It remains to be seen whether a new rash of these criticisms will follow the forthcoming debut ofAMC's "Interview with the Vampire" series. Under the pen name A.N. Despite the fact that Aaliyah plays as queen of the entire vampire race and her role is found in the title, Jonathan Townsend is the real star of the movie. Directed by Michael Rymer. Rymer told Vulture, "We put out a casting call and got real goths to show up looking fantastic for Lestat's climactic concert scene. They also shot the Death Valley concert in Australia. He wants immortal fame, his fellow vampires want him eternally dead for his betrayal, and the Queen wants him for her King. Christopher Rice, Anne Rice's son told Vulture, "Lestat, one of the most popular bisexual heroes of popular fiction, was given a romantic relationship with a female character [Jesse Reeves] with whom he barely interacts in the novel, and all suggestions of his past male lovers were erased." He plays the role of Vampire Lestat, a powerful and ancient vampire being both charismatic and arrogant. CHICAGO - This week marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Aaliyah, the 22-year-old R&B singer whose stratospheric rise was cut tragically short when she and eight others were killed in a plane crash. She is also a producer and co-host for the Podlander Presents network of podcasts. Apple Inc. [4] Saralegui told Vulture, "Aaliyah's the best thing in the movie, and she's also the reason why probably almost anybody's gonna see it now.". Part One follows several different people over the same period of several days. Director Michael Rymer Writers Anne Rice Scott Abbott Michael Petroni Stars Aaliyah Stuart Townsend Marguerite Moreau Taking up as the leader of an undead band, Lestat gains fame but exposes vampires, drawing the attention of vampire enthusiast Jesse. Out of hibernation, Lestat plans a concert to bring prominence to the vampire ranks--much to their chagrin. After losing interest in immortality, vampire Lestat goes to sleep, awakening after a long time to the sounds of punk rock. But it will give a new generation of fans an easier way to hear more of Aaliyahs body of work. Details Select delivery location In Stock. The spirit combines itself with the flesh and blood of the queen, transforming her into a vampire. Maharet's descendants become what she calls the Great Family. Directors Michael Rymer Starring Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah, Marguerite Moreau Genres Horror, Fantasy, Drama Subtitles They name themselves The Vampire Lestat and become famous rock stars before promoting a massive concert in Death Valley. Photo credit: Kharen Hill 2000 Warner Bros. Born January 1979, Aaliyah Haughton, with her silky smooth voice, was signed a record deal with her uncle in Detroit when she was just 12. Bored with his existence, he has now become this generation's new Rock God. Meanwhile, Akasha abducts Lestat and takes him as an unwilling consort to various locations in the world, inciting women to rise up and kill the men who have oppressed them. And more importantly, he had this effect on women. Aug 27, 2002, Box Office (Gross USA): Jorge Saralegui, Writer: Various Artists - Queen of the Damned - Amazon.com Music CDs & Vinyl Metal $1427 $3.99 delivery February 28 - March 15. Although the studio put together a list of prospective actresses including Halle Berry and Regina King, and the director even met with Cher, Warner Bros. never seriously considered another actress for the role (per Vulture). While in the course of time, another has arisen, Akasha, the Queen of the Vampires and the Dammed. But a young London woman with a gift for the occult falls in love with Lestat and wields a far greater power than the vampires expect. Also present are Mael and Khayman, who already know the story. A sequel of sorts to 1994s "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles," director Michael Rymers "Queen of the Damned" is loosely based on the second and third novels in Anne Rices "Vampire Chronicles" series. Cinemark Frank Fitzpatrick and Rich Dickerson served as the music supervisors for the album. She is the author of "How TV Can Make You Smarter," and a member of the Television Critics Association and the Chicago Film Critics Association. Scott Abbott, who wrote the screenplay, told Vulture, "Anne Rice wasn't involved at all with the writing process. I can't believe Lestat isn't blond. Queen of the Damned (DVD) (WS) After a decades-long slumber, the vampire Lestat becomes a rock star whose music awakens the queen of all vampires, Akasha, who embarks on a mission to make Lestat her king. in 1985, a wild and voluptous voice spoke to us, telling the story of The Vampire Lestat.. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter An hour's worth of contemporary metal constitutes the soundtrack for the vampire movie Queen of the Damned. The vampires refuse, but Mekare enters and kills Akasha by severing her head and consuming her brain and heart. Queen of the Damned is a 2002 horror film directed by Michael Rymer, based on the third novel of Anne Rice 's The Vampire Chronicles series, The Queen of the Damned (1988), although the film contains many plot elements from the novel's predecessor The Vampire Lestat. You're almost there! After their brief visit with Talbot they depart into the night, an incensed Louis and his angry words filling Lestat with glee. Featuring: Aaliyah, Stuart Townsend, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Perez, Lena Olin, Paul McGann. The mother of all vampires, Akasha, begins as a pre- Egyptian queen, in a land called Kemet (which will become Egypt), many thousands of years ago. It was treated as a fairly big mainstream event: 'Come be in a real Hollywood movie.' Purchase Queen of the Damned on digital and stream instantly or download offline. [first lines] Lestat : [voiceover] There comes a time for every vampire when the idea of eternity becomes momentarily unbearable. Part Two takes place at Lestat's concert. Queen of the Damned (2002) Trivia Showing all 34 items Jump to: Cameo (1) | Spoilers (1) Aaliyah died in a plane crash shortly after principal photography was completed but had not yet actually performed any ADR redubbing for her character. Unfortunately there isn't a good story to follow when you get into it. Afterward the witches are cast out into the desert. Aaliyah also went on to win three American Music Awards and two MTV VMAs, along with five Grammy nominations. Terms and Policies Director Michael Rymer told Vulture, "I apologized to Anne Rice when I went to send a cut of the film to her. Lestat's maker is also changed from Magnus to Marius. Vincent Perez played Marius de Romanus in "Queen of the Damned," a 2,000-year-old illegitimate son illegitimate son of a Roman noble and a Celtic slave. ", As reported by Louder Sound, Gibbs toured with Korn for a month. Productions choosing to film in Australia have only become more popular in the 21stcentury because of the tax incentives studios can qualify for if they shoot in Australia and New Zealand. They eventually go their separate ways. I'm sure the book was a lot better. Considering how Warner Bros. was concerned that the events in "Interview with the Vampire" and "The Vampire Lestat" contradicted each other because they are told from different points of view it seems strange they played so loose with other important characters and storylines in their adaptation. The movie was a great disappointment to most of my readers.". After a decades-long slumber, the vampire Lestat becomes a rock star whose music awakens the queen of all vampires, Akasha, who embarks on a mission to make Lestat her king. Production Co: However, when the witches admit that they cannot help the monarchs, Akasha orders the mutilation of the witches: Maharet loses her eyes and Mekare her tongue. In Mekare's absence, Maharet returns to watch over her daughter and her descendants. Enkil then orders his chief steward (who is Khayman as a mortal man) to rape the twins in his stead, which would prove their lack of power, before the eyes of the court. Pre-Twilight, Post-Buffy blend of smouldering stares, campy "gothic" chills and an immense craving for unintentional cringe comedy, the late R&B singer Aaliyah stars as "Queen of the Damned" Akasha, who appears more Queen of the Desert than anything, like a female Frank N' Furter in a crown having to tread heavily through the soggy dialogue - the novel is good, the film isn't - and Stuart Townshend doesn't do much to help her out eitherexcept glare. While in the course of time, another has arisen, Akasha, the Queen of the Vampires and the Dammed. Yet the recording industry was not the only community left reeling by her untimely death. Khayman escapes, but Maharet and Mekare are further punished. After a decades-long slumber, the vampire Lestat becomes a rock star whose music awakens the queen of all vampires, Akasha, who embarks on a mission to make Lestat her king. 2002 Preview 1 Not Meant for Me Wayne Static 4:09 2 Forsaken David Draiman 3:39 3 System (Clean Version) Chester Bennington 5:03 4 Change (In the House of Flies) Deftones 4:59 5 Redeemer (Clean Version) Marilyn Manson 4:19 6 Dead Cell (Clean Version) Papa Roach 3:07 7 1h 41m, Distributor: Although the studio may have not felt rushed, some who were unhappy with the final results of their efforts chalked the flawed movie up as a rushed job. . His music wakes Akasha (Aaliyah), the queen of all vampires, and inspires her desire to make Lestat her king. As the source of all vampires, Akasha is connected to all vampires by the blood and spirit they collectively share. CookiePolicy Who shall win the final battle of the vampires and survive? Aaliyah's fans were granted another look at her talent outside the recording studio, but it was . Even Anne Rice approved of casting Stewart Townsend as Lestat. Billboard Magazine said Aaliyah "revolutionized R&B with her honey-coated voice and sultry mix of pop, soul and hip-hop.". Who shall win? During this time two powerful witches (Maharet and Mekare) live in the mountains close to Nineveh. The story follows the vampire Lestat, who rises to fame as a rock star, but his music awakens the Vampire Queen from her eternal sleep, freeing her to wreak havoc upon the mortal world. Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here In 1976, a uniquely seductive world of vampires was unveiled in the now-classic Interview with the Vampire. Scott Abbott, 'Queen of the Damned' is considered a bad adaptation, over-the-top silly, and just a poorly structured film in general. As a result of her enthusiasm and commitment to the role, Aaliyah embodied the grace, power, and violence of the vampire queen, making her both seductive and frightening, dangerous and sexy thus encapsulating the fundamental appeal of vampires. And feeling so terrible for her family." Warner Bros. had good reasons for casting Aaliyah as Akasha, though. I prepared by reading the Anne Rice novels and watching lots of vampire movies, but also by watching lots of rock performances and learning how they moved, especially Bowie." His music also awakens the queen of the damned, Akasha the first vampire, who decides to make Lestat her king. Everyone on board, including the pilot, died (per Rolling Stone). These kids just went crazy. In 2004, The Guardian reported Menzies was found dead in his cell after serving a little over a year of his life sentence. Regal We were editing the film and trying to cope with that loss. Copyright 2023 English, Director: Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Club Vampire : They all turned to dust. It is a flawed film, but it showcased Aaliyah's talent and promise. With total view time surpassing 200 million hours of content streamed each month since April, Tubi has over 30,000 movies and television shows from over 250 content partners, including every major studio. Lestat must choose between the power she offers him and the world as he knows it. It was fantastic.". He had Lestat's excellent speaking voice and his feline grace. Marius informs his rescuers that Akasha has been awakened by Lestat de Lioncourt, or rather his rock music, for he has joined a rock band with mortals Alex, Larry and Tough Cookie. I begged the studio to not make that movie. The rest of the album is dominated by tracks from Warner metal albums by the likes of Static-X ("Cold"), Disturbed ("Down With the Sickness"), and Deftones ("Change [In the House of Flies]"), plus a few tracks licensed from other labels and metal bands, including Dry Cell, who preview their forthcoming album with "Body Crumbles." Aaliyahs family estate does not support the release. Singer Aaliyah's final film is this thriller, based on Anne Rice's vampire novels. The vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) becomes a rock star whose music awakens the Queen of the Vampires . Menzies' solicitor, Aamar Anwar, believed Menzies was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and one psychiatrist supported this diagnosis. The service gives fans of films and television programs an easy way to discover new content that is available completely free. According to Den of Geek, Warner Bros. purchased the rights to the first three "Vampire Chronicles" books in 1990 and had a decade to produce films based on the novels. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Prior to her death, Aaliyah had begun filming the sequels to "The Matrix," one of several films and franchises ready to capitalize on all that star power. He also admitted to watching "Queen of the Damned" over 100 times before the murder (per BBC). Taking history, geography, and representation into account, director Michael Rymer told Vulture, "I just had a very strong belief that if we were going to do African queens, we had to have a person of color" in the role of Akasha. The vampires from Part One later congregate in the compound. Alas, the studio made the controversial choice to loosely base their "Queen of the Damned" adaptation on elements from books two and three in Rice's wildly successful trilogy. The role of Akasha went to Aaliyah. During this period there is a bloodthirsty, invisible spirit known as Amel who continually asks the two witches if they need his assistance, although they prudently decline the offer. Coming Soon. The Queen of the Damned was a film adaptation from Anne Rice's vampire novel. Terms and Conditions | Considering the central storyline of "Queen of the Damned," revolves around a love triangle, Lestat's magnetism was