Crystal Green's Blog, page 37
October 2, 2010
Halloween Countdown: THE WOLFMAN (2010)
Last year I had so much fun watching a couple of scary movies a week in preparation for Halloween that I wanted to do it again.
And so it begins...
I'm starting off with the most recent version of THE WOLFMAN, with Benecio del Toro and Emily Blunt. (Don't worry--the choices will get quirkier and uckier and far more bottom-of-the-basement quality as I go along.)
I was eager to see this one way back when it had a panel at Comic-Con. Unfortunately, it didn't come out for a while--it was shelved, only to be released this year to little fanfare. I thought it looked like a good companion piece to BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, a flick that I adore for its operatic overkill and gothic vampire swooniness. I thought THE WOLFMAN would have some similarities: Anthony Hopkins, for one. Crumbling estates, mausoleums, and mist-in-the-woods eeriness for another.
But THE WOLFMAN is somehow not quite as engaging as DRACULA, although it has its moments. For you horror freaks out there (I'm including myself, too), there's plenty of ick and slash. There's even a fantastic sequence with the wolfman running around London that had me grinning with sick glee. I love me some Victorian London grossness--my ongoing fascination with Jack the Ripper supports that claim.
The best thing about this movie for me was the wolfman design. Forgive me, but I'm not in to werewolves who change in to...well, wolves. Not my thing. I like the messed-up man/wolf creature that emerges by the light of a full moon, a mutant, a real monster who seems pissed off that he got the short end of the pretty stick. And what we get here is a turbo version of the Lon Chaney wolfman. Seriously--this creature does some damage to gypsies and unfortunates who inadvisedly wander through the woods with lanterns eeking out a bit of light while they murmur, "Who's there?" just after a twig snaps behind them.
What was extra special to me about THE WOLFMAN is that Benecio del Toro actually looks a lot like the Frankenstein monster when he's in human form. I defy you to tell me I'm wrong after you get a gander at him with those burned-out eyes and a terrible mop of stringy hair covering that forehead. So Frankensteiny. Oh, and if you're looking for some prime Anthony Hopkins scenery chewing--tah-dah! Right here, my friends. He's just as weird as he was in DRACULA, with all those ticks, blank stares, and, in this case, riveting apple chomping. It's like he wandered over from DRACULA with the craziest parts of Van Helsing still intact. Gotta love the kind of crazy that only Hopkins can bring.
Overall, I'd say this works as a pre-Halloween flick. Great creepy atmosphere. Lots o'blood and carnage. Classic monster mash.
Stay tuned for more movies as we meander through October on our way to the big day!
And so it begins...
I'm starting off with the most recent version of THE WOLFMAN, with Benecio del Toro and Emily Blunt. (Don't worry--the choices will get quirkier and uckier and far more bottom-of-the-basement quality as I go along.)
I was eager to see this one way back when it had a panel at Comic-Con. Unfortunately, it didn't come out for a while--it was shelved, only to be released this year to little fanfare. I thought it looked like a good companion piece to BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, a flick that I adore for its operatic overkill and gothic vampire swooniness. I thought THE WOLFMAN would have some similarities: Anthony Hopkins, for one. Crumbling estates, mausoleums, and mist-in-the-woods eeriness for another.
But THE WOLFMAN is somehow not quite as engaging as DRACULA, although it has its moments. For you horror freaks out there (I'm including myself, too), there's plenty of ick and slash. There's even a fantastic sequence with the wolfman running around London that had me grinning with sick glee. I love me some Victorian London grossness--my ongoing fascination with Jack the Ripper supports that claim.
The best thing about this movie for me was the wolfman design. Forgive me, but I'm not in to werewolves who change in to...well, wolves. Not my thing. I like the messed-up man/wolf creature that emerges by the light of a full moon, a mutant, a real monster who seems pissed off that he got the short end of the pretty stick. And what we get here is a turbo version of the Lon Chaney wolfman. Seriously--this creature does some damage to gypsies and unfortunates who inadvisedly wander through the woods with lanterns eeking out a bit of light while they murmur, "Who's there?" just after a twig snaps behind them.
