Forbes.com has offered up an intriguing article that compares Alan Ball's True Blood TV series from HBO to the novels they're based on, The Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries, written by Charlaine Harris. What follows are five of the nine comparisons that are made.
"Recently HBO launched the fourth season of the vampire series True Blood. In May, author Charlaine Harris published the 11th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series of novels on which the TV series is based, Dead Reckoning. Fans love to debate which is better, the television series or the books. Here’s my take.
Plotting: The books are richly plotted, with reversals and high-drama situations every few pages. The television series, however, has successfully added layers of complications and twists that make them even tighter and more entertaining. One example that comes to mind is Jason Stackhouse’s involvement with the Fellowship of the Sun Church in the second season, which made this plotline more satisfying. Point to True Blood.
Sex: Virtually every episode of the television series featured naked bosoms and bare derrieres. However, these scenes are usually brief and, as is the case with visual entertainment, we aren’t able to see inside the character’s heads to learn how they view their romantic episodes. Harris seems to relish writing love scenes and does them well. The glimpses we get from the character’s minds in these interludes enhance their depth, so point to the novels.
Humor: Harris has a knack for witty dialogue, and the interplay between Sookie and Pam the vampire is very amusing (“You’re my favorite breather”, Pam tells Sookie at one point.) However, the television series keeps one tongue planted firmly in cheek, and allows characters like Lafayette to play broadly, giving them witty lines that both advance the plot and amuse the audience. Point to True Blood.
Tolerance: True Blood, with cast characters that are gay, lesbian and bisexual, has proven it has nothing to prove in this respect. However, it has a ways to go to catch up with the novels, in which so many characters cross the gender, species and mortality line in so many directions that Harris uses the term omnisexual at one point. Point, the novels.
Cast: The producers of True Blood did an excellent job in casting actors who are very consistent with those in the book, led by the effervescent Anna Paquin. Stephen Moyer as Bill Compton, Sam Trammell as Sam Merlotte, Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse and Alexander Skarsğard as Eric Northman are particularly well done. Having actors that capture the personality of those in the book, then add their own touches, gives a point to the television series.
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July 31, 2011
July 27, 2011
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July 19, 2011
DARK SHADOWS: Stunt Coordinatoer Eunice Hurthart
Eunice Huthart, who has stunt doubled for Angelina Jolie on Lara Croft: Tomb Raider as well as the recent Salt, is currently handling stunts on Tim Burton's Dark Shadows -- and she claims to be having the time of her life. The Liverpool Echo has done a profile of this native stunt lady, whose other credits have included GoldenEye, Titanic, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
"I still wake up every day and I have to pinch myself that I'm getting paid, because it's a bonus. I just feel like I'm playing and enjoying myself." Which isn't to say that the hours aren't long: "I'm coordinating all the stunt work [on Dark Shadows] so it means long days. I'm constantly challenging myself to bring my best work to set. It's hard work, but it's a great laugh. I have a nice time working on every film I do. I just remember working with great people like Angie. Working with Johnny Depp is great; he wants to hear about the football. Everybody's dead normal." On Dark Shadows, how else would it be?
July 16, 2011
GIVING VAMPS THEIR FANGS BACK: Steve Niles and Joe Hill Have Had It With the Romantic Undead
There are a number of horror fans who yearn for the days when vampires were the monsters that they were originally intended to be, and writers Steve Niles and Joe Hill are (separately) attempting to do something about it. In the case of Niles, he and IDW are holding the "Sparkles For Blood" promotion at San Diego Comic-Con. The idea is that fans of The Twilight Saga can come to the IDW booth and exchange copies of Stephenie Meyer's novels for a volume of Niles' 30 Days of Night.
Says Niles, "Real horror fans have watched vampires systematically turned into wimpy fodder for years now. It's time to fight back. I'm happy to be working with IDW on the 'Sparkles for Blood' event. Hopefully, working together we can put an end t this nightmare." 30 Days of Night have spawned numerous comic spin-offs (including a forthcoming ongoing series to be written by Niles) and a feature film version. The premise looks at what happens when vampires take over a remote Alaskhan town and those who remain for the night that lasts 30 days try and survive.
