Movie

Is Edward Cullen really that Great

I guess since I critiqued the werewolves last time, that the vampires deserve their turn at bat. I believe that I explained in my previous writing, that werewolves were my favorite monster. If I didn’t, then here it is, I love werewolves. With that out in the open, let me speak about the other side of the coin.
If you delve into folklore, and I’m not referring to old movies, you will discover what the ancient myths regarding vampires truly were. They were actually ghosts that drank blood. Not mortals that had been cursed by God to never die, while sustaining themselves upon the blood of the living. I don’t think that it actually matters what a vampire was originally, but it does make for an interesting idea. It seems that we can’t do anything else with the vampire genre that hasn’t already been done. But, let’s get on with it and examine five different vampires from American Cinema and see how they compare with the Cullen family.
The five that I am choosing are for reasons that I will explain soon enough.
1. The vampires from the Underworld series.
2. The vampire(s) from Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot.
3. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (along with other renderings of our beloved Vlad)
4. The Fright Night vampires
5. And of course, the ever lovely Cullen family from the Twilight series.

I mentioned the Underworld series in my last compilation of inane ramblings, in reference to the Lycans that are found therein. They are a crusty lot to be sure, but the vampires are much smoother and more sophisticated. They, intentionally I believe, come off as very aristocratic and show a higher class of elegance and refinement. As far as their degree of danger? Well, to any normal human, of course they are deadly, but not nearly as powerful as the Lycans. Of course you do have to take into account the age of the vampire. That is one thing that I liked about the story. The older the vampire, the more strength and cunning. That’s actually logical in a made up, movie line sort of way. In the original, we are made aware of how quickly they heal and how strong they are. In the second movie, Underworld Evolution, we witness the speed they possess when Kate Beckinsale’s character takes on several law enforcement officers. All in all, quite a tough group of blood suckers.
Salem’s Lot was made into a movie when I was a kid, which would be back in the seventies and eighties. I’m not sure if it was a made-for-TV movie, but that was where I saw it for the first time. There are a few things that I will never forget about that movie. First is the scratching on the window. Those of you who have seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about. A young boy was turned into a vampire and came after his brother. He appeared at his window and began scratching at the window asking to be let in. That scared the ever living crap out of me. It still gives me goose bumps to this day. The second issue was the main vampire. It has been so long since I watched the movie that I can’t remember what they called him, but I definitely remember what he looked like. Tall, bald, skinny, pale, and lots of pointy teeth. There was a scene where he entered into the home of a local family and a priest was present. The priest held up a crucifix and the vampire grabbed it in his hand and crushed it. Oh great, now not even a cross can stop him. But, like all vampires, he was done away with. He could be killed.
We can’t discuss a list of vampires without including our old buddy, Vlad Dracul. Of course I’m referring to Dracula, the Hungarian Count. If you have never read Bram Stoker’s famous novel, I am not the one to encourage you. I have attempted it, and it still sits on my book shelf with the book mark on page 149. It’s been that way for about three years. I’m sorry, but it bored me to tears. I love classic literature. I’ve read Frankenstein about a dozen times, but like most Victorian literature, I just don’t have the patience for Dracula. That is not to say that it is a bad story, I just don’t want to read it. Put it on film and I’m ok, but, please, no more Victorian prose.
Dracula is the antithesis of evil, not because of a pact with the devil, but because of his total absorption with himself. Not only does he keep Jonathan Harker prisoner, but he takes his girl too. Of course Dracula is powerful. He has strength, he can shape shift, he can hypnotize, and in one of the variations of the story that I watched as a boy, he could even command Doberman Pincers to carry out his bidding.
Again with the eighties. Go rent Fright Night. This was a very fun movie that I used to watch with my sisters years ago. It stars Christopher Sarandon as the vampire. You might remember him as Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride. He is strong, charming and deadly. Also, when he assumes his total vampire state, he is one ugly son of a gun. But, in the end, like most vampires, he cannot abide sunlight. The movie has a great 80’s soundtrack and even a little bit of humor in the way of a character they call “Evil Ed”. Also, this vampire can turn into this demon looking bat that is quite strong as well.
Finally we get to the Twilight vampires. Now I’ve got to tell you. I was surprised at the direction that Stephanie Meyer took these creatures. She showed some real imagination when it came to their abilities. Heightened senses, of course strength, speed and near immortality, but two things that really got my attention. The type of strength they displayed. Not just the ability to pick up heavy things, but the stone like quality of their flesh. This is finally shown in the movie New Moon when Edward is fighting against another vampire in Italy. He is slammed to the floor and we see a “crack” appear on his skin. And speaking of skin, we all know what the sun will do to these vampires. I like that they are still vulnerable to the sun, but not to the point that it will kill them.
All in all, I think there is a case that can be made that the Twilight vampires are some of the best to be introduced in recent years. They are original, or at least as original as you can get with vampires, they display more powers than those of the past, and they even display a more human side than any of the others.
Let me know what you think,
The Hairy Piper

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