Rating: 
Summary: Not quite the book, but still good...
Review: Yeah well, for those of you, like me, who read the book, there's not much to add. This is NOT as good, as epic, as mind-twisting as Anne Rice's novel.But still, past this obvious and expected dissappointment, I still believe it's quite entertaining, and better than Interview. On another note, the soundtrack really kicks ...and very much in line with the scenes I had pictured when reading the book. Nothing about the twins, nothing about Pandora and nothing about quite a few other characters. But again, take this movie for what it is: a fair adaptation of an incredible book. Oh, and even though I've never been a fan of Aaliyah's music, I must admit she could have been a promising young actress... a shame really...
Rating: 
Summary: Campire!
Review: "Queen of the Damned" (2002) Queen of the Damned could well start a new genre: campire. This is a mix between a camp movie and a vampire film. While this films predecessor Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles took more insight into what it is to be a vampire and made the story very believable, Queen of the Damned is vamp camp that serves no real purpose except to entertain. This isn't going to change your life or win any Oscars, but you'll probably find yourself thoroughly entertained when it's over. The movie had lots of thorough good points: sound and sound editing, acting, direction, pace, chilling effects and heaps of cool settings. However, it received bad word of mouth and I don't really understand why. The movie clearly wasn't made to be the next Citizen Kane, and that's what I thought when I went into this film. I was thinking to myself that for sure the movie isn't going to be perfect or a next Citizen Kane on those grounds and it isn't. But it exceeded my expectations and turned out to be a fun flick. Queen of the Damned will make a lot of money due to Aaliyah's death. Her character isn't in the movie as much because she died tragically before the end of the shooting, but I really don't understand what everyone is whining about. We get enough of her. She is in the movie for over 30 minutes. Okay, we don't get as much insight into Akasha and we don't get as much of Aaliyah as some may have liked, but we get her in the middle and end, and that's how the story goes in the book. So why the whinging? Speaking of Aaliyah, I would just like commend the now deceased actress-singer for her excellent performance. She pulled it off like I never could've imagined. It turns out Aaliyah really studied into her character; her screen presence is terrific. She also has a fabulous vampire-esque accent, she preys and pounces very well and, my favourite personally, the way she moves as Akasha is breathtaking. From dancing sensually, flying and just plain walking every way that Aaliyah moves is arousing, erotic, scary and very monster-like. It is a shame such an extraordinary talent died at such a young age. Hell, if Aaliyah hadn't died we could be hanging out for her on Oscar night in years to come! Halle Berry did it, why not Aaliyah? As for her supporting actors, Stuart Townsend was also very good. His accent was a little irksome at times but I very much enjoyed his monologues and expressions. Margeurite Moreau looks like a cross between Frances O'Connor and Mira Sorvino and I really liked the way she acted. She isn't as spectacular as the two actresses I just mentioned but just quietly she has talent. Vincent Perez gives my second favourite performance of the film (2nd only to Aaliyah). He is perfect for the role of Marius and I would love to see him take more monster-like characters. I am not really sure why the heck Lena Olin was in here in the first place, but this role is just far too easy for her. The direction and editing of the movie is similar to The One, except it fits the atmosphere better. There is a lot of usage of slow motion and zoom shots, but unlike in The One, they aren't overstylised so much. It actually looks really cool the way the vampires blur through the air as they fly. The interesting special effects don't bring anything new but I enjoyed seeing some cool techniques used in the film. This movie won't disappoint horror gurus either. It has a heart being ripped out, beheadings, truckloads of blood and guts, and plenty of other things to satisfy all teenage guys. Speaking of teenage guys or any guy out there for that matter, Aaliyah is a doll to look at in this film. She wears very short and sexy costumes (done very appropriately by Moulin Rouge designer Angus Strathie) and shows off her body a lot. She gets to wear a lot of makeup too. Stuart Townsend is shirtless for at least a quarter of the movie for the ladies. I have mentioned nothing bad about this film yet. It is not by far perfect. It has its flaws. The script doesn't have enough meat to it, and neither do the characters. I would've liked to learn more about Akasha and less about Lestat in this movie. In Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles Lestat was developed to 3-dimensional and I would've liked to learn more about the title role. The romance story is pretty much just chucked into the movie without chemistry or development either. Also, the humans in the film sometimes do stupid things. Margeurite Moreau's character at one point goes into a bar infested with vampires who can probably smell whether she is one of them or not. And at the rock concert wouldn't the audience be starting to get a little freaked out when audience members suddenly go flying out of the ground and start fighting with the man on stage? Even if it was a concert where anything can happen, even I could've noticed that there was something fishy going on and better get out of the place, fast. The mortals barely move when a vampire is on them, when they should be running like heck. Also one thing that is reasonably common in all thrillers lately, the ending [stinks]! The ending for this movie just didn't do it for me. It was repetitive and the scriptwriters could've come up with something far more charismatic and original. Or could they? This movie turns out to be an above-average movie with a few flaws (some intentional) and a couple of silly turns. For all its mistakes though, the entertainment value remains. I guess the best way to sum up Queen of the Damned is that it is like an extended rock music video: extremely loud, slick, cheesy, flashy and yet still so fun you can't help but sing along. MY GRADE: B-
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly pretty good.
