The Queen of the Damned deals with the origins of vampires themselves. Copyright 2023 On her website, Rice said, "I met Stuart Townsend, the young man who is playing Lestat and he was absolutely charming. The performances are terrible, as is the script. Having slept for decades, he is awakened in modern day United States with a burning desire to be known. Qty: 1 Buy Now Secure transaction Ships from RAREWAVES-IMPORTS Sold by RAREWAVES-IMPORTS Returns Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt Ships from As reported by the BBC, Rice offered to write the screenplay for free. Coming Soon. Director Michael Rymer Writers Anne Rice Scott Abbott Michael Petroni Stars Aaliyah Stuart Townsend Marguerite Moreau But, there was a problem the storyline of the third novel wouldn't make sense without exploring Lestat's origin story. $30.3M, Runtime: Lestat openly proclaims himself a vampire to the world, taunting vampires everywhere, "Come out, come out, wherever you are.". Rating: 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." While some accused the novel's fans of racism, many fans considered themselves purists regarding adaptations of the novels. Under the pen name A.N. Davis and Gibbs have persuaded a who's who of metal vocalists -- Wayne Static of Static-X ("Not Meant for Me"), David Draiman of Disturbed ("Forsaken"), Chester Bennington of Linkin Park ("System"), Marilyn Manson ("Redeemer"), and Jay Gordon of Orgy ("Slept So Long") -- to sing their songs. 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. Tony Sokol with Den of Geek, certainly agreed with that criticism, writing, "The film rolled back the nonchalant sexual fluidity Lestat de Lioncourt, enjoys on the page by neutering all scenes with male lovers," while also acknowledging Lestat's lover Nikki was eliminated from the film. 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. Aaliyahs family estate does not support the release. She was portrayed as a teen seductress rather than one of R. Kellys first and many victims. Michael Rymer was hired after expressing an interest in making an adaptation of "The Vampire Lestat." Several of the characters from the two previous books appear, including Armand, Daniel Molloy (the "boy reporter" of Interview with the Vampire), Marius de Romanus, Louis de Pointe du Lac, Gabrielle de Lioncourt and Santino. 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. Copyright Fandango. 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. The three flee together, but are caught by Akasha's soldiers. The film is more a blurry and strange orgy of weirdness, and not the good kind. Its a brief appearance, but a highly memorable one. English, Director: Rymer told Vulture he had concerns about this approach, asking the studio, "How can you do the third book if you haven't done the second?" Cookies help us deliver our Services. 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. Most vampires believe they should remain unseen by human eyes, their very existence regarded a as myth. Akasha's malevolent power is so great that all the immortal vampires must stand against her if they want to survive. On August 25, 2001, after filming a music video for her song "Rock the Boat" in the Bahamas, Aaliyah and seven other people from the shoot boarded a Cessna 402B, which crashed minutes after takeoff. In "Queen of the Damned," the vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) awakens from a decades-long slumber to the sounds of n-metal. Two years later, she teamed with R. Kelly to make her first record "Age Aint Nothing But a Number." Michael Rymer, Producer: 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. It is a flawed film, but it showcased Aaliyah's talent and promise. In Scotland, Allan Menzies claimed during his murder trial that the character Akasha from "Queen of the Damned" told him they would reward him in his next life as an immortal vampire if he committed murder. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. Twenty years after her death, the singers music will continue to live on. After her death, Warner Bros. delayed the release of the film because they didn't want it to appear they were trying to capitalize on her death (per The Age). An hour's worth of contemporary metal constitutes the soundtrack for the vampire movie Queen of the Damned. Aaliyah embraced the role, bringing her sensuality and natural presence to Akasha. In an interview with The Free Library, Townsend said, "I never thought of this character as male or female, gay or nongay, just as a seducer and as someone who craves to be known, to be famous. After wrapping her scenes for "Queen of the Damned," Aaliyah's third album was released, and she began promoting her album and filming music videos. Akasha allows the king to drink her blood, which saves his life. A maternal line, the Great Family includes every culture, religion, ethnicity, and race. Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles series continues in Queen of the Damned. By creating an account, you agree to the Amel passes into Mekare, thereby saving the lives of the remaining vampires. Jesse : I'm not as precious as you think. However, many, myself included, see it more as a disasterpiece . I can't believe Lestat isn't blond. Fantasy After a century of sleep, the vampire Lestat takes up as the frontman for an undead rock band while unwittingly awakening the dangerous Queen Akasha. Having been awakened by Lestat's rebellious music, Akasha destroys her husband Enkil and plots to rule the world. It's so bad. 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. Believe me, there was no big rush or sense of panic on their part to get the film made. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. 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. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Rotten Tomatoes news! This novel is a continuation of the story that ends in a cliffhanger in The Vampire Lestat and explores the rich history and mythology of the origin of the vampires, which dates back to Ancient Egypt. By the end of the process, I had her reciting Oscar Wilde in a very exaggerated Egyptian accent, crawling around on her knees like a calf." And the newly-released book, "Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah", should serve as a useful companion to those discovering Aaliyahs music for the first time via these platforms. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Lestat takes Louis to see David Talbot in London. Cannot understand why my fellow vampire lovers raved about this movie. "Queen of the Damned" was loosely based on Anne Rice's second and third book in her "Vampire Chronicles" trilogy. The vampires refuse, but Mekare enters and kills Akasha by severing her head and consuming her brain and heart. Please select a reason for reporting this video and add an optional comment. Terms and Policies It was quite palpable. While the king and queen lie dying, the evil spirit sees its chance to ensnare the soul of the dying queen and pulls it back into her body. Menzies' obsession with Akasha and the film "Queen of the Damned" was a morbid twist to a very disturbing crime. Directors Michael Rymer Starring Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah, Marguerite Moreau Genres Horror, Fantasy, Drama Subtitles Lestat de Lioncourt is awakened from his slumber. Lestat's maker is also changed from Magnus to Marius. 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. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. 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). We were in a quarry 20 kilometers from Melbourne. Specifically, the ancient vampire twins storyline from when Akasha sat on her throne was removed, leaving Maharet (Lena Olin) without her sister Mekare, erasing their significance to Akasha's demise. Warner Bros. had good reasons for casting Aaliyah as Akasha, though. 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. She previously starred alongside Jet Li in "Romeo Must Die" (2000), an action film that, like Rymers flawed vampire story, suggests that Aaliyahs film career could have matched her music career in both success and impact. She was a bit shell-shocked by how many changes we'd made to the story." Fans, even as dedicated as Rice's, can make or break a film the author suggested as much to Vulture when she said, "The result disappointed the vast majority of the book's fans and failed to turn them into the kind of self-motivated publicity force you need.". Find her on Twitter and Instagram at @allisonshoe. Support. 2002 Village Roadshow Films (BVI) Limited. The vampire chronicles the film closely follows the book fairly closely the plot is centered on a vampire named Lestat, who wakes up after slumbering for decades to the sound of a heavy metal rock band. And not only did [Aaliyah] do a good job on 'Romeo Must Die,' but people went to see her. His music also awakens the queen of the damned, Akasha the first vampire, who decides to make Lestat her king. They are only reunited near the end of the novel Queen of the Damned. 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. 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. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Aaliyah herself had an intriguing connection with the story. Despite the studio's choices, Aaliyah's death will always be linked with "Queen of the Damned." Rymer told Vulture, "I put that poor girl through the wringer. Enough said Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head: Season 2, Link to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 5, Link to Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Link to RT25: Celebrating 25 Years of Rotten Tomatoes, Link to Betty Gilpin & Co. on Deciphering. It follows Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat. Horror, Original Language: The singer also made waves in the fashion industry. Many, including Rice and Jorge Saralegui(who worked as a producer on the film), believed that the second book in the series would lend itself better to a miniseries than a two-hour movie. "Queen of the Damned" is now streaming for free on Tubi. 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. 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. Director Michael Rymer told Entertainment Tonight, "It took us all a long time to recover. 