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Interview with the vampire is the quite literal interpretation of the title. Based on the biopic tale of Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt), Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater)is an opportunist writer listening to the seemingly mad ramblings of a deranged man. Initially with his back to an ... Read review
When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of ... more
Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicised objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she sa...
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When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of ... more
Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicised objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she sa...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The undead are among us and livelier than ever when Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and a talented ... more
group of young-bloods star in 'Interview With The Vampire', the spellbinding screen adaptation of Anne Rice's best seller that's 'one of the best films of the year...
In a darkened room a young man sits telling the macabre and eerie story of his life - the ... more
story of a vampire gifted with eternal life cursed with an exquisite craving for human blood. Anne Rice's compulsively readable novel is arguably the most celebrated work of vampire fiction since Bram Stoker's Dracula was published in 1897. As the Washington Post said on its first publication it is a 'thrilling strikingly original work of the imagination ...sometimes horrible sometimes beautiful always unforgettable'.
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The undead are among us and livelier than ever when Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and a talented ... more
group of young bloods star in Interview With The Vampire, the spellbinding screen adaptation of Anne Rice's best seller. Award-winning box-office favourite Cruise stylishly plays the supremely evil and charismatic vampire Lestat. Pitt is Louis, lured by Lestat into the immortality of the damned, then tormented by an unalterable fact of vampire life; to survive, he must kill. Stephen Rea, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater and newcomer Kirsten Dunst also star. One lifetime alone offers plenty of opportunities for the savage revelries of the night. Imagine what an eternity can bring. Hypnotically directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), Interview With The Vampire offers enough thrills, shocks and fiendish fun to last a lifetime....and beyond.
The undead are among us and livelier than ever when Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and a talented ... more
group of young-bloods star in 'Interview With The Vampire', the spellbinding screen adaptation of Anne Rice's best seller.Cruise stylishly plays the supremely evil and charismatic vampire Lestat. Pitt is Louis, lured by Lestat into the immortality of the damned. Stephen Rea, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater and Kirsten Dunst co-star. Hypnotically directed by Neil Jordan from a screenplay by Rice, Interview with the Vampire offers enough thrills, shocks and fiendish fun to last a lifetime - and beyond.
In a darkened room a young man sits telling the macabre and eerie story of his life - the ... more
story of a vampire gifted with eternal life cursed with an exquisite craving for human blood. Anne Rice's compulsively readable novel is arguably the most celebrated work of vampire fiction since Bram Stoker's Dracula was published in 1897. As the Washington Post said on its first publication it is a 'thrilling strikingly original work of the imagination ...sometimes horrible sometimes beautiful always unforgettable'.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Production Year: 2005 - Horror - Director: Eli Roth - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Shane Daly, Lenka Vlasakova, Eythor Gudjonsson, Jan Vlasak
Advantages: Great story, wonderful sets Disadvantages: Possibly mis-casting, a little slow at times
...missed opportunity.
Interview with the vampire is the quite literal interpretation of the title. Based on the biopic tale of Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt), Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater)is an opportunist writer listening to the seemingly mad ramblings of a deranged man. Initially with his back to an attic window, Louis recounts a tale of death and destruction spanning four centuries and traversing several continents to the tape ... ...big finish.
Interview with the vampire is an admirable attempt to re-create a wonderful book but maybe the high standard demanded of it's re-telling was simply beyond the movie's creators. In this, it is an opportunity spurned but as a standalone experience the movie is well worth watching. This is a graphic movie made in the spirit of its author and so only suitable for those happy to take on the most base of depiction's of eternally ... more
It's always difficult translating the best selling contents of a book into the moving pictures of cinema. Even with a glossy exterior and superstar presence, that osmosis from printed word to reels of film can vex even the most talented of directors. So when an Anne Rice screenplay of an Anne Rice blockbuster fuse with the direction of Neil Jordan, the result is an potentially explosive combination of sprawling epic and missed opportunity.
Interview with the vampire is the quite literal interpretation of the title. Based on the biopic tale of Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt), Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater)is an opportunist writer listening to the seemingly mad ramblings of a deranged man. Initially with his back to an attic window, Louis recounts a tale of death and destruction spanning four centuries and traversing several continents to the tape recordings of the fortunate hack.
Louis' tale begins in the early 1700's. Still adjusting to the death of his wife and child, Louis is a plantation owner in New Orleans. He embarks on a journey of self-destruction borne of despair until, one night, he encounters the vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise). Searching for a suitable companion, Lestat attacks Louis leaving him on the brink of death. Lestat offers his victim the choice of either dying or eternal life in the twilight world of the vampire. "Don't be afraid. I'm going to give you the choice I never had." espouses Lestat to the beguiled and terrified Louis.
