It's the next big fang!
Over the weekend, the vampire romance, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" sucked up $140.7 million in its first three days and pulled in a total of $258.8 million worldwide. That's more than twice the $69.6 million haul over the same weekend last year for "Twilight," the first in the franchise based on Stephanie Meyer's novels. To read the Washington Post review of the film, click here (there's also a link to a trailer of the movie, the ending of which made Flannista LOL).
Why are so many caught up in the bloody phenomenon of vampires? What's behind the current vamp vogue? In addition to the Twilight series, there are also the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz, the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris (the inspiration for HBO's True Blood) and the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.
Then there are the vampire movies. Last night, the Sassistas! and Momista (here for Thanksgiving) watched "Twilight." A lot of alabaster skin, pouting lips, tortured gazes and teens flying around here and there. Seemed to break a lot of vampire etiquette, too -- for example, you could see the reflection of the vampires in mirrors. We gave it two stars out of four.
Who is your favorite vampire and/or vampire movie and why?
PREPARE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN WE OPEN THE SASSOSPHERE FOR MORE FAVORITE THANKSGIVING RECIPES!
Momista, Matissta and I watched the evening news last night, and every network had a story about the weekend stats of "New Moon." So it is a cultural phenomenon. Still, the movie "Twilight" was surprisingly tedious and kind of dumb.
I have not read any vampire series and don't plan to. Have any of you? I thought Stephanie Meyer's Twilight books were for teenage girls, but I see adults in airports reading those books all the time.
(THIS IS MY SECOND ATTEMPT TO POST. LAST EVENING, TYPEPAD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THEY'VE "LOCATED IT" AND ARE WORKING ON IT.)
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 05:50 AM
The BEST MOVIE DRACULA OF ALL TIME: Christopher Lee
The WORST MOVIE DRACULA OF ALL TIME: Tom Cruise in some movie the title of which I don't want to remember. But that brings up yet ANOTHER vampire book series: the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice.
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 05:55 AM
Speaking of bloodsucking, here is Typepad's official response to our posting problems:
"Thanks for providing the additional information. As mentioned yesterday, we were investigating the cause of the error, and we have located the problem today. We are working right now to fix the issue, and we appreciate your patience."
I'm not holding my breath.
(This is my second attempt to post.)
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 06:09 AM
I really would like to hear opinions from the sassosphere about why vampires and all-things-vampire are so in vogue today.
(This is my FOURTH attempt to post this comment.)
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 06:10 AM
For my money, one of the most tender and well-made vampire movies I've ever seen is "Let the Right One In." It was released a year ago by a Swedish filmmaker (it has Swedish subtitles). You want sweet, teen vampire romance? This is your film, plus it has one of the most beautiful scores I've ever heard. Click below for a very short clip from the movie. After teaching Eli (a 12-year-old vampire) Morse code so they can communicate through an apartment wall that separates them, Oskar confides that he is constantly harassed in school:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi610009881/
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 06:29 AM
Third times a charm, they say. TypePad has frozen my computer twice so far. Let's see if this works before I spend too much time on it.
Posted by: half-a-sista | November 24, 2009 at 08:37 AM
Flann, I know you have been saying I need to see "Let the Right One In". That one clip clinched it.
Posted by: Jerseysista | November 24, 2009 at 08:38 AM
The vampire thing is a fad. Our culture loves them. Maybe now the "goth" kids will be popular in school, instead of outcasts, because they've got "the look." I only know what I've heard on the news about this phenomenon. I don't have a favorite vampire movie.
Posted by: PEACEsista | November 24, 2009 at 08:46 AM
Another question:
What do you wish was a fad in America?
I wish it was a fad to dance in public every time a cell phone rings with a tune.
Posted by: PEACEsista | November 24, 2009 at 08:50 AM
I love this dancing idea when a cellphone rings in public, PEACE. Let's start it!
How about this fad: Everyone we hear the f-word, we donate a quarter to a charity.
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 08:58 AM
Vampires aren't my thing, but I read two of the Anne Rice Vampire Chronicle books.
I've never read the book, Dracula. Has anyone else? I wonder how it would stand up today.
Flann, you'd be donating all your extra money if we followed the F-word fad idea. You should rethink that.
I love PEACE's idea. Wouldn't that be fun! Dancing in the streets.
Posted by: Matissta | November 24, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Matiss, Dracula (the original) was a masterpiece.
In my 'hood', I would spend my entire pension check on quarters if I contributed one every time someone said f**k or it variations.
Like the dancing idea. Has anyone watched the St. Vincent's Hospital of Portland, OR do their dance for breast cancer awareness. Enjoyed it.
Love vampires. They are majorly erotic (if done correctly).
Posted by: half-a-sista | November 24, 2009 at 09:21 AM
Every time I see Robert Pattison, I think of Cedric Diggory from the HP series of movies....He is a handsome young man.
Posted by: Chrysosistah | November 24, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Enjoyed the Vampire Chronicles. Have not enjoyed her latest books since she got religion. It dulled her writing.
Enjoyed the Twilight series enough to read them all. Full of teen angst and soft porn for the hormonally juiced youth of America. At least she got them to read a book.
Posted by: half-a-sista | November 24, 2009 at 09:26 AM
PEACE's comment would be really cute in business meetings ;-)
Posted by: Chrysosistah | November 24, 2009 at 09:28 AM
TypePad? Fixed yet.
Posted by: half-a-sista | November 24, 2009 at 09:32 AM
TypePad works sometimes, but not always.
Posted by: half-a-sista | November 24, 2009 at 09:33 AM
Planta tells me that he recalls reading that vampires have always been popular, as they are seen as the ultimate "bad boy" - and there are so many people who find that attractive...(?)
Posted by: Chrysosistah | November 24, 2009 at 09:35 AM
I finally broke down and purchased a paperback of the first book of this series, but I haven't read it yet. Had a number of friends and acquaintances enjoy it and recommend it to me...
Posted by: Chrysosistah | November 24, 2009 at 09:37 AM
I've read the comments. Just testing the platform. Testing . . . testing . . .
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Chryso – Robert Pattison is handsome? He ain’t got no bite for me. Also, how many tubes of hair gel does he use every day?
(THIRD attempt to post)
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Planta, some of the sexiest vampires ever have been women, i.e., Catherine Deneuve in "The Hunger."
(SECOND attempt to post)
Posted by: Flannista | November 24, 2009 at 10:21 AM
George Hamilton's vampire was (true to GH) a bit silly, but Wesley Snipes' character certainly seemed powerful and apt. Probably sexiness is in the eye of the beholder...
Posted by: Chrysosistah | November 24, 2009 at 10:58 AM
The "Blade" movie series with Wesley Snipes was MOST excellent. Lots of action and a good story line.
Posted by: half-a-sista | November 24, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Read all the Twilight series. Not great writing, but good enough to keep me entertained through all the books in the series. Like the differences in vampire behavior between traditional and new-fangled.
Posted by: half-a-sista | November 24, 2009 at 11:12 AM