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John Carpenter's Vampires

post #1 of 41
1/1/09 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
In my opinion, the last fun Carpenter flick before he began his decline with Ghosts of Mars. I enjoyed the hell out of this one. James Woods as a badass Vampire Hunter beating the shit of Thomas Ian Griffith with a Two by Four.

Another scene that still sticks in my mind. Woods and the fat Baldwin brother contempously pushing along that hooker (Sheryl Lee) as they walk through the desert.

Need to catch this again soon.
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post #2 of 41
1/1/09 at 8:56pm
This movie would be better if Daniel Baldwin was not in it.
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post #3 of 41
1/1/09 at 9:05pm
This movie is a trip for me, as chunks of it were shot at my school and the surrounding areas of Santa Fe. While I like James Woods as One Tough Bastard, I gotta say that most of my love for this film is the crunchy guitar-based theme.
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post #4 of 41
1/1/09 at 9:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron Maiden View Post
This movie would be better if Daniel Baldwin was not in it.
Gotta disagree with you there, man. I don't normally care about Daniel Baldwin one way or the other, but I think that in this case he actually adds something to the film.

He's pretty good in it and I love that scene where he tries to cauterize the wound on his arm.

Ah...

Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!

Gives me a good chuckle.

I agree that this was John Carpenter's last good movie. But he only made Ghosts of Mars after this. I'm still waiting for his "comeback."
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post #5 of 41
1/1/09 at 9:17pm
Isn't he too busy smoking j's, gaming and watching basketball for a comeback?

...and this is a fantastically fun film for no other reason than James fuckin' Woods chewing on the scenery like a beaver.
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post #6 of 41
1/1/09 at 9:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erix View Post
I agree that this was John Carpenter's last good movie. But he only made Ghosts of Mars after this. I'm still waiting for his "comeback."
What about Cigarette Burns? I've heard some good things about that one.

I know Carpenter has a new film with Nicholas Cage coming up. Set in a prison I think.
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post #7 of 41
1/1/09 at 9:26pm
Carpenter had been declining for many years before Vampires.

I haven't seen this since it came out on video, but all I remember liking about it was Woods, but then again he's awesome in everything. Might have to give it another shot.
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post #8 of 41
1/1/09 at 9:33pm
Ghosts of Mars was the perfect movie to watch five minutes of daily while walking past it when working in a theatre. I'd stick my head in, and Pam Grier's head would be on a pole, the next day, she was arguing in a room wearing a space visor. KISS zombies, repetitive music, hallways, crossfades. It never seemed to connect to the previous viewing. It was like a comic strip, like Hagar the Horrible. It was consistent in its parts.

If I remember Vampires had a strong beginning but I don't think it went anywhere. I remember Woods had an actual character, and maybe Baldwin when he started lying. The only image I can remember Lee is tied to a bed.
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post #9 of 41
1/2/09 at 12:42am
I think this was actually the first movie I ever saw James Woods in. How weird an introduction to the actor was that?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Felt Pelt View Post
The only image I can remember Lee is tied to a bed.
That was actually when I started to grok that the movie had to be intentional trash (the fact that there isn't the slightest attempt at explaining why they stripped her naked first), the first time I watched it. Until then I just thought it was incredibly bad and disappointing (I hadn't watched any Carpenter film made since his glory days until then), but after that I was able to go along for the ride and enjoy a movie in which vampires are apparently full of propane gas. It'll never be a classic but it has its charms. I did decide it was my cut-off for Carpenter, though, so I never saw Ghosts of Mars or Cigarette Burns.

Of course I may appreciate it even more in hindsight having made the mistake of watching the sequel (someone else's rental) - that movie is everything I thought this was at first, and worse. The director's commentary is pretty hilariously creepy and un-self-aware, though, if you can get past how boring it is.
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post #10 of 41
1/2/09 at 1:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-7 View Post
Carpenter had been declining for many years before Vampires.
True. Village of the Damned, which came out before Vampires, is far and away the worst thing Carpenter has done.
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post #11 of 41
1/2/09 at 1:11am
Vampires is a fun flick. I love how Thomas Ian Griffith says "Jack Crow" when he confronts him the first time.

Also the already mentioned "AAAAAAAA." "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Far and away the best thing that Daniel Baldwin does in the movie.

