted homosexuals. That would explain Alice's spiky hair.

[innerSpaceman]

Pfft, I was in a straight relationship for 16 years. (That's 14 centuries in Vampire Years.)




Case closed.

[BarTopDancer]

How is Edward being portrayed as being gay in the movie?

He's stalking perusing her for most of the first book.

[innerSpaceman]

I would never subject myself that that awful treacle again in my lifetime to give you particulars. Suffice it to say that my gaydar was tripped over and over and over again ... as much for Edward's entire manner and aura as for the type of girl-crush and avoidance being pathetically displayed.


I don't care if he pursues women and sleeps with them, and bites their necks, and sucks their blood, and wears their glitter all over his body. It's all beard, and he's gay.

[Betty]

I would never subject myself that that awful treacle again in my lifetime to give you particulars. Suffice it to say that my gaydar was tripped over and over and over again ... as much for Edward's entire manner and aura as for the type of girl-crush and avoidance being pathetically displayed.


I don't care if he pursues women and sleeps with them, and bites their necks, and sucks their blood, and wears their glitter all over his body. It's all beard, and he's gay.

Is not.

[innerSpaceman]

He sucked my dick in 1871. Is so. :D

[BarTopDancer]

I would never subject myself that that awful treacle again in my lifetime to give you particulars. Suffice it to say that my gaydar was tripped over and over and over again.

I wouldn't be surprised if your gaydar was tripped by Robert Pattinson and is influencing your view of Edward especially since you haven't read the books.

[Strangler Lewis]

He sucked my dick in 1871. Is so. :D

If you cared anything about Edward, you'd know he died to mortal life as a teenager in the Spanish influenza epidemic in the early TWENTIETH CENTURY!!!

[Chernabog]

I understand the shirtless/naked stuff of that series (boy do I ever) but dear lord is that storyline dumb or what? Plus, I hate that girl that stars in the movie. I had to turn off "Adventureland" because I hate her so much. Every time I see her I just want to groan and say "Ohhhh! She's SOOOOO emo!!!"

[innerSpaceman]

Oh good, now I know never to both with Adventureland. I hate that girl so much, too. Ugh. Never.Want.To.See.ANYTHING.With.Her.Again.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Here are a couple reactions to the Esquire piece.

The first is by Samantha Henig, associate editor of Double X (http://www.doublex.com/blog/xxfactor/girls-vampires-because-we-want-have-sex-gay-guys). She takes issue with several of Marche's assertions.

I'm going to include the text of the second one in its entirety because it's posted on the gay porn blog Nightcharm (http://www.nightcharm.com/2009/10/20/suburban-vampires-do-straight-girls-swoon-for-the-gay-undead/#jump). [Absolutely NOT Work Safe!!!]

Suburban Vampires: Do Straight Girls Swoon for The Gay Undead?

Vampires are evolving. The once-demonic, batlike beings bent on fulfilling their selfish and wicked desires for human blood have been on a steady path toward personal discovery and social acceptance. Modern-day vampires are attractive and alluring, and their transformative bites are an extreme form of sexual union. They no longer vanish in puffs of smoke or live in spider-infested dark mansions, nor do they torment and harass the poor townsfolk.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer began to mainstream the concept of vampire revolutionaries: the protagonist's boyfriend Angel proves that some vampires go so far as to protect humans from malevolent vampires and other evils. To make their humanness complete, new vampires fall in love with ordinary men and women.

Buffy's era is already an outdated stage in the humanization of blood-suckers. In our new age of Twilight, former creatures of the night are comfortable in sunlight, play piano, struggle with desire for girls in biology class and attend prom. It's as though their characters are based not on ancient folklore but on misfit American teenagers. There must be something more than the allure of the underworld driving the new pop culture craze of vampire-human romances.

According to a recent article in Esquire, vampires are really all about straight women, and their desire to sleep with gay men. As author Stephen Marche points out, vampires have come so far that they aren't even goth or weird anymore. (They're just gay.)

The psyche of the suburban vampire is one of conflict: conflict between internal desires and social mores, conflict between public identity and secret identity, conflict between physical and high-minded desires, conflict between a sense of perversion and a desire to fit in, and a profound sense of difference, particularly when love and romance came into play. The very title of the film and movie series "Twilight" emphasizes the conflict between contradictory forces (dark and light). Vampires are a perfect analogy for gay boys on the cusp of self-acceptance.

To extend the comparison, male vampires are usually soft-spoken and thin, melancholy, pale, fashionable and articulate. Their sexual prowess is largely psychological and anything but côck-oriented, they have longish hair, piercing eyes and an obvious oral fixation. They encompass many of the nebulous stereotypes that surround young gay boys, but in these stories, they're straight and sexually accessible to women.

I tend to relate most convergences between gender and sexual orientation to social views on masculinity, and this is no exception. I think it's ironic that the butchness and bulging musculature celebrated as sexually appealing in gay culture is absent in waify, metrosexual vampires—yet adolescent straight girls go wild for them. Perhaps the vampires' supernatural powers and sharp teeth make up for the social power and idealism that masculinity or jockishness would otherwise provide. Besides that, it's probably the girls who self-reflect as a little out-of-the-mainstream themselves who go most for the misfit vampire boys and read the long novels about them.

