Rating: 
Summary: Not that Great
Review: The DVD was nothing to get ancy about, but the real crime here is the movie itself. Anne Rice's story-telling masterpiece is butchered to the point of The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Aaliyah is the only highlight, and her part is only a few scenes and lines. The movie over all is a failure, but it really would have taken a 4 hour epic to cover the novel to a "T." I would recomend the novel over the movie anyday. The soundtrack was nice too.
Rating: 
Summary: Why????????????????
Review: Can someone please tell me WHY this movie went so wrong,oh in so many ways.........if Anne Rice was initially disgusted by the thought of Tom Cruise as Lestat how could she condone Stuart Townsend's performance?????? Physically, he makes the cut but he is nowhere near the performance that Cruise gave in Interview...Tom captured the essence of Lestat and I'm sure there are a lot of people that feel the same way I do.....this film blew for the following reasons: (1) it is the weakest book from the Vampire Chronicles (Queen of the Damned), (2) the screenplay was shortchanged.....combining two big novels into one was a huge mistake, (3) some of the characters were changed - (i.e. Lestat's creator - Magnus to Marius?), and (4) the way the movie was promoted - Aaliyah's last film attracted the kiddies that knew nothing of the Vampire chronicles......Oh, well I guess it's all business.....Undoubtedly, the second film should have been the Vampire Lestat with Cruise reprising the role.....the film would have worked by having Lestat tell his story like Louis did in Interview......it would have endeared him to the audience by telling the story of his vampiric life and we would be talking about the next film (Tale of the Body Thief, a much superior book to Queen of the Damned)...let's hope Warner Bros. revitalizes this franchise by redoing this film as the Vampire Lestat and recast Tom Cruise as the one and only Lestat........
Rating: 
Summary: The kiss of death to the Anne Rice vampire movie franchise
Review: I know it is the lowest form of iron to complain that a movie about vampires has no life in it, but that is essentially my reaction to "Queen of the Damned." It has been many years since I read Anne Rice's novel, but enough of it came back to me while watching this 2002 film to know what was going on, even if the film was going to be less than helpful in that regard. Beyond that "Queen of the Damned" suffers on pretty much every point of comparison between it and 1994's "Interview with the Vampire."The premise is that the vampire Lestat (now played by Stuart Townsend), was disenchanted by the world after the experiences covered in "Interview," and took to his crypt for a couple of centuries. However, the call of goth music brings him back to the real world where he produces to front a successful band and work all of the secrets of the vampires into the lyrics of his songs. Meanwhile, Jesse (Marguerite Moreau), a researcher for a vampire study institute in London, has been studying those lyrics and starts tailing Lestat, who has reawakened the title character, Akasha (Aaliyah) with his violin playing, and, of course, upset all of the vampires in the world by betraying them to the world of the living. If you do not understand how all the vampires in the world are descended from Akasha, and what that blood relationship means for each generation of vampires, then you are going to miss out on a lot of the dramatic conflict in this film. Fortunately, you are not really involved enough in the plot or the characters to particularly care as the film's sense of lethargy consumes the audience as well. Townsend captures the arrogant aloofness of a goth music star, but neither the scripts nor the songs provide much help, while Aaliyah is simply too young for the title role. Ultimately, I am most disappointed by the music. I manage to like the music of faux-groups in lots of movies, from "Eddie and the Cruisers" and "Light of Day" to "Rock Star" and "A Mighty Wind." But the Nine Inch Nails style music Lestat sings in "Queen of the Damned" makes no more of a connection with me than the rest of the film. There are a few decent special effect shots, including the last one in the film, but I would rather have a better story and more engaging characters, especially when they are dead.
Rating: 
Summary: STUART WILL ALWAYS BE LESTAT!!
Review: I love this movie.All's been said about what some people thought wasn't right about this movie.From it not following the books, to Stuart's hair not being blonde.So what!There's no way they could have followed the books.It would have had to have been a mini-series and they probably still couldn't have gotten it all in.And to have stuck to the story lines exactly.Wouldn't Stuart have looked silly with blonde hair!He was beautiful with those dark,curly locks.Blonde hair would have taken something away.How could those brown eyes of his have been anymore mesmerizing if they were blue?