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. As Gibbs told Louder Sound, during shooting his concerns proved unnecessary, saying, "He knew the songs inside out, he had clearly been rehearsing, and he looked like somewhere between Mick Jagger and Tina Turner and David Bowie, doing all the traditional rock'n'roll moves, and just blew us all away.". I'm sure the book was a lot better. Club Vampire : They all turned to dust. Queen of the Damned - Trailer F1 Warner Bros. 258K subscribers Subscribe 228K views 8 years ago After years of slumber, the legendary vampire has awakened and found acceptance in a tattooed,. It was produced by Richard Gibbs and Jonathan Davis of American nu metal band Korn. Coming Soon. Despite some initial reservations, almost everyone, including the author, agrees Aaliyah was captivating as Queen Akasha. Lestat needed to be a sexy, goth-glam rock star for this film, and Townsend slipped into the role effortlessly. I didn't care for the movie of 'The Queen of the Damned' at all. The service gives fans of films and television programs an easy way to discover new content that is available completely free. They eventually go their separate ways. This article is about the Anne Rice novel. That's gonna be amazing." The film was primarily shot in Australia, where the director Michael Rymer lives, with additional scenes shot in Los Angeles (per Vulture). Follows the legendary vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend), who has reinvented himself as a rock star in the contemporary American music scene. Although Tom Cruise was offered the role of Lestat, he passed on the project (per Jorge Saralegui). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) becomes a rock star whose music awakens the Queen of the Vampires . In theaters now. Marvel Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Jurassic Park Movies Ranked By Tomatometer, RT25: Celebrating 25 Years of Rotten Tomatoes, Betty Gilpin & Co. on Deciphering Mrs. Davis, Weekend Box Office Results: Super Mario Sets Record in Its Second Weekend, A muddled and campy MTV-styled vampire movie with lots of eye candy and bad accents. , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. 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.". Louder Sound reported, because of his contract with Sony, Davis couldn't be featured on the soundtrack, only in the film, so other popular musicians lent their voices to the songs on the album. But it will give a new generation of fans an easier way to hear more of Aaliyahs body of work. She became involved with R. Kelly and the two were secretly married when Aaliyah was just 15. For the 2002 movie adaptation of the novel, see, "Anne Rice brings back her vampire antihero with, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Queen_of_the_Damned&oldid=1137668785, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 21:33. As reported by Vulture, initially the studio was interested in casting Wes Bentley from "American Beauty" as Lestat, but he, too, passed on the role. In 2003, Menzies was convicted and sentenced to life. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. Lestat does not share this belief. Lestat ( Stuart Townsend) has slumbered for two ceturies, but the world above his tomb has changed from the colonial pretension of the 18th century to a more free and colourful world of new more revealing fashions, louder music, caring for the world's future and the hungry machine that is the media. Bored with his existence, he has now become this generation's new Rock God. He had Lestat's excellent speaking voice and his feline grace. Roquelaure, Anne was the author of the erotic (BDSM) fantasy series, The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy. Aaliyah also went on to win three American Music Awards and two MTV VMAs, along with five Grammy nominations. Rated R. 101 minutes. Although "Interview with the Vampire" came out in 1994, Warner Bros. didn't begin filming "Queen of the Damned" until October of 2000 (via Vulture). Film critic Rob Gonsalves wrote: In other words, "Queen of the Damned" might have been relegated to the pop-cultural ash heap, were it not for the short but magnetic appearance made by a pop star on her way to equal or greater levels of big-screen stardom. During production, Gibbs rehearsed with the actors playing the band and Stewart Townsend, and Gibbs became worried because Townsend was uncooperative. Who shall win? Read critic reviews. In her brief life, the singer (born Aaliyah Haughton) recorded three studio albums, a small discography with a huge impact on the landscape of popular music, with Billboard Magazine going so far as to say she "revolutionized" R&B. 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. Cookies Policy | In "Queen of the Damned,"the vampire Lestat (Stuart Townsend) awakens from a decades-long slumber to the sounds of n-metal. The witches are put into two separate coffins which are then set afloat on two separate bodies of water. Part One follows several different people over the same period of several days. In Mekare's absence, Maharet returns to watch over her daughter and her descendants. 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