Best selling author Joe Hill (son of Stephen King and who has written the novels Heart-Shaped Box and Horns) says that he's working on a "sideways" vampire novel that will address the situation as well. He muses, "Nothing is more tired than the whole idea of the vampire, and I hate sexy vampires. How did that happen? Sexy vampires are like sexy leeches Really? Really?!"
MY BOYFRIEND IS A VAMPIRE: Manga Goes Digital First, Print Second
Seven Seas has decided to publish the Manga My Boyfriend is a Vampire as a digital publication first, with a print version coming later. In many ways this seems like a new paradigm for publishing and one that will likely catch on as print magazines, newspapers and comics continue to suffer massive declines in hard copy readership.
The title is described as follows: "Being beautiful is never easy, especially if you’re an eighteen year old boy like Gene who is constantly mistaken for a girl because of his delicate good looks. Gene is, in fact, anything but delicate. He is the ringleader of a group of tough kids in an all boy’s school, and he’s quick to beat the living daylights out of anyone who even hints that he resembles a girl. If that wasn’t hard enough for a regular teenage guy to cope with, his life is about to take a shocking turn for the worse. When Gene stumbles upon strange happenings in the forest, he gets sucked into a world of vampire intrigue and sinister romance that he never knew existed. And he learns that there are worse things than being turned into a vampire: being turned into a girl?!"
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Nina Dobrev on Season 3
In an interview with Digital Spy, Nina Dobrev, star of The Vampire Diaries, provided a hint regarding what fans can expect from the show's upcoming third season in terms of the characters.
"The Originals have come in and now that stuff has gone to the dark side," she said. "The whole chemistry of the show is shifting and it's going to be changing the relationships between people who previously bonded. Now that Jenna is gone and Alaric is single and that Elena and Jeremy don't have parental figures, if you will, it will be interesting to see who rises to the occasion. Everything has shifted, and everything is off-balance, so everyone is going to have to compensate in different ways."
July 11, 2011
THE NIGHT STALKER: Johnny Depp to Portray Reporter Carl Kolchak
According to Deadline.com, Johnny Depp has agreed to portray reporter Carl Kolchak in a movie version of The Night Stalker, the classic '70s TV films and television series in which the late Darren McGavin as Kolchak took on a wide assortment of supernatural characters, trying to expose their existence to the world and thwarted at every turn by those in power who refused to panic the public. It began with the 1972 TV movie The Night Stalker, was followed a year later by The Night Strangler and, a year after that, by the one season televison series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. In 2005 X-Files producer Frank Spotnitz launched a short-lived ABC version that completely revamped the concept. There have also been novels (by creator Jeff Rice and journalist turned author Mark Dawidziak), numerous comics from Moonstone and an incredibly in depth companion (also by Dawidziak). Currently Depp is shooting the movie version of '60s soap Dark Shadows (playing vampire Barnabas Collins), and is expected to follow that with his role as Tonto in The Lone Ranger.
July 08, 2011
Vampire Diaries: Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev at Mystic Love Convention
Staying connected to the show's fans, The Vampire Diaries stars Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev appeared at the Mystic Love Convention. There they took questions from the audience, video excerpts of which follow. Just click below to be brought to the videos.
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Syfy Announces Being Human Panel for San Diego Comic-Con 2011
This year's San Diego Comic-Con kicks off on Wednesday July 20th with a preview night, followed by four spectacular days filled with panels, presentations and previews. Syfy will be there with Eureka, Warehouse 13, Alphas and the American version of Being Human. As to the latter, here's how the network describes the panel:
"BEING HUMAN" PANEL: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM, Hilton Bayfront, Indigo Room Find out why "Being Human" Is Harder Than It Looks – especially when you’re a vampire, werewolf or ghost. Don’t miss Sam Witwer (Aidan), Meaghan Rath (Sally), and Sam Huntington (Josh) as they join executive producers Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke on Syfy’s first "Being Human" panel, moderated by award-winning writer Nadira Hira (expert on Generation Y; contributor, Fortune magazine).
