6.5 Stars
I would recommend this movie, but only to vampire genera lovers, or people who like easy to follow classical stories. It's great for a rainy day.
Netflix: (Not sure yet)
Amazon: (Not sure)
DVD: (Not sure/Don't Care...yarrr)
Byzantium was a strange movie for me. It's pretty much a guilty pleasure of mine, and I'm not sure how much I'd like to admit it (it usually shocks people since I'm a total realist and run a U.S National Security Blog) but I'm kinda...totally a Vampire Expert :-/ Like...really. It's shameful -facepalm-
((My Own Dystopian NeoVampire Noir Action Novel #WORKING DRAFT#"Cold Flower" Advertisement! Yes I can advertise myself! Dealwithit (⌐■_■) ) --
CLICK HERE FOR THE FIRST 12 CHAPTERS FREE! (SOCIALISM!).
(I think I actually posted like 12 or something but only 4 are finished) *aint body got time fo' that!*
Byzantium [2011] is a breath of fresh air into a genera that was desperately in need of it. The Vampire genera has always been my favorite, and this movie FINALLY felt like a true VAMPIRE MOVIE. It's by the same director as Interview With a Vampire (with Tom Cruise 1994), Neil Jordan, but this movie felt nothing like it in, even though it's a very similar (duh) directing style.
Byzantium is a very strange movie. (it could be far stranger obviously....looking at you Clock Work Orange) That's really all I can say to describe it if given one word beside "vampire". I'd rather not describe it as such, but that's the only word that comes to mind beside generic. That doesn't seem flattering, especially because vampire movies are in their own rite someone unique.
The story takes place in like England or something, to be honest I really don't give a shit because I'm an egocentric American, but basically, it's foreign. Which is awesome. The movie has a very slow pace, or so it would seem while watching it, but when you get done you realize just how much the movie covered. I'm pretty sure it was not paying homage to chitty chitty bang bang or The Never Ending Story, but the movie is one of those "telling a story" movies, where you see what they're telling as they tell it. I've always enjoyed that.
The movie really doesn't have a huge/complex story to it, I think it has just enough and left just enough unexplored (where the fuck did that Blood Waterfall even come from yo), and I think that's what makes it so fantastic. All too often you get movies (looking at you Hungshiter Games) leave sooo much out, or push far far too much in (looking at you Cloud Atlas), but this movie strikes the balance very well.
It's super minimalist, and with vampires, often that's exactly what's needed. It's timid with its bloodshed (although believe me, there is enough!) and the violence is tapered and staggered just enough to feel 'violent' when it happens, as opposed to just eye-candy. I guess what I'm saying is it feels 'real' (at least could...obviously underworld can't).
Byzantium has some somewhat realistic characters, which are probably better on paper than on screen. The cinematography is although rather minimalist, although there are a few interesting shots. It's certainly not boring, but it can get a bit bland. This however doesn't diminish what you're seeing, which is largely more important to this film.
I'm trying my best not to be a pessimist tonight, since I'm drunk or something (usually I fucking rip movies a new ass, you'll see...) but I must say the acting wasn't top notch. This is an all B and some C cast acting. I think it's actually more impressive how well they pulled it off. On a side note, her "mom/sister" has some huge knockers, so if you're bored with the movie, you can just ogle her double D cast acting. Yep. I'm that guy. I went there.
I think what the movie accomplished for what it was and it's budget was pretty fantastic. This movie wasn't meant to be breath taking. It felt like watching a stage play in some ways more than it felt like watching a high budget movie block buster. This is a low key, minimalist movie that isn't designed to smash molds or blow minds. and it doesn't. It has it's moments, but for the most part you'll just be happy you watched it. It won't leave you with a profound message or leave you talking about it (much), but it was satisfying to see a vampire movie come together so nicely, as it's just as much about vampires as it is the characters...so often, it becomes about one or the other and doesn't mesh.
This movie doesn't exactly have an antagonist. It does, but it was difficult to give a shit about them as they show up extremely late and leave early. The few other antagonists come in the form of just a bad situation and story progression. I can't say more without spoilers though, but basically it's just her life against herself. Everything just felt monotone. Probably because the character's voice is monotone.
This movie is more a story of Girl v Self and Girl v World (a drama) than it is about bloodshed (Blade) and violence / action (Underworld) or politics (although flawed, I love Daybreakers [2009]). Thankfully, it doesn't transgress too heavily into any one genera, as often movies do (Looking at you Handhock becoming a strange love story). The pace was fine, the mood was always the same, and the extremely melodramatic bland main character really made the movie feel....angsty?
Some Negative: I'm not sure whether it's a flaw or not, it probably was, but the movie never quite raised my blood pressure or had me glued to the screen. I found myself texting during it to be honest...it can be often too slow, or feel like it. When the climax came, I can't really say I gave a shit. Looking back now, I was actually pretty bored. I'm writing this review for people who enjoy low key movies and trying to empathize, but to be honest it was exactly what I expected...a boring tale of generic vampire crap where people die, vampires argue and shit goes on. I think the monotone narration didn't help much either.
Really...I'm trying to be possitive. When I dislike a movie, I'll tear it a new asshole.
Anyway, comparing it to others of the genera (ugh if you can even call it that) or other movies that failed on all fronts (while trying) it's pretty apparent this movie comes together nicely.
Fuck it, that's all I'll say.
If you're digging vampire flicks like Let The Right One In, or Interview With a Vampire, than I'd say check out this mellow drama.
* Notice I didn't even dignify a comparison parallel to some 'vampire' (flesh eating space gargoyles from neptune) movies. Fuck that whole series.
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