Jenn - Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
I’m fixing to talk about a legend and when I say a legend that’s exactly what I mean. This guy, well vampire he’s been around for a very long time, there’s many books’ movies and tv shows about him and his true love. Yes, I’m talking about Dracula, now I’ve never read the book. I know. How awful! Shame on me! Hopefully one day I will get to it, just haven’t been able to read at all much lately. Though, I’ve seen a lot of versions of the Dracula movies, and two tv show versions which I liked both. "Dracula" from Netflix, which is my favorite adaption of it ever, and then NBC’s "Dracula" which was unfortunately cancelled as those things usually go. Also, there’s the "Dracula 2000". which Wes’s craven was executive producer on but as they’re in Mel’s favorites I’ll let her go into more detail with those, but I will mention the Bram Stoker's movie version as that happens to be my favorite movie adaption and I just saw it again recently. Now I’m sure we all know the original story. Dracula has found his true love reincarnated in Mina but he has to get Harker out of the way, who just happens to be Mena’s fiancé. This seems to be the case in many of the Dracula adaptions except the Netflix version, and like I said that one just happens to be the best and my favorite, so if you haven’t seen it. I highly suggest that you go watch that now, what are you waiting for. Now the other Dracula movies I haven’t seen and don’t know much about are the classics but classics like that are Dave's forte anyways.
Dave - Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
The history of Dracula goes back to the 1897 publication of the novel and we are still talking about it over a 100 years later. It been done to death, possibly staked, over and over again, a billion different ways. You can't think about the character without thinking of the classic portrayal by Bela Lugosi, whose image is immortalized in Hollywood Wax Museum locations. This one is in Pigeon Forge; TN. Lugosi's 1931 version also spawned the sequels "Dracula's Daughter" (1936) and "Son of Dracula" (1943). Lugosi also went on to play the character one more time in "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein". Another classic portrayal by a well circulated actor is Christopher Lee in a series of projects for Hammer Films in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Leslie Nielsen even had a crack at him in the Mel Brooks parody "Dracula: Dead and Loving It". One of my personal favorites has to the Buffy version in the Season 5 premiere. Kind of an unexpected one episode appearance. You'd think a big name like that, Dracula, would be a season long arc and the big bad of the season. Nope, it takes a wild turn and makes it a one and done, never to be seen in the show again. With a whole slew of incarnations ranging from tv to movies, to comics, to cartoons, it is impossible to list them all or even all the ones we've seen without it being a mile long list. I'm sure we left out some of your faves. So let us know in the comments-- if they decide the comments are working this week.
Melanie -
Unless you are BRAND NEW to the site,(and well if you are then welcome,) then you will probably be aware of my fascination with vampires. I mean before I rebranded I was literally "The Vampire Loving Dork!" (and the name still fits). Of course you can't have vampires without Dracula and as Dave and Jenn already mentioned there are a LOT of versions to choose from, and for the most part I love them all, but let me break down a few favorites!
I love the movies, the TV shows, and the book (and various other book versions too). From movies Bram Stoker's version with Gary Oldman has to get a mention. Yes I know that Keanu Reeves was horrendous in it but even with that accent the movie is beautiful and exquisite! If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. Sticking with movies, as Jenn said, the Dracula 2000 with Gerard Butler as Dracula is a favorite - and Dracula II Ascension, whilst the Dracula character doesn't really work for me overall (Gerard Butler was unavailable for the sequel and it is such a shame), this is possibly one of my favorite stories! Without spoilers - this is modern day Dracula for me! (And we will just pretend that 3rd abomination doesn't exist). From movies I'll swiftly touch on TV - although Dave and Jenn really covered them beautifully. I am one of the few that love the NBC's failed version. The story is unique, and I don't know what the thinking was behind having Johnathon Rhys Meyers adopt an America accent - but the costumes, the scenery, and the attention to details is exquisite. I watch those special features on the DVD often. More recently there was a highly anticipated Netflix adaptation created by Sherlock creators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat (both of whom are well known in the Whovian world too) which many thought it failed to live up to the hype - but I adored it and its original take on the ending. And finally in TV as Dave already mentioned - Dracula in Buffy! This story was incredibly well executed and unexpected - and I think one of the best TV portrayals that is often overlook. And then we get to books. I could write forever and a day on the various Draculas that appear in book form. From the original, to an excellent version that appears in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series (that goes on to have his own spin off series), to the Dracula - The Undead (Written by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt using notes from Bram Stokers original sequel plans). Dracula - The Undead may perhaps be my favorite written Dracula story out there (although I enjoy many). Whatever your thoughts on vampires, one thing is certain, and that is you will have heard of Dracula in one way or another. His presence, like his original character idea, is eternal. Check out the various trailers for the movies and shows mentioned above and then scroll down for the giveaway! No pineapple word this week - so no you didn't miss it lol.
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
And Now For The Giveaway!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Dracula" Prize Pack featuring the 3 Wes Craven Dracula movies, and a paperback copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula sent in by Jenn, the Bram Stoker's movie version DVD from the Melanie's Muses Prize Hoard!!
For your chance to win- FILL OUT THE FORM and tell us: Would YOU have stayed with Dracula?
Comments about the article are very welcome IF we can get it to work - but for now only qualifying entries on the form will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question!
Winner will be announced during the Live show on November 7th (and then posted here on the blog as well on November 8th if the winner isn't at the live.) Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
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