July 07, 2011
Angel/Faith#1: Comic Preview
USA Today is offering a preview of Angel/Faith #1, the Dark Horse spin-off that picks up the pieces from where Buffy Season 8 left off. Notes the official description, "Left in a near-catatonic state, Angel will need a seriously rude awakening if he's to make amends for his ill-conceived deeds. Enter rebel Slayer-with-a-cause Faith Lehane. Together they'll have full access to the Watcher files and opportunities to make amends for all they've done ... and will do."
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July 06, 2011
WB Gets Rights to Undying Love Vampire Comic From Image
There would seem to be something ironic about Warner Bros. looking to comic book companies outside of DC for potential film projects, but that's exactly what the studio has done by acquiring the rights to Undying Love, a mini-series originally published by Image Comics.
Describes The Hollywood Reporter, "Created by Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman, Love mixes up the traditional vampire lore with Chinese monster myths as well as the Hong Kong action genre. The story centers on an ex-soldier who falls for a girl that happens to be a vampire. The only way the two can be together is if the man takes on the vampire who created her, which also means fighting an army of monsters in the Hong Kong underworld. Coker and Freedman will write the script." Production is expected to begin in the fall.
Fright Night: Image of David Tennant as Peter Vincent
In the original 1985 version of Fright Night, Peter Vincent, as portrayed by the late Roddy McDowall, was an actor famous for playing a vampire hunter who is recruited by teenager Charlie Brewster to help battle his next door neighbor, Jerry Dandridge, who he's convinced is actually a vampire. In the new version, rising next month, David Tennant portrays Vincent as a Las Vegas magician, leading one to believe that the new Charlie (Anton Yelchin) will have a considerably more difficult time convincing him of his claims about Dandridge (Colin Farrell).
Vampires vs. Zombies at San Diego Comic-Con 2011
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 10:00 – 11:00 AM, ROOM 25ABC
Vampires and Zombies have terrorized and tantalized their way through pop culture for decades – from Dracula to the Twilight Saga to The Walking Dead. SPIKE TV and its DEADLIEST WARRIOR franchise are going to finally answer the question – which of these mythical creatures would come out on top in a fight to the finish? DEADLIEST WARRIOR steps outside the confines of history for this groundbreaking fantasy episode destined to rouse heated debates amongst fans in the blogosphere for months. The special episode features an array of icons of film and fiction who are authorities on the topic. Through these expert interviews, scientific tests and careful analysis, it will be determined who would win in a battle to the death between these two iconic groups, Zombies and Vampires. The DEADLIEST WARRIOR team of Richard “Mack” Machowicz, Dr. Armand Dorian, Rasha Drachkovitch, Robert Daly and special guests Wes Craven, Max Brooks and Steve Niles will be on hand for this special Comic-Con panel to make their case for who is, indeed, the fiercest. Acclaimed Los Angeles Times writer and HeroComplex.com founder Geoff Boucher will serve as moderator.
Alex Van Helsing: Voice of the Undead Coming July 26th
Jason Henderson's second Alex Van Helsing novel, Voice of the Undead, will be published by HarperTeen on July 26th. What follows is the book's official description:
"Now that Alex is in the know about the deadly vampires that live--and hunt--clustered around his boarding school, everything is different. Putting his talents to use, Alex is training with the Polidorium to become a vampire hunter, just like his Van Helsing ancestors. Sure, he's only fourteen, but c'mon, this runs in his blood.Meanwhile, Alex's arch-nemesis Elle, a vampire whose youthful appearance and blond hair disguise a vengeful rage, is out to get him before a powerful leader called "Ultravox" arrives on the scene. Ultravox specializes in assassinations, but who is he targeting? Dodging Elle's attacks, Alex is on a mission to uncover Ultravox's deadly plan before his friends and his school become collateral damage. There's no time to report back; innocent lives hang in the balance, and it's up to Alex to act now--or else."