Move over Buffy...

1414 Views 29 Replies 9 Participants Last post by ADU, Jun 30, 2004

ADU

Discussion Starter · May 30, 2004

...cuz the VAMPIRE EFFECT is in town.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I'm not exactly sure what this is, but I think I dig it, and suspect some other Buffy fans may too. To give credit where it's due, I believe this is also the movie slateef refers to here as the "Twins Effect".

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slateef

· #2 · May 30, 2004

you are correct, sir! i think they changed the name when marketing to the US (actually, vampire effect does sound better! - to me, anyway).

ADU

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 30, 2004

Agreed. If you're up on Asian pop culture though, then I suppose the "Twins" thing probably makes perfect sense. I see there's a sequel of sorts already in the works for the Twins too.

Thinkin maybe I should check out The Storm Riders (featuring Ekin Cheng, not the Twins) as well now.

FredProgGH

· #4 · May 30, 2004

The girls are cute cute cute. And there are some good action sequences, and the CGI isn't even too bad. But the plot is convoluted even by Asian standards and makes zero sense. There are typically awful attempts at humor as well. The interesting thing is how they have embraced the western/Buffy vampire model with open arms. This is a relatively new idea for HK movies AFAIK and it's cool to see our approach to vampires funneled through an Asian sensibility. But ultimately this movie is best as video wallpaper. Turn down the sound and put on a Ramones album.

ADU

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 30, 2004

Hmm... I would've thought this was right up your alley Fred. The plot made as much if not more sense to me as Van Helsing though.

And some of the dialogue had me in stitches:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Kazaf: You always crash weddings?

Helen: It's important to do research.

If you're intimately acquainted with the plot twists in Buffy (compare "Buffy research" vs. Helen's for example) it's probably all the more humorous. Thankfully Jackie Chan (who only has brief cameos) does not try to be Giles though.

FredProgGH

· #6 · May 30, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by ADU
Hmm... I would've thought this was right up your alley Fred. The plot made as much if not more sense to me as Van Helsing though. And some of the dialogue had me in stitches

Well, overall I did like it decently. And I have to sadly admit I've never really seen much Buffy so a lot of that angle was lost on me. Overall the JC scenes were what dragged it down quite a bit. It was like a different movie just started. And I just have trouble with most HK attempts at humor I guess. I hated films like Wheels On Meals...

ADU

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 30, 2004

Haven't seen Wheels on Meals (perhaps I'm better off for it?). I agree a little on the Chan stuff, though to me it still fit more-or-less within the general atmosphere of the thing. My guess is the producers probably felt some Jackie-time might give this a better lift in Chan-familiar markets. No biggee.

Another (dialogue) example of what makes this good IMO:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Reeve (the mentor): As my assistant you need to remember two things-- always do as I tell you, and don't argue with me.
Gypsy (the new slayer): You mean I just have to follow you around?
Reeve: That's right... like Batman and Robin.

If you know Buffy & Giles then this is probably doubly amusing, but I suspect even non-Buffy fans can see humor in that. It may not always use it successfully, but at least this film tries to have a brain.
And one minor plot clarification that may have been a bit confusing:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Reeve, the master slayer, keeps the antidote to his super-power serum hidden in a bottle labeled "Banana Extract", like the kind used for cooking. Vanilla might have been better for American audiences (though it probably would not have fullfilled some other plot requirements as well).

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FredProgGH

· #8 · May 31, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by ADU
Haven't seen Wheels on Meals (perhaps I'm better off for it?). I agree a little on the Chan stuff, though to me it still fit more-or-less within the general atmosphere of the thing. My guess is the producers probably felt some Jackie-time might give this a better lift in Chan-familiar markets. No biggee.

Another (dialogue) example of what makes this good IMO:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Reeve (the mentor): As my assistant you need to remember two things-- always do as I tell you, and don't argue with me.

Gypsy (the new slayer): You mean I just have to follow you around?

Reeve: That's right... like Batman and Robin.

If you know Buffy & Giles then this is probably doubly amusing, but I suspect even non-Buffy fans can see humor in that. It may not always use it successfully, but at least this film tries to have a brain.
And one minor plot clarification that may have been a bit confusing:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Reeve, the master slayer, keeps the antidote to his super-power serum hidden in a bottle labeled "Banana Extract", like the kind used for cooking. Vanilla might have been better for American audiences.

Yeah, I got all that, honestly

I hate to be put in a position where I'm sounding like I'm dumping on the movie- it was OK. I just didn't think it was great. I thought it was better than the movie about the assassin sisters a while back though. What the heck was that called...

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ADU

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 31, 2004

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?

ADU

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 31, 2004

Quote:

And I have to sadly admit I've never really seen much Buffy so a lot of that angle was lost on me.

FWIW...
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) if you aren't that well acquainted with Buffy, then some of the humor in the girls' relationships could be lost on you as well.

FredProgGH

· #11 · May 31, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by ADU
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?

No

It was a hi-tech thriller about a hot female assassin. Her sister also becomes an assassin against the older sister's wishes and eventually the younger one has to avenge the older one's death. They gp up against some kind of corporate drug-lord. Actually, the final fight in the movie was great but the rest was pretty lame.

ADU

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 31, 2004

Crouching Tiger, Hidden (Hot Female) Assassin maybe? I'm sorry Fred, but I'm just not up enough on the HK stuff.

BreakStuff

· #13 · May 31, 2004

Buffy is the queen of vampire slayers,and who gets tired of looking at this..

http://www.kittyfingers.com/VampSlayer.gif

ADU

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 31, 2004

I'm with you Breakstuff but still advise seeing this film anyway. As Fred points out, it's perspective on vampire slaying in another culture is at least... educational?

FredProgGH

· #15 · May 31, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by BreakStuff
Buffy is the queen of vampire slayers,and who gets tired of looking at this..

Certainly not me- though I'm a Willow/Band Camp Chick guy myself...

ADU

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 31, 2004

I dated a flautist in H.S. and she/we had some wonderful 'band camp' stories too.

bosng

· #17 · May 31, 2004

don't get your hopes up with this one. i wish i could reclaim the time i lost

watching this stinker. buffy all the way. in case your're wondering, i love asian cinema, but when they stink, i let it be known.

taz291819

· #18 · May 31, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by FredProgGH
No It was a hi-tech thriller about a hot female assassin. Her sister also becomes an assassin against the older sister's wishes and eventually the younger one has to avenge the older one's death. They gp up against some kind of corporate drug-lord. Actually, the final fight in the movie was great but the rest was pretty lame.

I actually bought that dvd, it was pretty good. For the life of me I can't think of the title, I'll edit my post with it when I get home from work.

The two women in it were very hot.

Edit:

The title of the movie is "So Close."

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Josh Z

· #19 · May 31, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by FredProgGH
Certainly not me- though I'm a Willow/Band Camp Chick guy myself...

I assume you've seen this hilarious page before?

http://lavender.fortunecity.com/mock...ts/willow.html

[Warning for those reading from the office: Racy but not dirty photos.]

ryoohki

· #20 · May 31, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Josh Z
I assume you've seen this hilarious page before?

http://lavender.fortunecity.com/mock...ts/willow.html

[Warning for those reading from the office: Racy but not dirty photos.]

Thanks Josh, you made my day. The actress who play dawm is heading to be a cute young women... Even if she's younger in buffy!

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