Cigarette Burns is the last great thing that Carpenter has done. That short film should definitely be viewed by more people It's got some great legitimate scares and surprising gore.
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post #12 of 41
1/2/09 at 2:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by felix natalya View Post
What about Cigarette Burns? I've heard some good things about that one.
So have I. I haven't seen it, though.

I was referring to features. By the way, I didn't think Village of the Damned was that bad. Kirstie Alley was stiff, but Christopher Reeve gave it his all and there were some interesting kills and eerie moments.

It's not one of his best, but it's better than Ghosts of Mars.

Carpenter's career is perceived as being on the decline because of the fact that he stumbled in the 90's after a tremendous run from 74 to 88 that produced nothing but quality work. But I really think most of his films are still worthwhile even then. Ghosts of Mars is the only Carpenter film I truly dislike.

Vampires is trashy but extremely entertaining. I do admit, however, that James Woods deserves most of the credit.
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post #13 of 41
1/2/09 at 2:29am
Havn't seen this one since it first came out on video.

James Woods makes this film. Carpenter let him roll on takes, telling him they would not be used. Then he included them in the final cut! After the film came out Woods was surprised to see takes that he thought were just him and the crew bullshitting were in the movie.

Cigarette Burns was OK. If I didn't know it was Carpenter directing I'd have said "eh, it's not too bad". Since I did know it was him, it seems a bit empty.

FYI you can see most if not all the Masters of Horror including Carpenter's entry on Netflix Instant View.
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post #14 of 41
1/2/09 at 2:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushipunk View Post
That was actually when I started to grok that the movie had to be intentional trash (the fact that there isn't the slightest attempt at explaining why they stripped her naked first), the first time I watched it.
They had to examine her for vampire bites. All over. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Unfortunately, the judge didn't buy it.
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post #15 of 41
3/26/09 at 10:43am
Thread Starter 
Anybody ever read the John Steakley novel this was based on?

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post #16 of 41
3/26/09 at 11:17am
Yeah. It's structured vastly different.

And a number of the characters in the novel aren't in the movie, mainly Felix. They tended to take just the dynamics of the hunting and a couple of names as opposed to the plot.
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post #17 of 41
3/26/09 at 11:18am
The book is also about a million times better than the movie.
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post #18 of 41
3/26/09 at 11:30am
James Woods is really the ONLY reason to watch this movie. The movie that surrounds him is OK at best.
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post #19 of 41
3/26/09 at 12:28pm
One of my favorite pieces of trash.
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post #20 of 41
3/26/09 at 1:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
The book is also about a million times better than the movie.
Which isn't saying a whole lot. It's a great idea, but poorly executed.
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post #21 of 41
3/26/09 at 7:54pm
"Let me ask you a question. When you were stabbing that vampire in there? Did you get a little wood?"

Definitely a guilty pleasure for me. I proudly own it, but have never stooped so low as to watch any of the DTV sequels.

Two things that have always bothered me: they kill off the team way too early and the final scuffle between Crow and Valek isn't that long.
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post #22 of 41
3/26/09 at 8:02pm
I blame it on budget. Mark Boone Jr. and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa run up the budget worse than John Travolta I bet.
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post #23 of 41
3/26/09 at 8:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattimus View Post
Two things that have always bothered me: they kill off the team way too early and the final scuffle between Crow and Valek isn't that long.
Yup.

And the sequel blows. Could have been an entertaining franchise. As it stands now, it's subFDTD. Guilty pleasure for me all the way though. And even at his worst, Carpenter kicks most of the current crop of low-budget horror "directors" in the ass (especially the glut of DTV shit).
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post #24 of 41
3/26/09 at 8:07pm
I love the theme though.
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post #25 of 41
3/29/09 at 12:09am
I kinda love this movie. As crazy as it sounds, this is probably my favorite Woods performance. And why doesn't Thomas Ian Griffith get more work? Anybody who has seen XXX can plainly see that he has the chops.
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post #26 of 41
3/29/09 at 1:04am
Griffith is old ands pudgy now. I caught him on Judging Amy or some such drivel and he can actually...act.
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post #27 of 41
3/29/09 at 10:18am
From Crackerjack to Judging Amy? How far our heroes fall...
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post #28 of 41
3/29/09 at 10:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by James Woods' Career View Post
I caught him on Judging Amy or some such drivel and he can actually...act.
This is what always separated him in my view from the other similar action stars like Seagal and Van Damme... I always saw him as a good actor with martial arts skills. So it was surprising to me that his movies weren't better and he wasn't a bigger star. He had looks, charisma and action credibility. What happened?
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post #29 of 41
3/30/09 at 2:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erix View Post
This is what always separated him in my view from the other similar action stars like Seagal and Van Damme... I always saw him as a good actor with martial arts skills. So it was surprising to me that his movies weren't better and he wasn't a bigger star. He had looks, charisma and action credibility. What happened?
He decided to call Mr. Miyagi a racial slur.
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post #30 of 41
3/30/09 at 2:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 View Post
He's real lucky that Mr. Miyagi did not hear that or else this would have occurred.

