Vampire bites

With the current obsession of the teenage phenomenom series Twilight, it comes as no surprise that Hollywood is hunting for the next sensation. While Hollywood transitions into the world of angels, some filmmakers are continuing to push the vampire genre into new heights.

I recently saw the unintentionally funny "Daybreakers". A film that sadly fell apart despite the solid cast and expensive production value. I wasn't too sure if it was the cornball dialogue, the unfortunate stigma of the name "Edward" as a vampire, or the disjointed set pieces that never quite gelled. Perhaps it needed another script edit, or a lighter hand with the musical score; what I know for certain is that the teenagers' laughter surrounding me rarely abated.

A far cry from the matrix style approach of Daybreakers, Park Chan-wook's (Oldboy) film release of "Thirst" is a gruesome twisted dark comedy of a priest who becomes a vampire. The winner of the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, the story is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. Like many of his films it's not for the faint hearted, plunging the viewer into the icy waters of the undead... but it's certainly worth the risk.

A few notable blood thirsty films in no particular order...

1. Bram Stroker's Dracula (1992)

A delectable film by Francis Ford Coppola, with stunningly beautiful costumes designed by Eiko Ishioka... it almost feels like you're watching an old Italian Opera.

Another blog on the legend of the true Female Dracula in history, Erzebet Bathory here

2. Interview with a Vampire (1994)

Whether you like Tom Cruise or not, Brad Pitt makes his mark with his brooding portrayal of Louis De Pointe Du Lac's journey into the immoral and immortal world of the undead.

3. Nosferatu (1922)

The ultimate classic by F.W. Murnau, featuring Count Orlok in a haunting interpretation of Bram Stroker's novel.

4. Blood: The Last Vampire (2000)

The super slick samurai style anime of a mysterious female vampire hunter set in 1966 is short, sweet, and satisfying. Directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo.

5. Cronos (1993)

A promising beginning by the now acclaimed Guillermo del Toro, this film centers around the struggle to possess the "cronos" device invented by an alchemist in 1535 that promises eternal life.

6. The Lost Boys (1987)

Young Kiefer Sutherland stars in a contemporary (well in the 80s) tale of a brother who hires two young vampire hunters to save his brother.

7. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Robert Rodriguez at his best with a punchy action adventure of thieves who must survive the night in a vampire infested strip joint. (Featuring a younger George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, Salma Hayek, and Juliette Lewis).

8. Blade (1998)

Wesley Snipes' hit that spawned two more spin offs of a half-vampire superhero devoted to protecting humanity.

9. 30 Days of Night

Sort of reminds me of Pitch Black. Based off of the three issue comic book by Steve Niles and illustrated by Ben Templesmith it takes place in the perfect horror setting, a fictional town called Barrow, Alaska where the sun rarely shines.

10. Let the Right One In (2008)

A Swedish film that quietly tells the tale of a young boy who befriends a vampire.

Advice vs. reality

Whenever I pop onto Yahoo, pass a magazine stand, or scan through the newspaper sections, I'm always perversely interested in the "lifestyle & health" sections. The irritating headlines of what a boyfriend should act like or "how to make a guy fall in love with you" gives a sickening feeling of rot in my stomach.

Starting around the youthful age of around ten, many girls greedily subscribe to the popular "seventeen" or "ym" magazines for advice on love, dating, makeup and fashion. Filling impressionable heads full of unrealistic expectations of biblical proportions guarantees a generation of unhappy individuals. Men are no better, with magazines such as GQ, Maxim, Men's Health or FHM, gaining ground in the masculine psyche.

Taking an article from Yahoo 10 Things a Good Boyfriend Won't ask You to Do provides a one sided and narrow-minded standard on the "ideal" boyfriend. Here's a small taste...

#1. His laundry.

Some women prefer to do the guy's laundry. It all depends on the couple. Isn't it similar to women asking their husbands to mow the lawn, take out the trash and fix the roof?

#4. Make him a sandwich.

If there are no long commercials during the Superbowl then it is nice if a girlfriend can do that. It's similar to dragging a boyfriend to go shopping with her. It's boring as hell, and something you do because you care about the other person.

#10 Keep our hair long

This one makes me laugh because a lot of guys shave their beards to please a girlfriend as well. Not to say women shouldn't change things up with different hairstyles. It all depends on the female.

It's all fluff of course, used to fill up daily pages for entertainment, and so long as it's considered that way no harm done.

In three acts

For a while I thought I'd be subjected to waiting for well past a year for the release of the newest Poirot installments. Three Act Tragedy, also known as "Murder in 3 Acts" along with The clocks have been streamed on youtube by some very nice individuals! I usually add to my dvd collection at a later date if I find them.

For Canucks, Americans and other foreigners who can't wait for your local network to catch up, you can link to the episode below on youtube starting with 1 of 10.

Poirot: Murder in 3 Acts (unfortunately it has been removed)

There is also the release of the Clocks on youtube...

here's the link to 1 of 9

Poirot: The Clocks

The price of beauty

Right now newspapers are in a global uproar over the recent news that a website "beautiful people" kicked out over 5000 members for overindulging during the holiday festivities. I know some people are outraged but I think it's laughable.

Is it so terrible that there's a website for JUST beautiful people? I don't think so. It's sort of like J date, for the Jewish community only. In a way it gathers people who demand the equivalent of themselves, good looking by society's standards who are health conscious. It does seem a bit lopsided however... After all, women tend to value financial security more than appearance and many of the most successful men probably don't have the time to hit the gym. Is there a separate membership for the "okay looking" but super wealthy?

Whatever the case, exclusivity must be the key attraction. The ejection of members was just another brilliant PR move to spread the word and lure the most arrogant, narcissistic individuals into their club.

Curious? Want to join? Take a look ...

beautiful people

Below is an intriguing article that has a few disconcerting experiences when it first launched in Britain.

article in britain

Even more elitist is the site "A Small World" for the jet setting group of successful, well connected and A-type individuals of the world. You can't even browse the site without a special invitation. Sort of takes the song from the creepy Disney ride to a whole new level.

A small world

The business of happiness

I never appreciated emails that forward weird "positive" thinking messages, and even less the ones that you need to resend to other unwitting potential marks. Today I received the exact opposite. My friend forwarded a depressing article of how positive thinking is a scam and that smarter people are the grouchy, cynical, pissed off population who wake up every morning with nothing but a foul aftertaste.

It was an interesting article (links below) and it could very likely ring true. I couldn't help but smile at the arrogance of the friend who sent it to me, a non subtle way of proving that their years of self-analysis, self loathing, cynicism, selfish, egotistical behaviour was a sign of their intelligence and superiority. Love it.

Frankly I'm too lazy to think this way or that. If people want to buy self help books, read positive thinking books, and go to seminars... go ahead. Am I stupid or smart? That's all relative. If others want to wallow in their self hatred, disgust for the human race, drink themselves to a stupor, and write a novel about their angst ridden lives... again... go ahead. That's what makes life interesting. Variety.

I recently saw the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. I loved it for the bright colourful sets, gritty concept, mix of characters, and strangeness, but that's just my opinion. A refreshing story about what the heart wants and what we deserve. I won't pretend to be happy, let's just say I'm content... enough. I had a hell of year in 2009 so maybe I'm a fool to look ahead with a bit of optimism, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Seeking a Cure for Optimism

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