Having chosen to live, Louis soon realises that he cannot bring himself to take human life as required by his new situation so instead chooses a subsistence based on killing rodents and dining on their blood. However, in a moment of weakness, he eventually succumbs and unconsciously sinks his teeth into a young girl's (Claudia) neck whilst comforting her following the plague-ridden death of her mother. Taunted by Lestat, Louis cannot kill her thus condemning the girl to a life amongst the undead.
Claudia (a young Kirsten Dunst) soon becomes the vampires' adopted daughter showing a savagery for murder matched only by Lestat himself. However, on realising that she can never grow older, Claudia turns on Lestat seemingly killing him by duping the vampire into dining on the blood of already deceased twins (vampires can only live off the blood of the living). Inadvertently aiding and abetting the femme fatale, Louis sets light to the unfortunate Lestat who ultimately finds himself dumped in a swamp to rot by the two antagonists. Possibly realising the gravity of their crime, Louis and Claudia flee to Europe with the added aim of trying to find others of their kind.
In terms of making the transition from book to film, the movie benefits from the screenplay closely following the style and panache of the novel. Hardly a surprise seeing as the author penned it, the same elegant exchanges litter the dialogue in a script loaded with that familiar theological meandering that pepper Rice's books. Anybody that's read any of Rice's offerings will soon recognise her challenging the existence of God whilst ultimately pondering the meaning of life set against the gloomy backdrop of death and decay. This is glaringly illustrated at one stage by Lestat's comparison of God's cruelty being proof that God and vampires have a good deal in common. What seems a preposterous notion is made distinctly possible, such is the power of Rice's articulation.
As for the performances well I can't help thinking that both Cruise and Pitt look ill at ease in the lead roles. The perception of age old vampires is somewhat at odds with Hollywood's glamour boys and despite their best intentions, the lead roles look hopelessly miscast. Unusually for a horror film, a big budget was available, hence the presence of the established heart throbs mentioned above along with an appearance later in the film by Antonio Banderas as Armand. Despite that, there are times when the males impresarios excel not least in portraying both the frequent ruthlessness of the vampire and occasional moments of reflection usually delivered through the portrayal of the pensive Louis.
Probably the most striking feature of the film is the care and attention that has gone into the period sets conjured up between the cinematography of Phillipe Rousellot and the production designer Dante Ferretti. Sweeping sets include the recreation of 18th century old Orleans along with an equally impressive homage to Victorian Paris in later frames. Notably, the images of a burning mansion set against a dark night sky whilst the Negro workers furiously try to put out the fire look impressive as Claudia and Louis watch from the deck of a paddle steamer.
Jordan's direction is relentlessly attentive to the cold blooded nature of the vampires central to the story. More often than not, the viciousness of the attacks is made apparent by the camera's focus on the vampire's eyes whilst it perpetrates it latest killing. Along with the graphic depiction of blood stained sets, the audience is left in no doubt as to the horror and cruelty of the creatures involved. This is chillingly exemplified by Lestat's clinical despatch of a rat followed by the wringing of it's blood into a wine glass. Offered the improvised drink, Louis refuses reviled but tempted at the same time.
Some of the most compelling aspects of the story take place in Paris and its here that Jordan comes good. Sets mirroring those fantasy sequences in the book reach a crescendo of angst whilst the ongoing gloomy lighting serves to illustrate the nocturnal world of the vampires. Sadly for exponents of the book, the philosophical exchanges between Armand and Louis are largely skimmed over resulting in the possibility of missing both the book and the film's main point i.e. the futility of eternity shown by the depressing relentlessness of living for centuries. The irony is not lost on the director with each character that realises the possibility of eternal life wants it whilst the potential givers of this new reality are reluctant to put people in the same boat as them. Still, the closing frames do manage to deliver the message with the 20th century providing the totem pole at whose feet the message is left. However, the finale doesn't quite mirror the ultimate sentiments of the story and is misplaced as far as the previous 123 minutes are concerned. Very probably artistic license on behalf of the studios, this probably goes to show how film-makers can sometimes miss the point made in a book by simply pandering to a public craving a big finish.
Interview with the vampire is an admirable attempt to re-create a wonderful book but maybe the high standard demanded of it's re-telling was simply beyond the movie's creators. In this, it is an opportunity spurned but as a standalone experience the movie is well worth watching. This is a graphic movie made in the spirit of its author and so only suitable for those happy to take on the most base of depiction's of eternally sad and ultimately damned fantasy creations.
Main cast: Tom Cruise - Lestat de Lioncourt Brad Pitt - Louis de Pointe du Lac Kirsten Dunst - Claudia Antonio Banderas - Armand Stephen Rea - Santiago
Advantages: Faithful to the novel; charcterisation; Tom Cruise Disadvantages: Brad Pitt
The novel Interview with a Vampire was begging to be made into a film. Ok, maybe Anne Rice didn’t intentionally write it for this purpose, but one day it was going to happen – it was too much of a temptation to resist.