A number of recent "freak" stories make direct allusion to homosexuality; the X-Men "mutants" discover their genetic differences at puberty and are subject to social persecution and reparative therapies, as well as a deadly virus infecting mutants that decimates the community’s population, mirroring AIDS. An astute observer could make similar arguments about Heroes or other secret-special-power stories.

The many fantasy universes that deal with vampires, from True Blood to Underworld, tackle similar social issues that reflect current LGBT issues. But I"m with Samantha Henig of Double X, who doubts it has much to do with straight girls' desire for gay men. Sure, the type of young women who shun traditional mores and love the transgressive elements in Twilight might be exactly the girls who have the most gay friends, and I've argued that the dire need to be a fag hag is sometimes problematic or self-interested, but it's a leap to say it's all about sex.

The issue I have with the theory is that no matter how you cut it, socially constructed or no, there is one thing that makes a man gay: a sexual attraction to other men. Effeminate skinny boys who date girls are just effeminate skinny straight boys. Everything beyond the gender you lust after is a stereotype, and if girls are drawn to that stereotype it has more to do with new ways of looking at relationships (which are no doubt facilitated by gay rights) than a sexual appeal of homosexual men. A five-minute observation of any urban neighborhood reveals that the world has plenty of skinny, pale "hipster" straight guys to offer all the stereotypes of homosexuality without reference to actual gay guys.

If getting off to other guys is what makes you gay—and I say it is—then perhaps a bisexual vampire would fulfill Marche's vision of a gay creature who is accessible to women (skinny, tormented straight boys don't count as gay for me). Then I'd agree that there is something to his suggestion that homosexuality is sexually alluring to women, and vampires are the pop world's window to it.

In that case, I'll eagerly await more news, of explicitly homoerotic scenes in vampire tales. The aforementioned suggestion never happened on screen, but if only it would! I'd be open to anything so blatantly queer-friendly in the mainstream media, and who the hell cares if its all just for straight girls' pleasure—you sure wouldn't hear any complaints from me!

[flippyshark]

I saw Twilight last week - and WOAH was that awful, but I'll rant about that some other time. What I want to know is, why would a vampire who has been around since the early 20th century be going to high school in the 21st? Why don't he and his pale pseudo-incestuous family just get night jobs and enjoy life in their glass house in the mountains?

[flippyshark]

Oh good, now I know never to both with Adventureland. I hate that girl so much, too. Ugh. Never.Want.To.See.ANYTHING.With.Her.Again.

She was unbelievably awful in Twilight - for some reason, she didn't bother me in Adventureland. But really, she strikes all the same emotional notes there too. CORRECTION - She strikes the same emotional note over and over there too.

I was really surprised by the lack of any spontaneity or joy in the Twilight relationship. It was comical how miserable those two seemed to be as they moped and gazed mopingly at each other, and had mopey conversations like:

Edward - Do you ...
Bella - Um, ...
Edward - I mean ...
Bella - Yeah, I mean no, ...
Edward - We could ... um, sorry
Bella - *sigh* Yeah, I guess ...
Edward - Uh huh.

I'm really not getting this cultural phenomenon at all.

[Strangler Lewis]

I think you need to read the books--at least the first one--to get the cultural phenomenon. It's about having a nice stalker boyfriend who rescues you and doesn't push for sex. Kind of like Titanic.

[Betty]

The book was better then the movie. I don't care for the actress either. Where's the emotion? Where's the passion?

Robert's hot - but wasn't my vision of Edward.

I'll still see all the movies though - teenage daughter and all. And I'll enjoy the time with her and the fun of having enjoyed reading the books and sharing that with her.

And I'll still lust after the boys from the Black Dagger Brotherhood and those from the Acheron series I read and can't remember the name of at the moment.

[Gn2Dlnd]

The book was better then the movie. I don't care for the actress either. Where's the emotion? Where's the passion?



Applies to every movie ever made from a book I've read. Interestingly, rarely applies to movies made from books I haven't read. :D

[Deebs]

What I want to know is, why would a vampire who has been around since the early 20th century be going to high school in the 21st? Why don't he and his pale pseudo-incestuous family just get night jobs and enjoy life in their glass house in the mountains?


I know, I don't get it, except -- I guess we'd miss out on all their teenage misery if Edward worked the night crew somewhere with a bunch of boring adults.

I remember when I first saw the movie (before I'd read any of the books) that I just couldn't understand what interest he could possibly find in a vacant, grumpy teenager like Bella. She never smiles, looks anemic, and is so shy she seems rude. Ooooh, that's hot. :rolleyes: At least Edward looks tormented; Bella just looks constipated.

And he's not 17! I hate math, but he's like, what? 17 plus however many years it's been since 1918 or whatever. Or are we to assume his maturity level is still that of a 17 year old and he has acquired no life experience in all these years? I dunno.

She was unbelievably awful in Twilight -


I can't agree more. Just putrid. Even my Twilight-obsessed daughter can't stand her.

I was really surprised by the lack of any spontaneity or joy in the Twilight relationship. It was comical how miserable those two seemed to be

Oh! I know! All the angst had the opposite effect on me and I had to stifle my laughter so as not to offend my daughter. She has read all four of the books, five times each.