I read the early Vampire Chronicles years ago,before the movie Interview with the Vampire came out.I have read all of them since then.Sorry, but Tom Cruise was never Lestat to me, even though I liked him alright at the time.After seeing Queen of the Damned,I had my Lestat!STUART TOWNSEND knocked me out!He brought all of Lestat's complicated nature to the screen.His vunerability,strength,weakness,boldness,impulsiveness,and his raw animal appeal.Stu is just about the sexiest man I've ever seen.Those eyes just about melt me.I think he was perfect for the role.
If you want to see his versatility as an actor, check out Resurrection Man,About Adam,Shooting Fish, The Escort, etc.He is wonderful in all of his roles.I just know he will soon get the recognition he deserves.
View this film with an open mind.If you like vampire movies,you should love it.All of the actors did a superb job.The dvd is exceptional.Alot of work went into it.There are lots of great extras.You must check out Stuart in the 3 music videos.Lovely!I've really gotten to like the music even though it isn't my style.My thanks to all involved in this film.I believe you did a great job with a very involved project.And to you Stuart, a very special thanks!You're beautiful!I hope to see you in many more films!
Rating:
Summary: A Pretty Good Neo-Gothic film thematically
Review: My review is mainly based on this film's thematic content. I'm not focusing on its consistency with Anne Rice's novels and/or novel-based films, or other vampire flicks. Overall, I liked the film. It's a bit different from 'the usual vamp menagerie', and is definitely pretty good on several levels. The movie is sexy, scary albeit campy, stylishly creepy, and occasionally humorous. First theme: abandonment vs. belonging. Lestat and Jesse are both struggling with being and/or feeling rejected by their respective "guardians" Marius and Maharet. Lestat and Jesse both are also trying (in different ways) to search for and reunite with them. Their common sense of isolation - plus Jesse's empathy with Lestat - ultimately brings them together. Akasha herself has also been emotionally abandoned by her mate Enkil - even though he sits beside her. By refusing to wantonly feed with her, Enkil weakens Akasha's will and power. She is forced to wait thousands of years to find a consort to replace him - Lestat. Throughout the film, Akasha uses Lestat's anger and loneliness to her advantage. She lures him to blood-bond with her to gain influence over his future actions, thoughts, words, and music. Lestat unknowingly cues Akasha to arise with the "Come out, come out, wherever you are" challenge to all vampires during his pre-concert press conference. She later chides Lestat on this point with "You thought it was all you"? Yet Akasha still needed him call for her to fully resurrect herself. Once Lestat "belongs" to her, she falsely claims to love him. Yet Akasha is only using him to regain power, and exact vengeance her "children", the "ancient" vampires. Second theme: knowledge vs. ignorance. There is a disconnect between the "modern" and the "ancient" vampires. The former group believes that the latter sre all dead. The "modern" vampires are thereby ignorant of their past. The "ancients" have sought to prevent Akasha from being rediscovered by the world. Thus, vampiredom itself has to be kept secret. For Akasha had openly lived as a vampire queen during her first reign on Earth, killing millions of people. The "ancients" realize too late that their efforts have been in vain. Re most vampire lore, any vampire who kills and/or reveals his/her own kind faces death from other vampires. Lestat has openly claimed to be a vampire, and has told humanity that vampires exist. He doesn't care much for the vampire covens' threats on his life, either. Thanks to Akasha, Lestat is more powerful than his counterparts. The "modern" vampires also can't immediately detect an older vampire's presence, or sense his/her intentions. This proves deadly for them once Akasha physically comes on the scene. Third theme: loyalty vs. betrayal. Even with Aaliyah's short periods on screen as Akasha, she gives life to her personality. Akasha is an evil, vain and calculating entity whose only loyalty is to herself. She views humans as "brute creatures" and vampires as expendible. Yet she demands unquestioning loyalty from everyone else - or will exact death. She kills Enkil for his power, and later tries to kill Lestat. She even boldly threatens her "children" (e.g. "Join me or die"!) - most of whom she hasn't seen for thousands of years. Akasha particularly