Interim 2012 starts today and once again I’m teaching Vampire Literature. Our reading list: Suzy Charnas, The Vampire Tapestry Kikuchi, Hideyuki, Vampire Hunter D Kohta Hirano, Hellsing, vol 1, 4, 8 Robin McKinley, Sunshine Alan Ryan, ed., The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories Bram Stoker, Dracula Movies: Nosferatu (1922) Dracula (1931) Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) … Read More
The almost official booklist: Bram Stoker, Dracula The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories Elizabeth Kostova, The Historian Robin McKinley, Sunshine Suzy McKee, The Vampire Tapestry Movies. Dracula (1931) Nosferatu (1922) Let the Right One In (2008) Let Me In (2010) Perfect Creature (2006)
I watched episodes 1-3 of Kuroshitsuji II the other night. So far, it is every bit as decadent as you want it to be. Much like episode 1 of Kuroshitsuji I, the first episode of Kuroshitsuji II is a primer on its characters. In the same way that the original series opened with an obscure … Read More
Well, callooh callay! I just found out that there is a second season of Kuroshitsuji called, appropriately enough, Kuroshitsuji II. This “sequel” features a different butler and 12-year old master, but evidently Sebastian and several other supporting characters from the first go round are present. There are only 3 episodes available with English subs at … Read More
I finished up the anime version of Kuroshitsuji last night. No vampires here but gosh darn it if the Butler in question, Sebastian Michaelis, isn’t every bit as dark and seductive as you want him to be. As I explained in an earlier post on the manga, the brilliance of Kuroshitsuji lies in a pun. … Read More
I had the great pleasure of being a guest on episode 17 of Trending Cinema, hosted by Jon Tilton and Simon Miraudo. The episode was about, what else?, vampires. At the end of the episode, we all gave reading/viewing suggestions. Here is a recap of mine. 1. The Vampire Tapestry by Auzy McKee Charnas See … Read More
English W44A This course challenges the claim that the current interest in vampires is a “recent” one. In fact, great interest in vampires has bubbled up at several points in history, and it will be the task of the class to determine how these responses have been similar or unique. We will proceed by examining … Read More
Dale and I saw Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland this afternoon. Amazing. I was prepared to be very disappointed with the movie – the pictures of Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter and Helena Boehm Carter’s Red Queen were too gruesome for me and the trailers made it seem as if Burton was simply remaking the original … Read More
Fabulous. This movie is so great that as soon as it finished, I wanted to play it from the beginning again. The story is about what happens when aliens finally do make contact with earth. However, instead of coming with peace, new technology, or even conquest, the one million aliens on the ship are emaciated … Read More
I love the sharks in this scene. The guy with the horns is a demon and he has sharks for henchmen/ servants. But they are sensitive sharks. So when Beaut snaps at one of the sharks, the shark bursts into tears. Click on the image to enlarge and remember to read from Right to Left. … Read More
No, not a vampire movie but pretty scary. GAH!!!!! I don’t think I’ve ever been so frightened of teenagers in hoodies. The film depicts the story of Clem and Lucas, two average people living in a remote house in Romania. One night they are awaken to scary noises and then they suddenly find themselves in … Read More
One reason I got so out of the habit of watching and posting blogs about vampire movies is because I spent most of my free time this summer devouring manga. So, I’m going to try to write little by little about the manga I read over the summer. First up: Until Death Do Us Part … Read More
I’ve been reading a manga called Kuroshitsuji this week. It is a manga written and illustrated by Yana Toboso. In English, it will be called The Black Butler. It’s a great deal of fun. The story is about Ciel Phantomhive, the 12 year old Earl of the Phantomhive family, and his butler, Sebastian. Ciel is … Read More
Father Abel with a steampunk-esque bible. The illustrator of Trinity Blood has a real technology fetish. The more ornate the better. Besides those amazing AX priests and nuns, another reason I get such a kick out of Trinity Blood is its obsession with religious references. It’s pretty much inescapable. Among them are: The vampires are … Read More
My friend and colleague Chad and I taught a class called Speaking Pictures for Interim 2009. Here is a little presentation I did on parody and the aesthetification of violence. I hope the links still work….. ******** Die Walküre What’s Opera Doc? (1957) Clips from Mystery Men. Chapter 8: Wisdom of the Spinx Slow Motion … Read More
Dale and I both wanted to watch a movie last night so we had to find a compromise film. We watched Bubble. It’s by Steven Soderbergh. We thought it would be a horror film but it wasn’t. It’s about the relationship between three people who work at a doll factory somewhere in the midwest. It’s … Read More
My husband and I watched 2046 the other night. It was visually stunning but boy was it long. A whole week past while we were watching it! We actually didn’t even watch it to the end because we simply lost stamina. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t stick out until the end with … Read More
In the interest of equal time, I found a list of the top 25 surfing movies of all time. So now I suppose we will alternate movies nights or something? The crossed off titles are the ones that Dale has seen. I may or may not have seen them as well. Surfing Magazine’s Top 25 … Read More
Now here’s a book that looks intriguing. Here is a sample: Biting into heads is much harder than it looks. The skull is feisty or Brains, BRAINS, BRains, brains, BRAINS. BRaiNS, brains, Brains, BRAINS, BRains, brains, BRAINS. BRAINS, BRains, brains, BRAINS, brains. Of course, the only thing better than Zombie Haiku is Vampire Haiku. Too … Read More
At long last, I finished Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It took great strength of will and self-discipline to finish, so I suppose that zombie killer, “bride of death” Elizabeth Bennett would be proud. Honestly, I can’t understand what all the fuss is about. And it’s not because I’m an “Austen Purist,” a being evidently … Read More