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Vampires

Vampires

List Price: $14.94
Your Price: $13.45
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: GOOD VAMPIRE MOVIE
Review: THIS MOVIE IS ABOUT A VAMPIRE HUNTER (JAMES WOODS) WHO PARENTS WERE KILLED BY THE MASTER VAMPIRE VALEK (THOMAS IAN GRIFFITH). HE DOES A GOOD ROLE AS THEY MASTER VAMPIRE. SO JACK CROW (WOODS) IS OUT TO CATCH HIM AND GETS THE HELP OF A BITTEN HOOKER THAT IS CONNECTED TO HIM AND CAN SEE WHAT HE SEES. SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS HORROR FLICK.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Fun beginning and end, but everything else drags.
Review: The title says it all: James Woods is a vampire slayer out to get the bloodsuckers that killed his teammates. John Carpenter's attempt at the vampire subgenre is mostly middling, with a great beginning (we get not one, but TWO gory massacres!) and an almost-as-energetic finale (which is marred a bit by a final showdown that's waaayyy too short). Unfortunately, the material in-between is horrendously paced and very dull, most of the characters are blase and unsympathetic, and there's a psychic link subplot thrown in the mix. Carpenter displays a solid hand at action and James Woods and Tim Guinee deliver memorable performances, but it never goes the extra step the set-up seemed to promise...
** 1/2 out of *****

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not your traditional vampire movie
Review: John Carpenter has always been a hell of a director, and though a lot of his recent films have not been what many of his fans had hoped they'd be, Vampires will quench the fans thirst of a first rate Carpenter thrill ride. James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, and they're vampire hunting crew are employed by the Catholic church to kill the vampires plaguing western America, but when they discover an all powerful vampire named Valek, thats when the fun begins. It wouldn't be a John Carpenter movie without blood, gore, and body parts flying, and we get plenty of that here. Besides that if you think this is a traditional vampire film, your dead wrong. Every other vampire movie has a gothic, sensual feel, and this sure as hell don't. Its a straight forward action flick with vampires thrown into it, and although it wears thin towards the end, Vampires remains a hell of a movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: LAST GOOD CARPENTER MOVIE?
Review: PICTURE QUALITY (4/5 STARS)
Sometimes the image lacks of sharpness. They could have done it better I believe. Full- and Widescreen anamorphic formats (double sided disc).

SOUND QUALITY (5/5 STARS)
The sound flawless. Great Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and an alternative Dolby Stereo mix.

EXTRAS (2/5 STARS)
If you count the (very good) commentary track with John Carpenter as an extra, there are two along with the trailer. This hurts!

SPECIAL/UNIQUE ON THIS DVD RELEASE:
- anamorphic Widescreen & Fullscreen version on a 2-sided disc
- Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Stereo

COMMENT:
The movie is kinda western-like and Carpenter always wanted to make a western. Vampires is an example of Carpenter's better movies - a good mix of horror and good acting.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cool
Review: If you're a guy you'll love it! Lots of violence!
If you're a chick you'll hate it!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: James Woods in Scooby Doo adventure
Review: For an actor who has appeared in quality productions such as Salvador, The Onion Field, Once Upon A Time In America and Casino, James Woods seems less than choosy with some of his other roles. John Carpenter's Vampires is a prime example of this. The film cannot be taken seriously on any level - it makes that clear from the outset, so at least avoids cheating the viewer. Woods copes well with the physically-demanding role but it's difficult to figure out exactly what is supposed to sell this movie. Humour is evident throughout, mainly featuring one-liners from Woods. The supporting cast are adequate but most of the viewer's time may well be spent wondering how many of the vampires got their start in the infinitely better produced Michael Jackson's Thriller music video. I'm sure the plot has also featured in at least one Scooby Doo cartoon, possibly to greater effect.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Serious Blood Sport
Review: This movie is so cooooool....lots of blood lots of violence lots of sharp teeth and lots of nice women.The story revolves around two Vampire Hunters and their quest to destroy the ultimate vampire the action scenes are incredible and who doesen't like to see a vampire burn.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Think of this one as the Wild Bunch going after Dracula
Review: "John Carpenter's Vampires" is something of a misnomer because most of the twists in this action charged tale of the bloodsucking undead have to do with the novel by John Steakley and the script by Don Jakoby. In the world of Carpenter's film there are teams of mercenary vampire hunters, sanctioned by the Vatican, searching the earth for nests of vamps and using their vast array of weapons and equipment to drag their prey out into the sun where the explode into flames. There are also Master Vampires who travel around with their packs. Leading the stalwart Vampire Hunters is James Woods as Jack Crow, in one of the most delicious over-the-top performances in Woods' celebrated career. Carpenter's commentary tells time and time again of how Woods adlibbed lines throughout the film.

The basic story is that after disposing of a nest they find in New Mexico, Crow's team is wiped out by Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith), a master vampire. But this time is more than personal, because Valek is after a sacred black cross that will allow vampires to walk in the sunlight. This would not be a good thing. So Jack is hot on the trail aided and abetted by Tony Montoya (Daniel Baldwin), the only other surviving member of his team, Katrina (Sheryl Lee), a hooker who is about to turn into a vampire, and Father Adam Guiteau (Tim Guinee), the rookie priest assigned to provide support. Be forewarned: Jack Crow spouts more profanity (in both the conventional and literal meaning) than have been heard in every other vampire movie filmed in the entire history of the world. "Vampires" is indeed a different kind of vampire movie, made with Carpenter's stylistic flair and more than a bit of Sam Peckinpah-type violence. A worthy addition to the video library of late night vamp-fests.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good movie... except for the ending.
Review: John Carpenter delivers a good action/horror film that, while not scary, is intense and exciting. It is not as dark as some of his other works and as such may appeal to a much broader audience. Carpenter fans raised on the pessimistic tone of such works as THE THING, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, and PRINCE OF DARKNESS may come away disappointed. Don't let that deter you. There is much to like in this film. The performances, particularly James Woods and Thomas Ian Griffith, are good. The score, as usual, is excellent. The film looks good and is very stylish, helping move the story along briskly. The only complaint that I have is the cop-out happy ending. It just doesn't feel right, perhaps owing more to audience expectations than to the dictates of the story. It seriously hampers the film, causing it to slip a notch or two. That said, see this film. It is good, if not great, Carpenter.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another Great Movie by John Carpenter
Review: I am a big fan of John Carpenter's directing skills, and I collect vampire movies too. This one is among my top five. I really like the plot and the action. I hadn't thought that I liked James Wood, but he did an excellent job. If you want something other than the Hammer series - not that they are too bad - try Blade, Vampire 2000, Dusk til Dawn.


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