What was extra special to me about THE WOLFMAN is that Benecio del Toro actually looks a lot like the Frankenstein monster when he's in human form. I defy you to tell me I'm wrong after you get a gander at him with those burned-out eyes and a terrible mop of stringy hair covering that forehead. So Frankensteiny. Oh, and if you're looking for some prime Anthony Hopkins scenery chewing--tah-dah! Right here, my friends. He's just as weird as he was in DRACULA, with all those ticks, blank stares, and, in this case, riveting apple chomping. It's like he wandered over from DRACULA with the craziest parts of Van Helsing still intact. Gotta love the kind of crazy that only Hopkins can bring.
Overall, I'd say this works as a pre-Halloween flick. Great creepy atmosphere. Lots o'blood and carnage. Classic monster mash.
Stay tuned for more movies as we meander through October on our way to the big day!
September 29, 2010
THOSE WHO FIGHT MONSTERS cover
Here's the cover for the anthology that will contain a new Vampire Babylon short story (as well as works from Simon R. Green and Rachel Caine):
Nice and noir! This will be on sale March, 2011....
Nice and noir! This will be on sale March, 2011....
September 24, 2010
Yet another reason to watch SONS OF ANARCHY
I'm just sayin'.
September 16, 2010
Vamps, Hunters, and Broad Shoulders
Next week, you all!
Since SUPERNATURAL has moved to Friday nights, I'm not sure about doing a recap...at least one that will be relevant by the time I get around to it after the weekend. We'll see how it goes!
September 14, 2010
Blaze site
I'll be able to write my next Blaze in the coming months--and it's about time, LOL. My last one was out in June, 2009. I can't believe I didn't have one on shelves this year. In fact, I recently received word that my next one is tentatively scheduled for November, 2011!
I still read lots of Blazes though. I love the line, and the authors are fabulous. They even have a Blaze site, and it's got posts on everything from craft to pop culture. Brenda Chin, senior editor, even comes on every o...
I still read lots of Blazes though. I love the line, and the authors are fabulous. They even have a Blaze site, and it's got posts on everything from craft to pop culture. Brenda Chin, senior editor, even comes on every o...
September 10, 2010
Book Giveaway at The Vamp Book Club
Hurry--The Vamp Book Club is also giving away my first three books at http://vampirebookclub.net/blogfest-2010-win-vampire-babylon-books-1-3/
September 8, 2010
Dragon*Con
Just in case I didn't reach my quota of Con goodness this year, I went to Dragon*Con, Atlanta. It's different than Comic-Con, San Diego, mainly because of its size. But, as one of my friends commented early on as we gazed at the towering Hyatt floors with Con attendees hanging over the rails, Dragon*Con is more like a "giant geek dorm."
You heard that right--since Dragon*Con isn't located in a convention center, all the action takes place in five hotels, so it's pretty spread out. However, ...
You heard that right--since Dragon*Con isn't located in a convention center, all the action takes place in five hotels, so it's pretty spread out. However, ...
August 31, 2010
Most recent contest winner
Congrats to Janet Gould, who won my latest contest! I'll have another one up by mid-month, so stay tuned for details. : )
August 26, 2010
Dragon*Con Knight Agency authors
The Knight Agency (of which I am a proud part) will have a full slate of authors at Dragon*Con in Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend. Check out this page for bios and schedules!
August 20, 2010
Want to join my book group?
One of my Facebook friends, Jonathan Geisel, just started up a book group for my urban fantasies. I'm hoping that there can be discussions and perhaps some book giveaways in the future, if we get enough people. I'd love for you to join!
Go here:
http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1462593818142&sk=messages#!/group.php?gid=140610505974271&ref=nf
Go here:
http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1462593818142&sk=messages#!/group.php?gid=140610505974271&ref=nf