I'm really not getting this cultural phenomenon at all.


As has been said, the books are better. I've read the series once (which was plenty) and am glad I did because I "get it" a little more now and worry less about my child's taste in entertainment.

It's about having a nice stalker boyfriend who rescues you and doesn't push for sex.

Exactly!


I'll still see all the movies though - teenage daughter and all. And I'll enjoy the time with her and the fun of having enjoyed reading the books and sharing that with her.

Me too, Betty.

Applies to every movie ever made from a book I've read.

Girl With a Pearl Earring was the first time I liked a movie more than the book. If you thought the film was slow, dang, the book would put you straight to sleep.

[Not Afraid]

I have seen a total of ONE movie I liked as much as the book and that was Slaughterhouse 5. I think I make better movies when left with just the words.

[Morrigoon]

I might be interested in seeing this new Vampire's Assistant movie. If for no other reason than to see John C. Reilly as a vampire. He's got a certain nerdy hotness to him, and adding vampire hotness to that could be... amusing.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Hunky Vampire Menstrual Pad
http://www.regretsy.com/images/vamppad.png (http://www.regretsy.com/2009/10/20/the-curse/) (from Regretsy)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

The Advocate interviews True Blood producer Alan Ball (http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Television/Fresh_Blood/).

[innerSpaceman]

There's no shortage of man candy on the show and Jason is back in Bon Temps and he may be up to his old ways. I can tell you that you'll definitely get to see a lot of Jason in the first few episodes, and by a lot, I mean a lot physically. [Laughs]

:D

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Fangs For Your Wang

Raise your hand if you know what a Fleshjack (aka Fleshlight) is*. Well boys (sorry ladies), there's a new Fleshjack designed for the fang-banger in all of us. I present to you, Count Cockula (http://www.fleshjack.com/count-cockula/)!

That link is not even remotely work safe, but here's one that kind of is (http://www.dlisted.com/node/34537) if you're careful.



*it's a male masturbation sleeve

[CoasterMatt]

Great Cracked.com Article about Vampires (http://www.cracked.com/blog/8-things-i-know-about-vampires-based-on-the-lost-boys)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Kevin Smith defends Twilight (http://entertainment.todaysbigthing.com/2009/11/23) (Language makes it NSFW)

[flippyshark]

Kevin Smith defends Twilight (http://entertainment.todaysbigthing.com/2009/11/23) (Language makes it NSFW)

However mixed my reactions to Smith's movies, he is always awesome in this kind of extemporaneous monologue - easily equal to most stand-ups I can think of, often much funnier.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

True Blood started production yesterday for its third season. Woohoo!

They've also just added a couple new characters (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/12/true-blood-casts-vampire-werewolf.html). Theo Alexander will be playing Talbot, the "intensely beautiful" (based on the picture on the page below, I agree) vampire boyfriend of Russell Edgington, the vampire king of Mississippi.

Grant Bowler will play a werewolf named Coot who is the leader of a biker gang.

[flippyshark]

I haven;t caught up with the series yet, but I've read a few of the Sookie Stackhouse books. Has the character "Bubba" made an appearance on the show yet? He wasn't in season one, but should have been.

He may be a difficult character to cast, though, since he is ...
the undead Elvis Presley.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

not that I recall

[Betty]

No Bubba yet. :(

[Kevy Baby]

With the dark tone of the TV series, I am not sure how well Bubba would work in the story line.

Charlaine Harris does a pretty good job of weaving the lighter moments into the books, but they haven't done that with the series.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Marshall Allman has also be cast (http://screenrant.com/true-blood-season-3-cast-marshall-allman-theo-alexander-grant-bowler-scottm-36316/) as Sam Merlotte’s long-lost younger brother, Tommy Mickens.
http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/MA1.jpghttp://www.ohlalamag.com/.a/6a00e54fb7301c88340128760886c8970c-800wi

[Alex]

I asked the Bubba question somewhere else after I'd read a few of the books. I was told that the showrunners have said there are no plans for Bubba because they don't think it would work on TV.

That makes me glad (though I haven't seen the show) because Bubba is among the stupidest things in the books.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Lafayette is getting a BF (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i6ad645d17ccf55b7e256cd04bbbec510)!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

We can expect more male nudity on the upcoming season of True Blood (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/25/naked.true.blood.cast.ppl/index.html?eref=rss_latest&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS:+Most+R ecent%29). (the link is safe)

WooHoo!!!!

[Kevy Baby]

We can expect more male nudity on the upcoming season of True Blood (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/25/naked.true.blood.cast.ppl/index.html?eref=rss_latest&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS:+Most+R ecent%29). (the link is safe)

WooHoo!!!!Oh, the boys...

I should have know

[Betty]

brown chicken brown cow!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

We can expect more male nudity on the upcoming season of True Blood (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/25/naked.true.blood.cast.ppl/index.html?eref=rss_latest&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS:+Most+R ecent%29).Oh, the boys...

