Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles - Special Edition
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DVD Review
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Review
When radio producer Daniel Malloy (Christian Slater) is given the once in a lifetime opportunity of doing an interview with one of the legendary undead, he is terrified and can't believe his luck.
Louis (Brad Pitt), a young new world plantation owner, tells the story of his life as a vampire from when he was a young nobleman 200 years before in Louisiana. After the loss of his wife and child six months earlier, Louis sinks further and further into despair and longs for death. When he crosses paths with the vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise), who sees in him a possible companion to relieve his loneliness, he is given the choice of dying or becoming one of the undead. Realizing then that he really does not wish to die, Louis accepts and is reborn to darkness.
There follows the tale of Louis's life of excess with Lestat and his growing despair of a lifestyle that requires that he must feed on the innocent in order to continue his existence and suffer an eternity of damnation. Soon, Lestat tires of Louis' reluctance to kill and creates a new companion for them in the form of six-year old orphan Claudia (Kirsten Dunst), who takes to her new lifestyle with the enthusiasm of the young.
Eventually Louis and Claudia decide to leave Lestat, which brings its own perils. Also, there is a question that Louis wants the answer to - "Where do vampires come from and are there more?" Their travels eventually lead them to Paris and the Theatre des Vampyres, where they meet Armand (Antonio Banderas) and his macabre troop of vampires, which leads to tragic consequences for the couple.
Review
Adapted from the best selling novel, and first in the series of The Vampire Chronicles, by Anne Rice, this is an excellent movie. With the screenplay written the author herself and brilliantly directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Michael Collins), it just exudes atmosphere and quality. Having read the book, I can say that it stays pretty true to the story therein but you'd expect that with Rice doing the screenplay.
The film is beautifully shot with sumptuous sets and costumes and with an excellent score by Elliot Goldenthal really adding to the experience. It should be stated that the movie received Academy Award nominations for the set direction and score.
The performances by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt can't be faulted even though the author had reservations about the casting of Tom Cruise. Cruise proves why he's one of the highest paid stars around and simply is Lestat, the charismatic and decadent killer living in the fast lane. Pitt is excellent as Louis, racked by guilt and haunted by his past life and the choice he made in becoming one of the undead. Kirsten Dunst, at age 12, plays the character of Claudia, the child damned by Lestat to be a companion for Louis, to perfection and manages to pull off playing what is actually an older character in a child’s body very well. On top of that are also good performances by Antonio Banderas as the arch vampire Armand and Christian Slater, who plays a fairly minor part really as the interviewer but he does it pretty well for all that.
The video is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and is very good. Colours and blacks are solid with no apparent grain or defects. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is excellent. Dialogue is clear throughout and the surround channels and base are well used to add to the experience. As previously stated, the score is very good indeed and really adds a great deal to the movie. Also, It's not an obviously heavily CG effects laden movie but where they are used, they are done really well.
As the story is told from the bad guy's point of view it lacks the suspense of most horror films where the viewer usually sides with the potential victims/heroes and focuses on the personae and lives of the vampires themselves. That aside, there's more than enough blood for the gore lovers out there and plenty enough shocks and thrills to boot.
Extras
Audio Commentary - by director Neil Jordan, who provides a great deal of insight and information about the making of the film and is well worth listening to. There's also information on the vampire make up and the digital effects used to provide ambience and depth to the scenes.
Special Introduction - a brief introduction to the movie by Neil Jordan with contributions from author Anne Rice and Antonio Banderas. This also plays just before the main feature and lasts about one minute.
In The Shadow Of The Vampire - An above average 30 minute documentary on the making of Interview With The Vampire. It contains interview material with author and screenwriter Anne Rice, special effects head Stan Winston, director Neil Jordan, and Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, and Kirsten Dunst.
along with many others of the supporting cast and crew. A fine documentary you should not miss. I liked the commentary track but enjoyed the documentary even more.
Cast & Crew - Just one screen of main cast and crew credits.
Theatrical Trailer - Good, two and a half minute trailer.
Overall
Interview With The Vampire is a classic movie of the vampire genré that should be seen by everyone and is a must buy for any fans of horror or vampire tales.
This Special Edition doesn't add a great deal in the way of extra material but what it does is above average and the anamorphic video transfer, 5.1 surround soundtrack and the excellent commentary make it well worth adding to any collection.
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