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Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Year: 2009
Director: Paul Weitz
Rating: PG-13
Length: 109 Min.
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
John C. Reilly
Josh Hutcherson
Chris Massoglia
Jessica Carlson
Michael Cerveris

Plot:
Welcome to the Cirque du Freak, a traveling sideshow filled with magical creatures, misunderstood freaks, and the mysterious vampire, Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly). Drawn to the dark, unpredictable world of the Cirque, 16-year-old Darren (Chris Massoglia) decides to trade in his ordinary life for a chance to become an immortal vampire. As Darren explores his newfound powers and faces unexpected enemies, he'll find that his existence as a memeber of the undead is filled with more challenges, suspense and fun than he ever thought possible. Based on the best-selling book series and co-starring Salma Hayek, Josh Hutcherson, Ken Watanabe, and Willem Dafoe, it's a fast-paced, suspenseful journey critics call, "Imaginative!" (Peter Hall, Cinematical.com)

Extras:
Scene Access
Feature Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes


I really enjoyed this as it was so much more than I was expecting which was a lame comedy that spoofed Vampire movies. Boy was I wrong! While there was some comedic elements, this was the first of what I'm sure will be many entries into an ongoing story about warring vampire factions. Gorehounds looking for buckets of blood will be disappointed.... but what this movie lacks in gore it makes up for with story and mystery.

The two young male leads, Josh Hutcherson and Chris Massoglia were good but the casting for those characters could be completely interchangeable with any multitude of young actors. The real strength of this movie lies in it's veteran cast. John C. Reilly shows us once again that he has leading role savvy as the central vampire, Larten Crepsley. Now if someone could only convince him to stay away from Will Ferrell....  Willem Dafoe, in a rather limited role, clearly pays homage to Vincent Price and is marvelous! His final scenes in this one tease us with the promise of more from him in the forthcoming sequels. Salma Hayek, as the bearded lady, was fine as well, although really... who was looking at her beard??

Throw in Ken Watanabe, Patrick Fugit, Orlando Jones and others in their roles as the various 'freaks', each with their own potential stories to explore made for a spectacular collection of characters and endless possibilities in what should be a franchise. I checked on IMDB and do not see any news of a sequel yet, but I'd be shocked if this one doesn't play out much much more.

Looking forward to the continuing of this story and would recommend this movie to fans of the genre!

KC

Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on October 14th, 2010)

Breaking the Waves, a review by Rich

a trudge through Denmark



In a small coastal village, young and naive Bess marries an oil rig worker despite a strict community's opposition. It is a marriage of spiritual and sexual bliss until an accident severely paralyzes him. Out of open-eyes self-sacrifice and love, she ignores her own safety in the hope that a miracle will bring her husband back to her.

Filmed like a low-budget documentary, a naive young woman who believed her desire to reunite with her offshore oilrigging husband caused the accident that paralysed him. She repents by submitting to his wish that she sleep with other men. The more she degrades herself, the healthier he becomes. Emily Watson is brilliant (clothed and naked), but the movie itself, whilst being gritty and original, was not to my taste, so I could only give it a 4.


(From Around the World in 80 DVD's on January 4th, 2008)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
4.07 Little Green Men
Writer: David Mack (Writer), John J. Ordover (Writer)
Director: Alexander Singer
Cast

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on November 3rd, 2011)