I should have knowYes, you should have. :p

[Pirate Bill]

I just started catching up with True Blood. I've watched the first 8 episodes of season 1. Awesome show! I love Sookie. I love that there's a strong female lead. Quite the opposite of most vampire stories (that I'm familiar with). Bill is a great vampire. I love the twists they've come up with. Very entertaining and great story telling all around.

I'm not, however, a fan of Twilight. Week female lead. Sucky teen angst. Lame vampires. The fact that my wife is a fan sickens me. I dis it as often as I can whenever it comes up.

[Capt Jack]

finally saw twilight. my niece made me promise to watch it. I can only say it here, cuz she'd be crushed that I didnt love it.

wtf is with this sparkle sh!t?

[ToriBear]

wtf is with this sparkle sh!t?

Lol! That's what my dad said when he saw the movie, but he just makes fun of it. Of course I caught him two times this week watching Twilight, so I think either he liked it more then he said or he just likes coming up with new jokes to mock the movie. I think it's the latter. :rolleyes:

[Chernabog]

Pattinson is definitely a charismatic fellow. I can see why the girls are all swoony over him. But dear lord was Twilight awful. (I've already said my piece on Kirsten the emo actress who plays the same character with the same emotion in every scene and film she is in..... biting that lip even harder is NOT acting, dear!) I just couldn't get over how completely brain-dead the story was. She almost dies... oh, but at least she makes it in time for prom!! THAT's what really matters!

Having a brain-dead moment myself about a year prior to the film coming out I purchased the book (thereby unknowingly donating to Yes on Prop 8, but I digress). I read about three or four chapters before getting rid of the book. Unreadable mindless drivel. J.K. Rowling ain't exactly Shakespeare, but she has more imagination and literary skill in her pinky than Meyer could ever dream of having.

On another note, when does True Blood Season 2 come out on disc already?

[Kevy Baby]

On another note, when does True Blood Season 2 come out on disc already?According to HBO's site, May 25 (http://store.hbo.com/detail.php?p=255178&v=hbo_shows_true-blood).

ETA: this discussion thread (http://www.hbo.com/true-blood#/true-blood/talk/forums/item.html/eNrjcmbOYC7ULMtMSc13zEvMqSzJTHbOzytJrShRz89JgQkFJK an+iXmpjLnsyWWZqbYWiYZJZsYJBqpGrmYmhukAClDAyMQZWFu kASkDAwME81MjI2NU4yM2BjZGDkZGQEorR3Z)may keep your interest for a few minutes ;)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Lady GaGa's "Teeth" Music Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZTCCHW699M)

It's got BDSM vampires.
They're gay.
They're hot.
It's not work safe.

Enjoy. :evil:

[Chernabog]

Lady GaGa's "Teeth" Music Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZTCCHW699M)

It's got BDSM vampires.
They're gay.
They're hot.
It's not work safe.

Enjoy. :evil:

It's not the OFFICIAL video, but apparently Gaga likes it ;)

[JWBear]

Is it me, or did it just get warm in herr?

[Pirate Bill]

I just finished True Blood season 2. Can it be June yet? I want my season 3.

[Betty]

I know I know! Hurry up. :)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

June?!? We gotta wait until June for more True Blood?

Dagnabbit!

[Kevy Baby]

You could try reading the books

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I didn't come here to read.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

True Blood's bodaciously beautiful boys: Alexander Skarsgard (http://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/d4.jpg), Stephen Moyer (http://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/d3.jpg) and Ryan (http://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/d2.jpg) Kwanten (http://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/D1.jpg), courtesy of Details magazine.
http://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/d4.jpghttp://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/d3.jpghttp://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/d2.jpghttp://laragmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/D1.jpg

Is it June yet?

[Prudence]

I'm not normally one for pretty boy blonds, but Skarsgard sends me into a touch of the vapors.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

some video of those shoots (http://www.details.com/video?videoID=77636627001)

[innerSpaceman]

oh my, Ryan Kwanten in leather jacket and white T. Yum.


Weird that the hottest guy by far on that show is not a vampire.




And, it kinda creeps me out that Sookie and Bill are an item in real life. Ycch.

[Kevy Baby]

I liked Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) better with long hair

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I think the short do suits him just fiiiiine! :evil:

[SzczerbiakManiac]

As part of HBO's plan to tease me into oblivion, they're releasing six "minisodes" starting today. You can see the first one here (http://tv.yahoo.com/true-blood/show/39147/videos/19332804). There are no naughty bits showing nor "bad" language, but it's very suggestive, so NSFW.

It's my understanding these will be independent from any actual episodes—they're just little glimpses into the lives of the characters. The first one deals with Eric & Pam auditioning a new dancer for Fangtasia. It's pretty funny and, for those what like lookin' at women-folk, quite sexah!

And here's a lovely new cast photo I found over at OhLaLaMag:
http://www.ohlalamag.com/.a/6a00e54fb7301c88340133ecff3f25970b-pi (http://www.ohlalamag.com/en/2010/04/watch-a-drop-of-true-blood-minisode-premiere-plus-new-cast-photo.html)

[Pirate Bill]

As part of HBO's plan to tease me into oblivion, they're releasing six "minisodes" starting today. You can see the first one here (http://tv.yahoo.com/true-blood/show/39147/videos/19332804).

Awesome! More!

[innerSpaceman]

The first mini-ep was a hoot.

