Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / March 1, 2002, edition 1 / Page 13
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March 1, 2002 Damned if you d 0... so just don't Scott Smith WORLD & NATION EDITOR After seeing Queen of the Damned, I remembered a quote from Lamar - the movie reviewer for morning radio's Bob and Sheri (a nationally syndicated program) that went something like: if the film had lasted any longer, I'd have rubbed popcorn salt into my eyes rather than have to sit through the rest of it. Best-selling author Anne Rice should have initiated a press conference right after this film's release and apologized to her fans. This is by far the worst film I have seen this year. The movie begins with the return of the vampire Lestat, this time played by Stuart Townsend, usurping the role that was for merly played in the prequel Inter view with the Vampire by Tom Cruise. Awakened from his sleep by a heavy metal band, Lestat de cides to join the group as their lead singer. Here's the idea: Lestat basi cally wants the world to know that he is a real vampire and that there are others like him. This, of course, puts a price on his head, and many real vampires show up at Lestat's concert in Death Val ley to get rid of him. Only a few vampires want to see Lestat stay alive - enter Queen Akasha (Aaliyah) and Lestat's friend, Marius {Vincent Perez). I know, it sounds complicated, and r |P|: I I ■■■ ■ V-. ■l >,, * jfl ■fo :. Features it should be. When two of Rice's earth. If anything were to hap books, The Vampire Lestat and pen to them, all other vampires The Queen of the Damned, are would suffer the same fate, combined to make one film, For the sake of there's just not enough time to keeping plot delve into the story, synopsis much less com- short, prehend it. fIHL Lestat finds For \Bf*ll MM, Hie kill those of w mmm and queen you who QHHMk mmSi, while living haven't gigr-'i ' jfIMW with read Rice's Mariusand Vampire wakes the Chronicles, queen please do so \ is and save 1 violin J She, As we i f allows find out him to through \ | drink back- her blood, tory , m HHJft which is Marius I M § more pot en I (Lestat's V \ if m " iail an V friend) ? other that ex used to If ists. Marius house the U |PRI m g finds out, gets former Egyp- mad. and tian king and ± moves them queen vampires > to another in his base- hidden loca ment. They tion. were frozen And then, BAM - were posedly the Don't let them fool you. This movie is in the oldest living nothing to get excited about. present with vampires on Lestat talking The Guilfordian HB - HP - :; 1| On Saturday, February 23, the Derek Trucks Band performed in Dana Auditorium to an ex cited, costumed crowd. The Rude Mechanicals opened. Rumor has it that the event was scheduled as a birthday celebration for Union President Eric Leaf. Pun. HARALAM to the press about his upcoming show when we are introduced to Jesse Reeves (Marguerite Moreau) and David Talbot (Paul McGann). Let's just say these people have read Lestat's lost diary and are part of a secret occult investiga tive organization. Everything erupts when Lestat finally starts performing his show. All of the vampires in the audience begin attacking him on stage (please spare me the over-used reflex special effect) and soon they, with the newly ar rived Marius, find themselves en tangled in a huge on-stage melee. This is when Queen Akasha (Aaliyah) shows up again. She burns the attacking vampires to a crisp and whisks Lestat away to a secluded island in order to de clare herself his eternal mate. I really feel bad that Aaliyah, whose acting ability had already been proven in Romeo Must Die, had to leave us with this film as her last. It is a true shame to see such promising talent being wasted on this trite piece. Also, where are all the char acters that are supposed to be in these crucial scenes? Where is Louis? Where is Armand? They're in the novel - put them in the film! For this, we must blame the screen-writers: Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni. I give this film only one star out of five; it's not even rental worthy. GuifanTs ONLV iHKwps km dry mkt Then *st huk ind ki m tale it ta lnr& Fir a C'ktifi nit *i ii It feryiii!!! (Ml rsi. IMh fet wit toils!*! PHIL HARALAM Page 9
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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March 1, 2002, edition 1
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