hates Maharet, who has chosen to aid the human race - and maternally loves Jesse. Akasha even cruelly forces Lestat to choose between Jesse and herself. Near the film's end, Lestat himself understands that humanity is to be protected (save one's meals), not destroyed. All this explains why he and the "ancients" fight Akasha. Re vampire lore, a vampire strengthens him/herself best by drinking the blood of his/her maker, thereby further sealing their bond. Vampires also don't drain their victims to death, or they will die themselves (thus Akasha's threat "You kill me, you kill yourselves"!). Maharet alone understands that Akasha can be killed only if she is nearly drained of her blood. In my opinion, all genres of film are on a spectrum between escapism and realism. As a movie, Queen of the Damned is a fairly good escapist ride into a world that presents some themes/issues that are real to all of us. The movie's themes are also the 'lessons learned' by Lestat and Jesse via the film's events. This is why they are retelling it to the audience via narration. Aside from any ties to the book's title, the film is truly about Akasha. Even though Lestat has the most 'face time' on screen, Akasha is the actual 'force' that underlies his behavior - and that of most of the other characters.
Rating:
Summary: God Save the Queen!
Review: I don't know how to explin my feelings about this movie. First of all, "Queen of the Damned" is not as good as "Interview with the Vampire". Now that we have that out of the way, it really isn't that bad. The plot is that the Vampire Lestat begins a new life as a goth rock star. But he is telling the world of the existence of vampires, and other vamps want him dead. But his music has risen the Queen Akasha, and she has fallen in love with Lestat. Other elder vampires band together to stop the Queen. Stuart Townsend dose a great job as Lestat, probably better than Tom Cruise. Alyshia's (RIP) Akasha was a bitter disappointment. Lena Olin's Makere was more or less adaquit. Vincent Perez was perfect as Marius. The other vampire's were pretty vauge. But the deleted scenes on the DVD gives them a lot more personality, I wish they had left those in, it would have been a little closer to the book. I also understand that the book is huge and cuts had to be made to bring it in under two hours. It is over all an ok movie, and not as bloody or gory as you'd think.
Rating:
Summary: Queen of the Damned
Review: This is a very good vampire movie despite the fact that it is not exactly, word for word, like the book. The book is better than the movie but if the movie was just like the book it would be about ten hours long. The book is too detailed to put
eveything in the movie. So, while watching the movie forget most of what you know about the book. If you don't you probably won't enjoy it as much.
Rating:
Summary: Queen of the Damned
Review: This movie was horrible, it was completely different than the book. Lestat is a rock star, you'd think they'd make soome original songs but instead he lip synches to Korn songs!
I think I just about lost it when Lestat walked out into the sun and didn't burn up. This movie is very, very loosely based on The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned book but it gets everything wrong. Horrible, horrible movie.
Rating: 
Summary: A guilty pleasure
Review: I shouldn't like this movie. But I do. In my teens I was a huge Anne Rice fan, and the script of this film totally butchers the stories Anne told so beautifully in her novels. But I can't help it. The actors in this movie are just so pretty, the costumes are just so cool and over-the-top, and it's just all so much ... fun. I also think Stuart Townsend makes a much better Lestat than Tom Cruise.
Rating:
Summary: -5000000000000000000000000 STARS
Review: A lot of reviewers have claimed that the people who have read the book are too critical about wether or not it had anything to do with the book. they are friggin retarded. this was a terrible movie wether or not it had anything to do with the book. or how hot the cast was you shallow typical american movie viewers. whoever disregards this review and loves the movie should kill themselves alot. and it should be a very slow death with much pain. and when they get to hell which is where they belong, the shall be killed again. then being sent back to earth only to be hit by a bus and then return to hell to repeat this process over and over again until they realize the extreme stupidy of what they have claimed.....then be killed again.
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