Review: Being a Vampire Chronicles fan and after hearing the various rumours on the internet I didn't really expect much from this film, at best I thought it was going to be an OK Goth rock movie that looks like a MTV video. So what is it? It's a very good Goth rock movie that looks like a MTV video. So all good there. But what really surprised me was that it's actually a lot more similar to the book than I expected or than other people have been saying. Most of the events excluding flashbacks where included, sure there are a lot of minor changes but none that detract from the story, and the major changes: Lestat's relationship with Jesse, and the way Akasha was defeated actually improve the film and where done really well. The only problem I have is that without reading the books I wonder just how much of the story would make sense because I do believe it relies too heavily on the viewer to fill in the gaps based on what they've read in the books. BTW - Stuart Townsend is very good as Lestat although did he remind anyone else of Brandon Lee in the Crow?
Rating: 
Summary: Another Vampire movie?
Review: Many of us have read the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Many of us saw the film. Many Anne Rice fans who saw the film were disappointed. I have also read the book, and I must admitt, the movie was completely different. Over 7 characters were missed out. However, I did enjoy this film a lot. Aaliyah portrayed Akasha, the Queen of the Damned. Although only in a few scenes,she actually scared me with her evilness! I don't think anyone else could've done a better job. Stuart Townsend played Lestat, and captured his character perfectly... not forgetting the fact that he's extremely good looking! I loved this film, even if it was completely different to the book.
Rating: 
Summary: This is not QOTD
Review: I don't know what movie the other reviewers here saw, but it couldn't have been the same movie I saw. It doesn't even deserve the one star I had to give it. I was absolutely disgusted with this movie. I was skeptical about this movie from the moment I heard is was being made. How can you make QOTD into a 2 - 2 1/2 hr. movie without cutting more than half of it out? I knew that things would be omitted and changed somewhat like it was done with Interview... but this is ridiculous. First, Lestat was NOT made by Marius. Second, only one twin? Third, after drinking Akasha's blood Lestat is able to wake in the sunlight? WHAT?! Fourth, the ancients killing Akasha and some being destroyed in return? Fifth, romance between Lestat and Jessie? Sixth, Jessie made by Lestat at the end? And what was with Akasha and Enkil looking like white statues down to hair, jewelry and clothes? Anne Rice describes their skin looking like alabaster and the only thing that hinted to their being alive was their flowing garments and their black hair. I could just go on and on about the changes made to the original story but to any REAL Anne Rice fan out there, these changes will be all too painfully obvious. I could also mention the horrible portrayal of the characters but hey, not every actor is worthy of the name, right? If you haven't read the Vampire Chronicles and are under the age of 21, this is the film for you. If you are a VC fan, I would tell you "save yourself the pain and anger of seeing this film" but I know you'd want to see it for yourself anyway. But if you'll take one piece of advice from me, save your money and wait until is on cable then you'll be able to see for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Entertainment
Review: It might not go hand in hand with the books, and some fans of the books might be dissapointed in that but the movie in itself is a great experience. The music is just excellent and the casting was perfect. Stuart Townsend might not fit the description of Lestat from the books but he is Lestat in everything else. He is charismatic and sexy. I prefer him most certainly to Tom Cruise in the Interview with the Vampire. In general I have to say that the casting was done extremely well as well. I can only recommend this movie to ture horror and vampire fans as well as to Gothic lovers out there.
