Werewolf and Vampires and Monsters! Oh My!
Posted By Kathleen David on June 3, 2004
Peter and I finally say Van Hellsing last night. It had all the classic Universal Monster tropes. There were the throw away comic lines especially by the comic sidekicks. There were the Monsters which, in a CGI world, were pretty kick ášš. I liked how a Werewolf returns to human by tearing off his wolf skin. I didn
Well????? What bugged you about the ending???
Or do we have to wait for Peter’s review???
And will it be on the blog or in the monthly CBG?
-Joe (who had a fun time at Van Helsing and just pretended he was 9 years old again)
Amen.
Actually, I sort of wish that any given convention’s handbook/pamphlet/guidebook/newsletter/what-have-you-that-states-the-rules-and-gives-the-schedule would also include a guide to “How To Interact With The Stars”. (As if the folks organizing the convention don’t already have enough to do!)
Hey, even better, maybe a bulleted “Good Idea/Bad Idea” list could be printed on the back of the badge.
This wouldn’t get rid of the problem completely, of course; some folks simply aren’t teachable in the etiquette department, and others might be but cannot successfully take in information unless it’s presented orally, with sharp banging noises for emphasis.
But, on the other hand: I know that I should keep away when I have a cold, and I know that I shouldn’t take any more of your time than five minutes even when there’s no crowd at all (I’m a total stranger, after all!), and I know you’ll enjoy talking to me more if I’m not asking you the same questions you’ve heard umpteen million times, but … if it’s hot and crowded and the middle of the day, is it okay to offer you a clearly-still-factory-sealed bottle of water or can of soda or something? Or is that creepy? If I spot you trying to get to the elevator, can I offer to help carry your stuff, since I’m heading the same way anyhow?
(Just to be fair, I actually do understand that the rule is “If the Guest isn’t sitting at her autograph spot, speaking as part of the panel I’m attending right this second, or in the same miserable circumstances in which I’d help any other total stranger, LEAVE HER ALONE.” But I know that a lot of my non-501st friends don’t always bear in mind that knowing a name and a face of a cordial person, and perhaps having had a pleasant conversation once or twice, do not equal “on friendly terms, go right ahead and chat ’em up during lunch”.)
Having sat on the opposite side of the table at 501st volunteer events, there’s a whole ‘nother subset of this problem that you didn’t mention: kids, no longer directly under the watchful eye of their “responsible” adult, who show up and want to play with our stuff and generally behave in clingy, obnoxious fashion.
What parent of anyone younger than fifteen thinks it’s okay to send that child off, alone, without even sibling or classmate support, to hang around in a crowded convention with total strangers?!? And how do I tell the kid, without hurting his feelings, that he is NOT allowed to play with our props because they are NOT toys, and perhaps it’s time he take his autographed stuff and return to his daddy?
It is NOT that I dislike children. I like well-raised kids just fine — the ones who ask before touching, who don’t interrupt others’ conversations, and who don’t latch onto me as substitute “friend” for two hours while Dad watches the football game in another section of the facility. And it’s not the kid’s fault, either, that he doesn’t know how to act; so I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I do want to maintain a safe boundary, and keep doing my “job” of talking to everyone who comes up with a question.
My husband and I saw Van Hellsing at the “drive-in” , 2 weeks ago. The unexpected bad weather was distracting me, but to be honest, when I am engrossed in a good flick a tornado could roll over me and I wouldn’t budge or miss one line. Needless to say this one, just didn’t keep me glued. I really don’t think it was the movie itself, more the idea of all movies these days, maybe I have just passed the point of enjoying all the hooplah of today’s form of special fx. I don’t consider myself “that” old, but I remember movies before CGI, when they had special fx that amazed me and made me remember the person or people responsible for them. Fantastic costuming, masks, make-up, animatronics, actual stunt actors that performed deaf defying stunts, those really drew me, because even though you knew they were there, you weren’t supposed to know, and most of the time, you couldn’t tell exactly where they were. The other thing that really kept me glued was fabulous acting. I enjoy seeing actors “act”, if they are always typecasted into the same type of character, or always seem to play their rolls exactly the same, I lose track of whether I am watching a character from Van Hellsing, or a character from Xmen. I almost would rather not see another movie that isn’t just a heart warmer or comedy, because lately I seem to always walk away from the others disappointed. Action, is great, but I want to “hear” more of the story than just “see” it, and I would like feel more involved with the characters. When all you see is flying around, zippin from one point or another and growling, howling or shrieking you can’t get emotional about the character. I need more depth to their personality and I need to feel like I know them. I think I will be more of a reader in my old age.
As for fans… oh well everyone needs a pet… hehe… no I’m teasing. I remember being a young girl in love with “Sting” and I just knew that somehow he was singing to me and knew everything I was thinking, even though we had never met. To my amazement I found out the torch he was carrying, wasn’t for ME! but his beautiful wife-Trudy. I can’t tell you some of the really stupid things I did, Like baking cookies made in the shape of roses and putting 4 dozen of them in a vase to take to a book signing. Now did I honestly believe he would ever eat them? But I always had the big ideas… errrr should we say Stalker! I grew out of that with age, but I do know there are some people who just never seem to leave the past behind them. I tend to agree that in all likelihood, many times fans feel like they are the soul (or sole) of the actor’s universe because they are “the fan” the one that launched a thousand careers with their loyalty. Loyalty is a good thing, but even husbands and wives need breaks from each other and actors/performers are no different when it comes to the public. I think the best etiquette rule of thumb would be, take your cue from the actor/ writer/ performer… “by invitation only”. If they invite you to talk with them longer, feel free. If they have walked away from the obvious public areas, or are involved in conversation with someone else, consider that their “free time” when they are not on YOUR clock anymore.
This post is not about the film, just about Fallen Angel. Sorry, didn’t know where else to post it. I just wanted to say I am a huge fan of the comic, I think it is one of the best that DC puts out (although I was a bit miffed about the way the co. sneakily raised the cover price by 45 cents) I just wanted to know if there will be an annual following next issue’s 12th ish. Because that would be way cool!
Is vanhelsing worth the $$?? I saw the 30 min anime and I liked it. It had weak moments, but it was a fun ride over all. But i’ve heard so much BAD stuff about the movie. Of course, EW seems to hate everything I seem to like, so that may be tainting my perception (I just cancled my subscription today. it was kind of a freeing experience). My mom gave it a good review, but she married my dad so that means she has low standars.
As for fans… i’m the stupid person who stands 20 feet away from the table and watches everyone ELSE talk to the writer/artist/actor/widget-cheff like a street urchant looking in a bakery store window because I’m so socially inept. I had an opera singer I really admire come up to me after my recital a few years ago and pay me several sincere complements and I almost threw up. I freaked out, and kept looking for one ofmy friends to save me. I WANT to be come a time drain. How can I get lessons in how to do this?? It’ll mean that I’m like WAY less socially inept than I am now LOL.