Word has leaked that Eric takes his clothes off a lot in the upcoming season, and has a hot sex scene with a man! Um, when's June???

[Betty]

Jessica's not in the books but I love her character. And Eric is sooo effing hawt.

[Betty]

The first mini-ep was a hoot.

Word has leaked that Eric takes his clothes off a lot in the upcoming season, and has a hot sex scene with a man! Um, when's June???

Or you could read the books ya know. :p

[Kevy Baby]

Or you could read the books ya know. :pUnless I am forgetting something, Eric doesn't get busy in the books

[Betty]

Unless I am forgetting something, Eric doesn't get busy in the books

He does get to dress up as a gay guy and go to a party and pretend though (at a party of some sort - I forget what he was wearing and I realize that "dressing up as gay guy" sounds off - but I'm not sure how else to put it since he was dressing for the part ... and I believe it's hinted he's had a past that includes partners of both sexes... or am I getting this confused with another of my vamire tales?

[Kevy Baby]

...and, for those what like lookin' at women-folk, quite sexah!You didn't consider the guys in that clip hot? Not even the dude in the jock strap?

[innerSpaceman]

SuPeR K! says I should continue reading the books, but I was very disappointed in the first two.

The first one was ok, but I liked the plotlines added to the TV version way better than anything in the book. (The books are all from Sookie's perspective, so anything she's not involved in doesn't exist.)

It was worse for the second season. I liked many of the choices the TV series made, but they left out a ton of good stuff from the book - and the climax of the storyline was total weaksauce compared to the action-packed werewolf-aided escape in the novel.

So reading the books has left me disappointed on all fronts. K says the third book is fantastic ... but I think I'm gonna read the books after the series is over.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

You didn't consider the guys in that clip hot? Not even the dude in the jock strap?Eric is mega-hot. The auditioning dancers... meh.

[innerSpaceman]

Um, I think Kevy was kidding around. In fact, isn't that Kevy's default mode?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I can't trust a straight guy to judge the hottness of a dude. They're just not... equipped to ascertain all the nuances of the male form. It's like asking an emu to tell you if the béarnaise is ready.

[Kevy Baby]

...but they left out a ton of good stuff from the [second] book...BUBBA!

I can't trust a straight guy to judge the hottness of a dude. They're just not... equipped to ascertain all the nuances of the male form. It's like asking an emu to tell you if the béarnaise is ready.I disagree with you on this (granted, I am not exactly straight). Susan and I have very similar tastes in what is hot about a guy. We agree that Eric looked better with long hair, thought this opinion is not shared by many on here. And while some people like the big ripped body builders, I (and Susan) do not.

Many straight guys are unable to admit that a guy is hot or even determine IF he is hot. But one does not need to be gay to do so.

[Kevy Baby]

Um, I think Kevy was kidding around.Uh, yeah. The male auditioners in the clip were very not hot.In fact, isn't that Kevy's default mode?Perdominant, yes, but I can be serious occasionally (see the post above for example).

But yeah, if a post by me could go either way (serious or joking), the chances are good that it is the latter.

[Betty]

The latest book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood is out: Lover Mine (http://www.amazon.com/Lover-Mine-Novel-Dagger-Brotherhood/dp/0451229851)

and

there's another book out in the True Blood series: Dead in the Family (http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Family-Sookie-Stackhouse-Novel/dp/0441018645)

It's been so long since I read the last book in the series that came out I'd sort of forgotten about them. What a great surprise!

and unrelated to vampires I just found out there are 4 more books in the Outlander series which is going to make for some great reading on an upcoming camping trip.

[innerSpaceman]

Meanwhile, True Blood mini-ep #2 has been released, this time featuring Jessica (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFAwFtTsgys).

[Betty]

Looks like a fun season.

[innerSpaceman]

Third (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8mNYUpRWzc) "Drop of Blood" mini-ep. Tara, Lafayette and Sookie. Can't say as I like this one at all; it's kinda nasty. Wonder why Sookie and Tara are friends at all.

[Kevy Baby]

For those who can't get enough of True Blood, you can follow on Twitter.

There is the main Twitter feed for Trueblood (http://twitter.com/truebloodHBO) but you can also follow Sookie (http://twitter.com/TB_Sookie), Bill (http://twitter.com/WilliamTCompton), Sam (http://twitter.com/SamMerlotteBT), Tara (http://twitter.com/Tara_ThorntonBT), Eric (http://twitter.com/TBEricNorthman), Lafayette (http://twitter.com/Lafayette_R), Jason (http://twitter.com/JasonStckhouse), Pam (http://twitter.com/Pam_Ravenscroft), Jessica (http://twitter.com/MadeJessica), Sarah Newlin (http://twitter.com/SarahNewlin), Arlene (http://twitter.com/ArleneFowler), Hoyt (http://twitter.com/HoytBT), Bubba (http://twitter.com/Vampire_Bubba) (I hope they incoporate him into the show!), Andy (http://twitter.com/AndyBfleur), Merlottes Bar and Grill (http://twitter.com/Merlottes_BT), and Fangtasia (http://twitter.com/FangtasiaTheBar). There may be more (I know Mr. Newlin [can't remember his first name at the moment] has a Twitter feed as well), but those are the ones Susan follows.

