How many vampire books, movies and television shows will the masses need until there are enough? Apparently, there can’t be too many, and we can blame it all on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” especially the 1992 adaptation of the book that brought on a whole new romanticism toward the creatures. From the earlier theatrical versions of “Dracula,” to the new age movies and shows like “Twilight” and “The Vampire Diaries,” the romantic ideas keep growing.
Pretty much everyone knows at least some miniscule detail about the infamous Count Dracula, but if not, I’ll give you a few. The book is written in the form of journal entries, letters, etc. I’m not a big fan of this style because I find the biased view of one of the characters not a good way to tell the story. “Dracula” starts out with English solicitor Jonathan Harker, who is traveling to the castle of Count Dracula in Transylvania to give legal advice. He is soon joined by more characters, including his finance Mina. Dracula takes a fancy toward her, and eventually feeds from her and gives his blood to her as well, which creates a spiritual bond. There are other characters in the book, which are familiar in pop culture. Van Helsing is present and accounted for, and he kills the three brides of Dracula. However, it is not him that kills Dracula, but Harker.
The movie puts much more emphasis on sexuality than the book does. Of course there is an undercurrent of sexual activity as well as homosexuality, but that’s up to how deep the reader reads into the book, but it’s all laid out in the movie. It’s all laid out there in the movies “An Interview With a Vampire,” “Van Helsing,” “Twilight” and “The Vampire Diaries” as well. The theatrical version of the book, released in 1992, is also very dramatic, especially compared to the 1930’s version. Obviously there are slight differences in the movie and the book, but I prefer the 1992 version.
The movie includes Gary Oldman (Dracula), Winona Ryder (Mina Murray), Anthony Hopkins (Professor Abraham Van Helsing) and Keanu Reeves (Jonathan Harker). Check out the trailer here. Interested in Van Helsing? Check out the movie trailer, which stars Hugh Jackman, here.
I’d like to see a good vampire movie where the vampire actually kills and bloody people up. I’m sick of the whole vampires have feelings stuff that authors and Hollywood is dishing out. Maybe I’ll get my wish one day.
