Rating: 
Summary: What a Beautiful Movie
Review: Anne Rice has had a troubled history with her books turning into films. Unrecognizable adaptations of EXIT TO EDEN and QUEEN OF THE DAMNED are more frequent than quality films such as INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. Here you have a half and half treatment of a novel that dealt with people who were half black and half white! Parts of it are true to the novel and its characters, and then parts will leave you scratching your head wondering where they got something. Anne Rice should step in more often and make sure these things are done right, but alas ... this one is close! Pretty pretty sets, costumes, and actors bring to life a story of racial identity crisis in the South of the 1800s. New Orleans before the slaves were free had a third race of people who were neither black and slaves nor white and truly free. They lived on a fringe of society, and had to arrange their lives carefully or pay for the consequences. Educated bohemians they became the basis for the creoles! It's an oft ignored subject of American history, and a beautiful story told in rich detail. The book has the luxury of its own pacing, and here the movie has to step quickly to keep up! So some of this feels rushed. But they got the right people! Famous black actors mix with unknowns, and they all come out fine and noble. Even if the dialogue or pacing does not always seem to be on their side. But worth a look! Then read the far superior novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Anne Rice - why do you let them adapt on their own?
Review: Anne Rice has had a troubled history with her books turning into films. Unrecognizable adaptations of EXIT TO EDEN and QUEEN OF THE DAMNED are more frequent than quality films such as INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. Here you have a half and half treatment of a novel that dealt with people who were half black and half white! Parts of it are true to the novel and its characters, and then parts will leave you scratching your head wondering where they got something. Anne Rice should step in more often and make sure these things are done right, but alas ... this one is close! Pretty pretty sets, costumes, and actors bring to life a story of racial identity crisis in the South of the 1800s. New Orleans before the slaves were free had a third race of people who were neither black and slaves nor white and truly free. They lived on a fringe of society, and had to arrange their lives carefully or pay for the consequences. Educated bohemians they became the basis for the creoles! It's an oft ignored subject of American history, and a beautiful story told in rich detail. The book has the luxury of its own pacing, and here the movie has to step quickly to keep up! So some of this feels rushed. But they got the right people! Famous black actors mix with unknowns, and they all come out fine and noble. Even if the dialogue or pacing does not always seem to be on their side. But worth a look! Then read the far superior novel.
Rating:
Summary: The Feast of All Saints
Review: I am a man of African, Native American and White descent. My father and mother both from (previous) Slaves states (mother from Virginia and father from Texas) never discussed what they knew about my family history regarding slavery and the only history I learned up until high school was about White American history, so when I became an adult I had a desire to find out about American history which included slavery, because that is a part of America history. I've read several books about the subject and seen (I thought) all the movies about slavery in America. I'm glad that Anne Rice wrote the novel and allowed the movie to be made from her book, otherwise, I wouldn't have known about this part of American history. This movie moved me so much because I could identify with the characters of mixed heritage and I think every American of all races should see this movie. Just one more true story that all American's should know about so we can understand how blessed we are to have moved from that very terrible time to now. In America we still have problems, but not like the ones that existed during Slave time. I've seen this movie 6 times during 2003. It's one that I know I will be watching again and again. I've also purchased the book based on the ratings I saw at Amazon.com so I could compare it to the movie. I'd highly recommend this movie to everyone, but parents should be cautioned about showing it to young children because some of the scenes are very difficult to watch.
Rating:
Summary: The Feast of All Saints
Review: I am a man of African, Native American and White descent. My father and mother both from (previous) Slaves states (mother from Virginia and father from Texas) never discussed what they knew about my family history regarding slavery and the only history I learned up until high school was about White American history, so when I became an adult I had a desire to find out about American history which included slavery, because that is a part of America history. I've read several books about the subject and seen (I thought) all the movies about slavery in America. I'm glad that Anne Rice wrote the novel and allowed the movie to be made from her book, otherwise, I wouldn't have known about this part of American history. This movie moved me so much because I could identify with the characters of mixed heritage and I think every American of all races should see this movie. Just one more true story that all American's should know about so we can understand how blessed we are to have moved from that very terrible time to now. In America we still have problems, but not like the ones that existed during Slave time. I've seen this movie 6 times during 2003. It's one that I know I will be watching again and again. I've also purchased the book based on the ratings I saw at Amazon.com so I could compare it to the movie. I'd highly recommend this movie to everyone, but parents should be cautioned about showing it to young children because some of the scenes are very difficult to watch.