Just be forewarned: these characters Tweet with the prolificness of a 14-year-old girl. Sookie alone has about 66 Tweets in the last 24 hours. However (at least according to Susan), it is like reading an ongoing episode.

[innerSpaceman]

Tempted and scared at the same time.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

True Blood: Season 3 Trailer #1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JCODjwMFQc)

[innerSpaceman]

Trailer for Season 3 of True Blood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3F2v3yrmi0).

June 13 Now Now Now Now NOW, please!


(oh, hahaha, didn't notice that SM posted it already .... oh well, watch it AGAIN)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

No worries, yours is longer. I was going to share it with everyone, but you beat me to it. :evil:

[Not Afraid]

We just started watching Season 2 the other night. My oh MY is there a lot of sex! I may have to subscribe to HBO!

[innerSpaceman]

No worries, yours is longer.


Huh?


:confused:







Oh, the video.

Gotcha.

[Betty]

Trailer for Season 3 of True Blood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3F2v3yrmi0).



Fvck Yeah!

[Kevy Baby]

So, HBO has a Season 2 Resurrection (http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/index.html#/true-blood/about/video/resurrecting-season-2.html/eNrjcmbOYC5Uz89JccxLzKksyUwOSExP9UvMTdUsy0xJzYeJOu fnlaRWlDDns0knlpbkF+QkVtqWFJWmsjGyMXIyMgIAblQXOA== ) where the actors and actresses talk about Season 2, in their real voices.

While Eric didn't do anything for us (he is much better as a long haired blonde), Stephen Moyer (Bill) is freakin hawt: his real skin and voice are mmmm...

And Ryan Kwanten (Jason) is a cutie and his Australian accent is frickin adorable.

[Not Afraid]

"Jason" plays in a bluegrass bank in Silverlake every week (Friday night?) if you ever want to see him in person.

[innerSpaceman]

Oh my, oh my, oh my, Stephen and Ryan are SO much hotter with their real voices.


DAAAMMMNN! (i think i'm comin' down with the vapors)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Bill's Minisode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8wSRvtNgLU)

Sam's Minisode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJCgRo4nbyU)

Alexander Skarsgård's naked butt (http://www.ohlalamag.com/en/2010/05/alexander-skarsgard-naked-in-true-blood-3.html)

[Betty]

Bill's Minisode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8wSRvtNgLU)

Sam's Minisode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJCgRo4nbyU)

Alexander Skarsgård's naked butt (http://www.ohlalamag.com/en/2010/05/alexander-skarsgard-naked-in-true-blood-3.html)

Havent' watched the minisodes yet but that is one fine piece of @ss! :cool: :cheers:

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Ryan Kwanten on Going Nude and Gay (http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/26/Ryan_Kwanten_on_Going_Nude_and_Gay/) (from The Advocate)
Article is pointless, but there's a delightful pic of Ryan shirtless.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

True Blood "Ultimate Fan Season 3 Preview (http://www.hbo.com/global-video/video.html?view=grid&vid=1098917&autoplay=true)" May Contain Spoilers

[innerSpaceman]

Nope, not doing it then. I specifically avoid recommendations to read the third book. I don't want spoilers, and fortunately - June 13th is right around the corner! Yay!! :D

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Jason's Minsode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKOo4Itd96w)

[Not Afraid]

We are actually (gasp) considering adding HBO to your line-up so we can watch season 3. What is this world coming to?

[innerSpaceman]

Jason's Minsode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKOo4Itd96w)
Wow, and here I was expecting Jason's to be a light-hearted one.

Kudos for going against those.





TeeHee 11 days!!

[Not Afraid]

We're up to date! We finished Season 2 tonight and I'm really glad I only have to wait a week until Season 3 starts. We even have HBO now. Amazing but true. Maryanne must be controlling my TV.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Joe Manganiello, the new werewolf Alcide
http://www.nypost.com/r/nypost/blogs/popwrap/201006/Images/07/jow2.jpg (http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/all_JZK1pt6J10scgbDStQvIkJ)

Anna Paquin (Sookie) introduces Alcide and they discuss the "Brotherhood of the Sock" and lycanthropic cred. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqsz6T6B6_Y)

[Not Afraid]

Werewolves? Why can't these authors stick with just one kind. Anne Rice was fine until we had to add the whole stockpot full of creatures. Ugh.

[Mousey Girl]

I don't have, nor will I get HBO. I have read all of the books (more than once). Is each season based on that number of the book? (season 1=book 1)

[Kevy Baby]

Is each season based on that number of the book? (season 1=book 1)Season 1 followed Dead Until Dark fairly closely, beefing up some characters (for example, Tara and Lafayette are much more prominent in the series).

The second season borrows a couple of themes from Living Dead in Dallas, but is basically a completely separate story line.

We'll see where season three goes.

[€uroMeinke]

Werewolves? Why can't these authors stick with just one kind. Anne Rice was fine until we had to add the whole stockpot full of creatures. Ugh.