And the result?
Surprisingly good – for Hollywood, that is. With a screenplay written by Rice herself; co-produced by David Geffen; directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) and with countless young virile ‘luvvies’ ... ...tells of his life. His interview is with Louis the vampire…
200 years ago Louis is a landowner in New Orleans. After the death of his wife in childbirth, he struggles to cope with life but hoping for death. He is then befriended by the vampire, Lestat (Tom Cruise), and is given the chance of his human death and immortality as a vampire. Not understanding its implications he agrees.
What follows is Louis’s struggle to accept his new ...
HappyBunny 05.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Interview With The Vampire (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent for horror fans as well as non horror, excellent acting, music score and direction Disadvantages: If you have read the book you will find flaws
...by Anne Rice in 1975, Interview With The Vampire, the first of many books that she calls the Vampire Chronicles. She also wrote the screenplay for the film which was released through Warner Brothers in 1994. Neil Jordan was responsible for the brilliant directing, which gave the film that extra edge. Brilliant scenery and exquisite furnishings gave the film a realistic touch as to the period (1791), before bringing it up to date. The casting was ... ...French vampire, with beautiful glaring blue eyes. He plays the part well, with humour, anger, love and feeling. I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else. Anne Rice, on the other hand, was not happy at all with this choice. He was not tall enough to play her character, and she publicly declared it at her book signings!
Another excellent casting choice was that of Brad Pitt. He was chosen to play Louis, a plantation owner that had just lost his wife ...
carolinesite 27.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Interview With The Vampire (DVD)
...is somewhat overbearing and arduous. Interview with the Vampire is a superb novel however and when it was touted as being translated to the silver screen I had high hopes for a vampire movie which truly explorers the darkness of the soul. Then came the problems. Rumours abounded that Tom Cruise was to play the role of the callous Lestat, Anne Rice herself panned the casting of the lead actors and it looked as though Hollywood had once again turned ... ...you be. Shortly after the movie was finished Anne Rice, having seen the finished product, had a two page retraction of her previous comments published. The fans, being fans, were still not convinced and even having seen the movie were still sceptical about the movie as a whole, but then does a movie ever match up to the book? You can’t please everyone. To me, IWTV is a superb movie, but then you’ll want to know what its about before you ...
wampyrii 06.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Interview With The Vampire (DVD)
Advantages: A masterful production Disadvantages: It ended!
...in the form of an interview between our journalist “Christian Slater” and Louis “Brad Pitt”, a two hundred year old vampire. The tale starts on the banks of the Mississippi in the 18th Century, it marks the story of Louis, pre “Servant of Darkness” and post. His fight with being a hunter of humans and his disgust at taking their lives. A tale of his relationship with his maker, the deliciously evil vampire Lestat ... ...conflict between them all. This culminating in an insurmountable crescendo of betrayal.
It follows the journey of Louis and Claudia to Europe to find the source of the vampire legend and to find answers to the questions asked by Louis’s tormented soul. It traces his meeting with Armand “Antonio Banderas” and the consequent relationship between them. Louis and Armand, the love angle, yes normally apportioned to the female actor ...
clanmac4 12.03.2001 (19.03.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Interview With The Vampire (DVD)
Advantages: Interesting story, great cast Disadvantages: not much
This is one of those classic films, which can be enjoyed by a wide audience whilst having a cult viewing. I suppose it fits in with the genre. But where does it fit in, I suppose it could be called a Gothic/Horror/Thriller – although it is hardly something you have to watch with the lights on. The film does seem to drag on at times although this was only because I was watching it in drips and drabs from video. I advise you to watch from start ... ...it more than once, although I would leave a bit of a gap between each viewing.
The story is based on the book of the same title, written by Anne Rice. In my opinion you should enjoy both, but probably read the book first. This way you can see if the characters you pictured in your head match up with the Directors. The cast is absolutely amazing. Tom Cruise revels in his role as Lestat, enjoying his role as a bad guy. The story begins in modern-day ...
mmuk 25.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Interview With The Vampire (DVD)
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Advantages: The best bit is the TWIST at the end! Disadvantages: Some Boring Bits
Right... All my friends told me this was the best film ever, it's scary but a really great story to it, so I went to town in search for it. I looked in HMV, no sign of it, I looked in Zavvi, also no sign of it, so I decided to look in every shop I walked past that I knew that sold DVDs, so I looked in 3 different HMVs, no sign of it, I tried in 2 Zavvi stores, still no sign of it, I looked in 5 Woolworths, also no sign of it, at a last attempt I looked in 4 WH Smith stores, and guess what there was still no sign of it, I spent about 2 hours searching for it and to find out that there wasn't one single DVD called Interview with the Vampire on a shelf.
