Cirque du Freak

I wanted to give a head's up on a movie that is coming out next Friday, October 23rd that I can't wait to see. The movie is called "Cirque du Freak - The Vampire's Assistant". This summer my daughter read all the books in the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan. She really loved this vampire saga after having just finished the Twilight series. I must admit that I myself have not read even one book in either of these two series. However, if I were going to choose one to read, it would definitely be the Cirque! And I think I do want to read them because my daughter has informed me that they would be right up my ally. I have to admit that I love the name and premise of the 'Freak Show' already. For some reason it brings to mind Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes". The movie is rated PG-13 so that all those young readers can get in to see it. And having it released right before Hallowe'en was a wonderful marketing strategy.

The basic synopsis of the movie is that a young boy named Darren, meets the mysterious Mr. Crepsley at a freak show, who turns out to be a Vampire. After a series of events, the boy must leave his normal life and go on the road with the Cirque du Freak and become a Vampire. The books do not depict Vampires as evil creatures however, nor do they apply to them the normal stereotypes that we are so accustomed to seeing. In a more realistic take on the Vampire, they do not live forever, but rather they just age slowly. They can go into the sunlight, just not for long since they burn easily, and they don't bite to suck blood, but rather they slit a vein, drink just enough and then heal the wound with their saliva. The film adaptation has such notable actors as John C. Reilly playing Mr. Crepsley, Willem Defoe, Salma Hayek, Ken Watanabe and Jane Krakowski.

I'm looking forward to seeing this one and I am posting the trailer below to give you a little sneak peek...I think it looks really good. My daughter and her friends have expressed one disappointment already however, so take 'Tweenie Boppers' critiques for what they're worth. But apparently after having read the books, they felt that the person that was chosen to play the part of Mr. Crepsley should have been 'good looking' and they don't feel that John C. Reilly fits the bill. But I think that they have just been ruined by 'Twilight' vampires that dress in designer clothes, drive expensive sports car and sparkle in the sunlight. Plllleeeeaassseee! This movie will be a welcome respite from the Twilight hoopla, although not for long, as the next film"New Moon" will be hitting theaters in November....UGH!