Yeah, I really wish they'd just stick to the Vampires - I think there is much in the true blood premise left to explore. With Vampires among us, it would be interesting to see how they get integrated into society - hold down jobs - why wouldn't there be Vampire History professors, research scientists, artists. This whole notion of how one would spend an immortal life is left unexplored.

Spending time with shape shifters, warewolves, mummy's, greco-roman demi-gods who haven't joined mainstream life is a waste of an interesting premise.

That said, I'm loving True Blood and hope that continues into the next season.

[Mousey Girl]

Spending time with shape shifters, warewolves, mummy's, greco-roman demi-gods who haven't joined mainstream life is a waste of an interesting premise.

You forgot the Fae.

[Kevy Baby]

Spending time with shape shifters, werewolves, mummy's, greco-roman demi-gods who haven't joined mainstream life is a waste of an interesting premise.Remember that Sam is a Shape Shifter and Maryanne is (was?) a Maenad. Even Sookie, the main character is a "Supe" (Supernatural).

MAY be spoilers:
I would comment on the addition of Weres to True Blood, but I don't want to spoiler anything (even though they have hinted at a lot of it in the previews), If they carry over as much of the Weres from the books as I think they are, I believe it will make an interesting season.

[Betty]

Just finished reading the latest book in the series. It definately brought back my interest - although...

it felt like just part of a book and I was left wanting more story to go with it.

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, I don't mind that they go adding every monster-supe creature in the book. Because, well, it's based on books. So they have to use those as a basis. I can't blame the TV show for that, and the allegory of vampires into society as a gay metaphor would have gone stale pretty quick if it was a vamps-only series.

Since Sam was a shape-shifter from Season One, the idea of more-than-vampires was planted from the beginning. I can't blame a thing for what it is and always was. Besides, the new werewolf is woof-and-a-half.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

True Blood makes the cover of Entertainment Weekly
http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/100609/EW-1107-cover_300.jpg (http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/10/true-blood-ew-cover/)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

some highlights from the Do Bad Things "poster" series
click for more (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=180173&id=69144888562)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs534.snc3/30299_405291008562_69144888562_4101681_6749602_n.j pghttp://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs534.snc3/30299_405291023562_69144888562_4101682_2998081_n.j pghttp://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs534.snc3/30299_405291028562_69144888562_4101683_5107145_n.j pghttp://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs514.ash1/30299_405291063562_69144888562_4101687_2447738_n.j pg

[Kevy Baby]

True Blood makes the cover of Entertainment Weekly
http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/100609/EW-1107-cover_300.jpg (http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/10/true-blood-ew-cover/)Ya know... I don't like that picture. Too cheesy.

Although Sookie looks hot.

[Not Afraid]

I actually read the Entertainment mag today.

[Betty]

It's cheesy yes - but it's a threesome with some sexy vampires which means I can have them both and won't have to pick. Really works out great - see?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/rosencrantzandguildensternareundead/)

[innerSpaceman]

This may sound strange coming from me, but there was almost too much gay in tonite's season opener of True Blood.







almost ;)

[Not Afraid]

No way.

The almost sex scene was great!

[innerSpaceman]

Lemme see -

putatively a straight sex scene, but Eric full-rear naked with an implied boner - gay fantasy come true.


another putatively straight sex scene, but Jason full-rear naked - even though with an implied non-boner - another gay fantasy come true.

quasi-gay redneck kidnappers who play with their nipples in a car full of guys and blood-ball each other.

And, of course, the already alluded to - Sam dreams of hot gay shower sex with Vampire Bill.





Yeah, that's a whole lot of gay .... even for True Blood.








Loved It. :D

[Not Afraid]

You forgot Jason's threesome.

[innerSpaceman]

No, that was his full-rear naked, non-boner-implied scene. Twosome turned threesome turned psycho-killer-buzz-Kill.


Strangely, the one gay character (Lafayette) never seems to have any sex.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

there was almost too much gay in tonite's season opener of True Blood.Put the crack pipe down iSm! You're talking the CrAzY talk!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Two different interviews with Denis O'Hare who plays Vampire King of Mississippi Russell Edgington on True Blood. Both could be considered spoilery.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer (http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/422124_tvgif21.html)

AfterElton (http://www.afterelton.com/node/34481)

[Scrooge McSam]

I've had True Blood Season 1 on my coffee table for 3 weeks. A buddy 'insisted' I watch but I just hadn't taken the time to give it a go... until last night.

Hooked = Me

Now I'm 4 episodes in and waiting for 4PM so I can watch some more.

Jason's priapism episode - hilarious!!! That boy... mmm mmm mmm makes me want to do bad things.

And I love me some Lafayette.

The scenery suggests a location much much further south than the Monroe/Shreveport area, but I can forgive that.

I just called my buddy and he's bringing Season 2 <happy dance>

[innerSpaceman]

Gabba Gabba, We Accept You, We Accept You, One.Of.Us. :iSm:

[Betty]

I love me some Erik. Yum!

What happened to the body that was Jessica's problem? I wonder if Pam came and took care of it or if Erik did - he was right across the cemetary at Sookie's house.

And our first glimpse of Hotshot!

[innerSpaceman]

oh, i don't think anybody "took care of it" for Jessica. My hunch is her story direction is just headed for more and more trouble.