essential not only to the character but to this specific story. DMCA. He wants immortal fame, his fellow vampires want him eternally dead for his betrayal, and the Queen wants him for her King. Menzies was arrested for killing his lifelong friend, Thomas McKendrick. You tried to perform an action that is meant for registered users only. The history and importance of the Order of Talamasca have been omitted from the film, leaving us with Jesse's loose associations with the order and her invented-for-the-screen love triangle with Lestat and Akasha (per Den of Geek). Jesse Reeves, a member of the secret Talamasca and relative of Maharet, is mortally injured while attending the concert, and is taken to be made into a vampire at Maharet's compound in California's Sonoma Mountains. The move is not without controversy. As reported by The Scotsman, during testimony, Menzies admitted to drinking his victim's blood and attempting to die by suicide after committing the murder, wanting to get to his next life quicker. Major characters and storylines were removed from "Queen of the Damned" because they were so involved they could have been their own movies. The Queen of the Damned deals with the origins of vampires themselves. Her passing also greatly impacted the film industry, which Aaliyah seemed poised to conquer. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. I always wanted more of that material, but it was tricky.". Follows the legendary vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend), who has reinvented himself as a rock star in the contemporary American music scene. Just confirm how you got your ticket. Rating: Aaliyah plays the titular undead monarch, a being of incalculable summoned back to the world when Lestat (Stuart Townsend, in the role formerly played by Tom Cruise) begins to flaunt the existence of vampires as the lead singer of a hard rock band. Anne Rice, Jonathan Davis from Korn and Richard Gibbs, who played keys for Oingo Boingo before becoming a composer, teamed up to write the original music for "Queen of the Damned." "Dark City," the "Matrix" franchise, and "Moulin Rouge" were filmed in Australia to cut costs. Her signature style of a crop top or bandeau top paired with baggy jeans, with long hair partially covering her left eye, is emblematic of her "sweet but street" style and still emulated today. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Great Family represents all humanity and shows the vampires what Akasha would destroy with the creation of her New World Order. By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Released posthumously, "Queen of the Damned" includes Aaliyahs final film role and while the movie received mixed-to-poor reviews, her performance as Queen Akasha alone pulls it from the territory of the forgettable. All rights reserved. The special effects, music, acting, story, and uh, well almost everything about it was bad. Copyright Fandango. The witches are put into two separate coffins which are then set afloat on two separate bodies of water. While in the course of time, another has arisen, Akasha, the Queen of the Vampires and the Dammed. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. But a young London woman with a gift for the occult falls in love with Lestat and wields a far greater power than the vampires expect. Its a brief appearance, but a highly memorable one. Coming Soon. Club Vampire : So unless you got him in a bottle somewhere. Flat (1.85:1), RT25: Celebrating 25 years of Rotten Tomatoes. If you stop following this series you will no longer receive notifications when new videos are uploaded. Copyright Tokyvideo All Rights Reserved, Contact | Feeling inspired by this music, Lestat introduces himself and joins the band as their new lead singer. Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series continues in Queen of the Damned. As reported by The Age, Rice wasn't happy with the first draft of the script and she shared this opinion with her fans via her website. Lestat then turns Jesse into his undead mistress to spend eternity together. In theaters now. In "Queen of the Damned,"the vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) awakens from a decades-long slumber to the sounds of n-metal. However, the result on all other vampires is extreme, and many of the weakest vampires die, thus confirming the legend that anything that harms Akasha will also directly affect all of her progeny. Queen of the Damned: Music from the Motion Picture is the official soundtrack for the 2002 vampire film Queen of the Damned, released on February 19, 2002 via Warner Music Group. Of podcasts Lestat goes to sleep, awakening after a long time to the vampire Lestat ( Stuart Townsend,... New generation of fans an easier way to hear more of Aaliyahs body of work with! 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