Rating:
Summary: So pleased to finally see a quality production of Creoles
Review: I am not quite Creole.... I am Cuban, Black, and Native American (Goshute of the Shoshone), with some French blood from my maternal half. I was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah (my mother's birthplace and hometown) as a child, and then moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (my father being from Tulsa, OK), and have not always been acquainted with "my own" heritage of being a mixed race "black" person. I am sometimes confused on how our country defines a person as black even if there complexion is the color of a brown paper bag (and lighter still). However, Anne Rice was brilliant to have written such an exceptional book, and sanctioning it as a film. This film should be viewed by all white people, especially white Americans, and white South Africans. So, also the book should be reqired reading for American Literature courses... and not only in the state of Louisiana.... I wanted to attend Dillard University or Xavier University so much, however, I will continue praying for our generations as I attend Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bravo, ma cher Anne Rice!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I first saw this movie on Showtime and had been checking to see when it would come out on DVD or VHS. When it came out, I immediately purchsed it. This is an outstanding movie. I have asked all my friends and relatives if they saw the movie. I also carry it with me in my suitcase when I go to Louisiana and Texas to make sure my relatives see the movie. The ones that have, also concur that the movie is outstanding. I try to see all movies regarding slavery to understand what my ancestors went through during slavery time.
Rating: 
Summary: Anne, they still butcher your books!
Review: I had an interest in this story both as a woman of color and as an Anne Rice fan. After reading this book about 6 years ago, I became very passionate about it being made into a film. When I heard finally that they were going make the film and how perfectly they cast the roles I became obsessed with seeing it. Yesterday when I finally saw it (I did not have Showtime when it came out), I felt they rushed it like a bad pornography. We learned too early in the film what Lisette's relationship to Marcel was or why Richard needed Marcel to "be a brother" to Anna Bella. They definitely did not capture the importance of Christophe to the entire society .I personally felt that they only needed the talented James Earl Jones at the very end and perhaps in the beginning.
EVERY actor in this film has proven thier talent over and over again in other films yet I think with the rushed dialouge they were not given the opportunity to show the talent they usually have. Each actor , later in the movie, had moments where they shone, but only Eartha Kitt , as usual, stood out from the moment that you saw her.
It amazes me to this day that Americans of all backgrounds still pretend that people of color, no matter how light they are, have no connection with the "white" people of this country. I had hoped that this movie would be so powerful that it would make all of us think. I think this was a good movie, but not as great as it could be.
To Anne Rice fans who read Queen of the Damned first and THEN saw the movie you will feel the same way about this movie.
...Why did they bother making this a two part series if they were going to gloss over important points?
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this one
Review: I read some of the other reviews and lucky for me, I've never read any of Ms. Rice's novels; otherwise, I guess I'd be disappointed to.
However, I have read Joel A. Rogers' work: Sex and Race, which deals with the Balls depicted in this stiring film.
When I heard about this film on Showtime and saw the previews, I couldn't wait to see it and I wasn't disappointed.
At some point, I'll read the book and get more into the characters, but I have no idea when.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!!
Review: I stumbled across this movie late one night on Showtime. It was superb! What a history piece for all Americans of color, most of whom have not a clue of this segment of their heritage. Just another saga of how and why we arrived on this "GREAT AMERICAN CONTINENT," how and why we were treated, and how and why we TREATED EACH OTHER! What another sad story of this "FREE COUNTRY." What another sad story of how Americans of color related AND STILL relate to one another!!!! Showtime, "put it on in primetime!"
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!!
Review: I stumbled across this movie late one night on Showtime. It was superb! What a history piece for all Americans of color, most of whom have not a clue of this segment of their heritage. Just another saga of how and why we arrived on this "GREAT AMERICAN CONTINENT," how and why we were treated, and how and why we TREATED EACH OTHER! What another sad story of this "FREE COUNTRY." What another sad story of how Americans of color related AND STILL relate to one another!!!! Showtime, "put it on in primetime!"
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