Not that this particular stuff couldn't have been invented by Allan Ball, but I love not having read the books for this and any future season!

[Kevy Baby]

Not that this particular stuff couldn't have been invented by Allan Ball, but I love not having read the books for this and any future season!So far, only the basic premise comes from the book. Jessica is a product of Allan Ball, so the future is not revealed in the book at all.

[Betty]

Alcide is hot! I'd forgotten about him somehow. It's been a few years since I read the books (that far back anyway).

That scene with Pam was funny! Nice transition from that to the pies.

Poor Tara can't seem to catch a break even for a minute.

[innerSpaceman]

The sex is too much in your face this season.



Er, perhaps that was a bad way to phrase it, considering.



But really, I found the show way more erotic when people weren't actually schtooping and other such things on camera every 20 minutes.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Vibe interviews Nelsan Ellis (http://www.vibe.com/content/nelsan-ellis-lafayette-talks-true-blood-gay-marriage-tyler-perry) (Lafayette on True Blood)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Sam Trammell on Chelsea Lately (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiE-BpZ8yLA)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

The Official Trailer for Vampires Suck (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38LMVNzqKtI)

[Kevy Baby]

The Official Trailer for Vampires Suck (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38LMVNzqKtI)"This video has been removed due to terms of use violation."

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Try this then:
http://www.vampiressuckmovie.com/

[Not Afraid]

Not sure I'm on the True Blood bandwagon this season.

[innerSpaceman]

Me neither, since events and circumstances are conspiring to make me miss every episode! Blah!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Last night's episode was kind of bland. Not horrible, but I didn't feel like I learned much.

Though long scenes with Alcide shirtless is never a bad thing.

[€uroMeinke]

Yeah the past two episode have struck me as kinda lukewarm - I'm hoping it's because there are these week long gaps in between that are dampening my enthusiasm, but find that instead of wanting to know what happens I'm hoping the story will be advanced to something more interesting.

[Betty]

Bill has turned into a bit of a pussy.

[Pirate Bill]

I'm just not feeling it this season. It's all over the place and going nowhere. My favorite characters have lost the charm and/or edge that attracted me to the show in the first place. The show is turning into Heroes.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

I'm interested to see where all this is going having read the books. It seems like things from book 3 and 5 are going to be happening at the same time this season! I'm a little disappointed in Alcide's character on the show... His character is the books is one of my favorites, but in the show he's more of a dick.

[Betty]

Trailer from Comic Con showing what's to come. (http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/about/video/comic-con-second-half-preview.html?autoplay=true&cmpid=ABC123)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

The following question might be deemed spoilerish by some folks, so to be safe...At the end of that teaser, after Sookie opens the "dream door", is the chick with the accent the same actress who plays Crystal?

[innerSpaceman]

Well, that last episode was kinda action-packed at least. When's HBO gonna do their typical recap marathon? I missed like 3 episodes and, even though everyone pretty much panned them, I'd like to see 'em.

[Betty]

Well, that last episode was kinda action-packed at least. When's HBO gonna do their typical recap marathon? I missed like 3 episodes and, even though everyone pretty much panned them, I'd like to see 'em.

I didn't pan them. In fact, I rewatched them all to the latest episode. I agree to some extent though that it's just getting good.... But you missed the whole Franklin storyline then? And all the fun between the King, Bill and Lorena? You NEED to play catch up.

They seem to be pretty available as torrents if you go that route.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Posting here because of the strong influence she's had over vampire lore.

Anne Rice Quits Being a Christian (http://www.facebook.com/annericefanpage?v=wall)
"For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being "Christian" or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to "belong" to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten ...years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."

She later added:
"As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of ...Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen."

[JWBear]

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - Mahatma Gandhi

[Not Afraid]

Well, maybe I can respect Anne Rice again - just a little bit.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Butch Patrick 57 Marrys Longtime Fan (http://dlisted.com/node/38255)

This gives me hope that Wally and I will marry when I'm in my 60s. ;)

[Kevy Baby]

Jason: "I always thought I wasn't smart enough to get depressed."

[Betty]

Oh Russel - you are naughty!

Do you know what Sookie is? (I do - but I read the books so that's a given)

[innerSpaceman]

Missed True Blood again (while attending SuPeR K!'s bday extravaganza), but caught the last 2 minutes of the midnight repeat ... that was so fun, and such a a tease.

Don't they usually do a multi-episode marathon recap at some point?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

sometimes, not always

[innerSpaceman]

Bah! I've missed half the season. Is True Blood available on iTunes, does anyone know?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I know how to find out.... :p

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Looks like just Season 1 (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTVSeason?id=314411337&s=143441) and Season 2 (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTVSeason?id=367898297&s=143441).

I know someone who has all of this season TiVo'd in HD.

[innerSpaceman]

Introduce me to them.





Especially if they're cute, gay and single ('cause I already know they like hot vampires) ;)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

You already know him.
He's gay, he's single, but he's monstrously ugly.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

True Blood in the mags:

Eric, Sookie, & Bill naked and bloody on the cover of Rolling Stone (http://dlisted.com/node/38467)

Beefy Joe Manganiello inside People (http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2010/08/joe-manganiello-promises-more-nudity-on-true-blood/)