Also, that's for messing with the brothers Martin Kove.

Racist Cobra Kai.
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post #31 of 41
3/30/09 at 3:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
The book is also about a million times better than the movie.
that is also me problem with the movie I read the book before the movie came out.
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post #32 of 41
3/30/09 at 3:24pm
Let's call a spade a spade: the book was utter garbage with a fun premise. I know this because I did a masterful book report on it for AP English in 11th grade (*sigh*). Doesn't a plot point revolve around the fact that vampires cannot listen to any music other than opera? What was that all about?
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post #33 of 41
3/30/09 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli View Post
Let's call a spade a spade: the book was utter garbage with a fun premise. I know this because I did a masterful book report on it for AP English in 11th grade (*sigh*). Doesn't a plot point revolve around the fact that vampires cannot listen to any music other than opera? What was that all about?
I don't remember that, but been it been 20+ years since I read the book. they kill the master vamp coming out of the opera house. The plot of the book if anything was that vampire hunters become vampires. Also the ghoul story line is gone from the movie. and the goth kiddy becomes the master vampire in the movie.
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post #34 of 41
3/30/09 at 3:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eenin View Post
they kill the master vamp coming out of the opera house.
I would swear they either are able to track the vampire because of some vampiric obsession with opera music or they are able to ward it off by playing rock music.

... Dear God, please don't let me be making this up.
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post #35 of 41
3/30/09 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli View Post
I would swear they either are able to track the vampire because of some vampiric obsession with opera music or they are able to ward it off by playing rock music.

... Dear God, please don't let me be making this up.
Are you sure you have the right book?

Vampire$ by John Steakley. The book is nothing like the movie. in the book Jack Crow become a vampire, and Felix is left to carry on. There is no Felix in the movie even.
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post #36 of 41
3/30/09 at 4:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eenin View Post
Are you sure you have the right book?

Vampire$ by John Steakley. The book is nothing like the movie. in the book Jack Crow become a vampire, and Felix is left to carry on. There is no Felix in the movie even.
Dude, what are you on about? I didn't even mention either of those characters. I'm telling you that the novel has some twist on vampire lore that has something to do with opera music. I'd give you more detail, but I can't remember.

Of course, the only support I can find through a brief 'net search is the following blogger comment: "We even learn that vamps love opera and hate rock-n-roll."
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post #37 of 41
3/30/09 at 6:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli View Post
Let's call a spade a spade: the book was utter garbage with a fun premise. I know this because I did a masterful book report on it for AP English in 11th grade (*sigh*). Doesn't a plot point revolve around the fact that vampires cannot listen to any music other than opera? What was that all about?
It's not a canon thing. They just say that Opera is the music of preference for Vampires. It's not a must thing.

The book was a fun read actually. There was also a scene of Crow drunk and spilling booze all over the Pope.
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post #38 of 41
3/30/09 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by felix natalya View Post
It's not a canon thing. They just say that Opera is the music of preference for Vampires. It's not a must thing.

The book was a fun read actually. There was also a scene of Crow drunk and spilling booze all over the Pope.
Thanks, man. Apparently, my brain added a scene where the hunters smoked a vampire out using the power of rock'n'roll or something.
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post #39 of 41
3/30/09 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattioli View Post
I would swear they either are able to track the vampire because of some vampiric obsession with opera music or they are able to ward it off by playing rock music.

... Dear God, please don't let me be making this up.
That would be seriously hilarious.

The movie may not have been ground breaking, but god help me I love it, Its easily my most watched Carpenter film.
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post #40 of 41
10/11/09 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 
Found the entire movie online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKd_N...eature=related
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post #41 of 41
10/11/09 at 2:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by felix View Post
Yeah, I doubt that ChrisRoberts39 has any studio/John Carpenter ties. This probably won't be up for long.
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