Rating:
Summary: I read the book after the movie and it was a bit better
Review: I really enjoyed the movie and feel head over feet for Lestat, at the time I loved the movie and I still do then I got the book the Vampire Lestat and was confused with the Magnus/Marius bit and I missed having Nikki and Gabrielle in the story as I thought they played a important bit in Lestat's character, I loved the way Anne rice writes, how she makes you feel for the character what Lestat feels, How I felt very compassionate when it came to Louie and Nikki but I never really loved Armand even though I grew to like him in the Queen of the damned book with his involvement in the night Island and the reporter off interview with a vampire. I really missed the back-story of Mekare and Maharet as it played an important piece of the puzzle concerning several characters. And it never tells you Akasha's plan, her ultimate plan for the world and portrays her not as a false deity who wants a world of her own utopian mind but a evil mother of vampire's intent on killing humans, which leaves her standing with the ever movie constant plan of taking over the world it never deepened her reasons. I was confused about the Marius looks bit, but wasn't bothered as I liked the Actor who portrays him, I liked the movie writers adding in his paternal instincts towards Lestat I thought the Idea of Incorporating that was very smart with the new idea that he made Lestat and him coming to the rescue at the concert. I agree that I think some background info on Armand, Mael or Khaman would have been nice and I miss Louie and Gabrielle's input in the end. I thought the love story between Jessie and Lestat was nice even though it was not in the book and I was sad when Lestat and Jesse never got together in the book, But I still love Anne Rice's style of writing and even though the English was complex you fast adapted to her way of writing and enjoyed it. I think they pretty much nailed the casting accept with some of the vampires like Mael and Marius, I love Stuart Townsend playing Lestat and thought Maharet, Pandora, Armand and Jesse were also really good to. In fact all the Characters are very good in the movie. I over all loved the movie and the books and I am sad to say I have yet to read the first book and have read 2 and 3, but I am trying to find it. I know my review is more book orientated, but honestly if you love the movie the book fulfils the lack of Information in the movie and makes you love the movie and the book with such strong emotion you will be dreaming of Lestat and the other characters for nights to come.
I strongly recommend seeing the movie and reading the books, screw the nasty movie critics, be the judge for yourself, my best friend despite my efforts won't see it cause his friends sais it [stinks] and I am still trying to get him to have an opinion of his own.
So stop reading this and go see the movie and read the book, in my opinion its worth it.
Rating:
Summary: the best vampire movie I've ever seen.
Review: When I saw Queen of the Damned, I was blown away at how well the book was portrayed. I've read the all of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, and The Vampire Lestat was my favorite. Stewart Townsend did an amazing Lesat. And Aaliyah was the best choice for Akasha. I can't think of anyone who could have done better. I was totally impressed by the entire movie: the cast, direction, plot, camera angle, wardrobe, everything. I would recomend seeing it at least twice and reading the chronicles.
Rating:
Summary: I loved it!!!
Review: Despite the fact that it bore very little resemblance to the books it was based on, this was a fabulous movie! Stuart Townsend was HOT!! He should have been Lestat all along, despite the hair color issue. Even if you've never read the Anne Rice books, this movie stands alone. It had been years since I'd read them and I had no trouble following it at all. It was dark and rich and occasionally humorous, and the Jonathon Davis soundtrack is amazing. I recommend it to all vampire lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Stop your complaining
Review: I keep reading all these [negative] reviews of what was a very good movie.
Of course it wasn't true to the book, what movie is?
And for the record, Stuart Townsend is Irish, not Russian.
Instead of complaining, maybe all these naysayers should try writing their own screenplays.
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