So instead I bought Disturbia... Then a friend called Matthew asked for Disturbia, I said ok if only you give me one of your DVDs to borrow... So he gave me a choice:
The Lion King ...
Advantages: fantastic story, writing, cast, everything! Disadvantages: none for me
I absolutely LOVE Vampire films and this is definitely one of my favourites within the huge collection I own!
"Drink from me and live forever"
I have the Special Edition version of the DVD which has lots of special features which I'll tell you about later.
The DVD cover has a picture of Tom Cruise doing his best scary vampire face; this fades down into a scene from a dark street with a person sat on a bench (looks like Brad Pitt but only a tiny picture so not sure) and a cloaked girl stood at the side of him.
Across the top of the cover is a gold band which states it is a 'Special Edition'.
The writing on the cover says:
Tom Cruise
Interview with the Vampire
The Vampire Chronicles
Brad Pitt
Antonio Banderas
Stephen Rea
and
Christian Slater
I've included this info as it is written on the DVD to show how clear ...
Advantages: Sensual, Superb Acting, Brilliant Screenplay Disadvantages: None worth going on about
Interview with the Vampire has been my favourite film since I was fourteen years old. I got it for Christmas on VHS and watched it over so many times I wore the tape out! Fortunately this breakage coincided with the release of DVDs so I didn't have to go without for long.
BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Louis (Brad Pitt) is a vampire who needs to bear his sole. He draws in journalist and writer Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater) to unload his burden under the guise he wants to warn the world about vampires. Louis takes us back to the start of his journey where he was bought over to the dark side by the vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise). Through Louis' recollections during his dialogue with Daniel, we discover a darker side to life full of blood, murder and just a little passion.
REVIEW
Though most would group this film in with the horrors, I ...
Horror author Anne Rice penned the screenplay for this full-blooded adaptation of her novel, which chronicles the life of 18th-century nobleman Louis (Brad Pitt) after he is bitten by powerful, charismatic vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise). Though enthralled with the undead lifestyle at first, Louis is unable to warm up to killing humans and grows despondent. To comfort Louis, Lestat creates another vampire (Kirsten Dunst in a star-making peformance), a young girl who from then on cannot age. Antonio Banderas appears as Armand, a 400-year-old vampire, and Christian Slater plays the radio producer who interviews the remorseful Louis. Director Neil Jordan captures the lush decadence and erotic fervor of the novel, infusing the film with rich, dusky tones. The big budget is well used to bring each period and place to sharply detailed life, and there is no skimping on the blood or immortal angst. Thandie Newton has a small role as Louis's Creole servant near the beginning of the film, and Jordan regular Stephen Rea appears as a Parisian vampire theater star. INTERVIEW broke weekend box-office records when it premiered and has since earned a spot in the pantheon of great vampire films.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
01/09/1998
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
D 013176
Barcode
7321900131766
Screenwriter
Anne Rice
Composer
Elliot Goldenthal
Author
Anne Rice
Languages
Main Language
English
Subtitle Language
Arabic, English
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Interactive Menus, Production Notes, Scene Access
Aspect Ratio
Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review
"...[INTERVIEW] does right by Rice....[It] honors such great movie fantasists as Jean Cocteau and NOSFERATU director F.W. Murnau..." -- Rating: B (Entertainment Weekly, pp.62-3, 02/06/1995)
"...A sophisticated, spookily intense rendering of [Rice's] story....Cruise is flabbergastingly right for this role..." (New York Times, p.C1, 11/11/1994)
"...The movie is hypnotic, scary, sexy, perversely funny and haunting in a way that taps into primal fears..." (Rolling Stone, p.101-4, 15/12/1994)
DVD Description
Horror author Anne Rice penned the screenplay for this full-blooded adaptation of her novel, which chronicles the life of 18th-century nobleman Louis (Brad Pitt) after he is bitten by powerful, charismatic vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise). Though enthralled with the undead lifestyle at first, Louis is unable to warm up to killing humans and grows despondent. To comfort Louis, Lestat creates another vampire (Kirsten Dunst in a star-making peformance), a young girl who from then on cannot age. Antonio Banderas appears as Armand, a 400-year-old vampire, and Christian Slater plays the radio producer who interviews the remorseful Louis. Director Neil Jordan captures the lush decadence and erotic fervor of the novel, infusing the film with rich, dusky tones. The big budget is well used to bring each period and place to sharply detailed life, and there is no skimping on the blood or immortal angst. Thandie Newton has a small role as Louis's Creole servant near the beginning of the film, and Jordan regular Stephen Rea appears as a Parisian vampire theater star. INTERVIEW broke weekend box-office records when it premiered and has since earned a spot in the pantheon of great vampire films.
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