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ShadowVessel

Joss Should Remake "Vampire$"
Friday, May 21, 2004

Anybody ever read the book, Vampire$ , by John Steakley?

OK, if you said no, then let me rephrase that. Has anybody ever read the book that John Carpenter's Vampires raped? That's right. Raped and left in a ditch.

If you've seen the movie and was so disappointed as to spit on the book if you ever saw it on a shelf than let me clarify. John Carpenter took the name, the main character, and a couple of scenes from the book... and that was it. Those of you who've read the book already know this and were probably as homicidal as I was after seeing the movie.

Anyway, the book is my all-time favorite book. It's got wild humor, roaring action, and piercing drama. Kind of like Firefly. Hell, it could've been Firefly with a different plot and time. Mind you I'm talking about the quality of the writing and story. It makes me wonder if Joss Whedon ever read it himself. That's why he'd be the perfect man to bring this book, and I do mean THE BOOK INTACT, to the big screen again. It's classic Jossage. It puts real life characters and situations in a world of horror and fantasy.

I recently bought the book again (this is my third copy in ten years) and as I re-read it I noticed the simularities to Firefly. That's when the idea hit me that Joss should, no, must remake this movie and give this modern classic of fantasy literature a place in cinematic history. Just like Neil Jordan did with Interview with the Vampire.

But, what are the rules on remaking a movie? How long are you supposed to wait? Do the studios now own this story in all its incarnations? Would Joss Whedon even consider writing the new and improved screenplay and directing?

You know what? I'd be satisfied if Joss would just write the screenplay. I'd love for him to hear this idea for a post- Serenity job. Because this really is a great book and it deserves more than being left in a ditch cinematically.

I highly suggest if you haven't read it to go out right now and buy it. It's worth it.

COMMENTS

Saturday, May 22, 2004 12:36 PM

QUICKSAND


Also, it just occurred to me... Joss is good at ENSEMBLES. How many main characters does the book have, anyway, besides Our Hero Jack?

Saturday, May 22, 2004 9:10 AM

WERZBOWSKI


I enjoyed both Vampire$ the book, and the movie. But I agree that the movie was nowhere near as good as the book.

I could see Joss doing doing a great job if he chose to do a film version of the book. But I would definitely want him to do his own interpratation.

Saturday, May 22, 2004 8:06 AM

FOSTER


Armor drove me crazy! I vowed never to read any of his books ever again. I prefer Weber and Flint to Steakley.

Saturday, May 22, 2004 2:10 AM

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG


I'd be quite dissapointed if Joss went on to remake something someone else had done, and stuck rigidly to the original book. I love Joss because of his originality, I think giving him someone else's material to start with would be a step down for him.
However, that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to see Vampires done properly, even if I did enjoy the original.

Saturday, May 22, 2004 2:10 AM

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG


I'd be quite dissapointed if Joss went on to remake something someone else had done, and stuck rigidly to the original book. I love Joss because of his originality, I think giving him someone else's material to start with would be a step down for him.
However, that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to see Vampires done properly, even if I did enjoy the original.

Friday, May 21, 2004 8:58 PM

QUICKSAND


I remember hearing something about the book at the time. The something was, John Steakley wrote a book, it was nothing like the movie, and he'd written only one other book-- a non-related story, but with a main character named (also) Jack Crow.

Your post makes me want to at least pick up the book, Shadow, so I'll give it a look. I don't know why, though, but I get the impression Joss is leaning more toward franchise-able properties right now. I mean, he's working on the X-Men comic book, he's gonna be shooting 'Serenity' which may or may not be the first in a trilogy, and I hear (only a rumor) that Universal let Joss make this one so they could have him for other projects.

On the other hand, I happen to be a Cynical Bastard with a bad sense of these things, so maybe he DOES need another project to have fun with? I've read a book or two over the years I'd LOVE to ask him if he's read... but alas, I'll have to wait for 'Serenity' instead.

Darn.


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