DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '26 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '08 II => Topic started by: Mysterious Benefactor on September 02, 2008, 10:14:48 PM
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Here's an Associated Press review of True Blood that likens its central vampire Bill to (Frid's) Barnabas: Vampire novels adapted for HBO's 'True Blood' (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jsEOYdOe0VjCY4_OonuSZCb0m_dAD92UBMM80)
(As a side note: when I watched the original version of the True Blood pilot (with Brook Kerr for you Passions fans - though her role has since been recast), I thought Stephen Moyer, who plays Bill, looked familiar but I couldn't place him. But thanks to this review I now realize it's because he was in Ultraviolet. [6184] How foolish of me not to have remembered because I really enjoyed that - and now I'm looking forward to True Blood even more than I already was because I know what Moyer is capable of doing with his role.)
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There are the similarities mentioned in the article, and that's about it, at least as far as I can tell from the books in the series I've read (currently the first two, and I'm reading the third one now); Barnabas and Bill are fairly dissimilar in most ways. I'd also like to point out that the character of Tara has merely been expanded upon for TrueBlood, not created for it, as the article claims.
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Barnabas and Bill are fairly dissimilar in most ways.
And Bill is probably quite happy about that because, well, let's face it, (Frid's) Barnabas has more than a few unenviable traits. [ghost_wink]
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theres an article in the san francisco examiner about this new show on hbo. the article compares it to dark shadows and mentions frid and barnabas.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1565610~Vampire_novels_adapted_for_HBO_s__True_Blood_.html#articleComments
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I told everyone he was gonna sorta be Barney like... [ghost_nowink]
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The producer of True Blood gave an interview at Salon.com in which he said that the show will gve rise to a new phrase:
Fang Bangers
mortals who have sex with vampires!
David
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I've noticed that many of the articles about the show directly mention things taken all but verbatim from the books and credit them to the show's writers, like the article David mentioned, and the bit from an article that was posted in another thread that mentions Sookie guessing that Bill's name would be something more traditionally vampiresque; that one was written to make it sound like Ball wrote the line rather than it being essentially Harris's original line. (Did I punctuate that correctly or was that a run-on sentence?) Of course, in the former case, the producer could simply have meant that it would popularize the phrase, not create it, and these are just entertainment sites, which are notorious for the occasional slight screwup.
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So Goober you have mentioned your age before and so I wondered are these books as graphic and sexually provocative as the HBO show looks? I really have no idea how strict your folks are on your reading habits. Not being nosey about your private life I just wondered more or less what the novels were like versus how HBO shows usually handle sex, violence, etc.
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My mother (quite hesitantly) gave me the go-ahead to read them after reading them herself. There's a lot of sexual content, but nothing terribly explicit, and I can read it maturely (read: without going "tee-hee, sex, lol"). I don't have HBO, and, aside from Dead Like Me, have never watched a "premium" network show on DVD, so I can't comment, but I get the strong feeling from the interviews that they're going to go into sexual territory more frequently and more explicitly with TrueBlood.
And, fairly major book and potential TrueBlood spoiler, [spoiler]you're looking at Moyer as a regular for the first two or three seasons only. It's my understanding that Bill becomes more recurring than regular after Book/Season 3.[/spoiler]
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but I get the strong feeling from the interviews that they're going to go into sexual territory more frequently and more explicitly with TrueBlood.
Like I said, I've seen the original pilot, so trust me, they are. And Ryan Kwanten wasn't just joking when he remarked, "One of the grips jokes that he sees me naked more than he does his girlfriend" - he's stark naked for a good half of the pilot. And it won't really ruin a plot point to reveal that the woman his character is with not only has sex with him, but she's seen on video having sex with a vampire.
I don't know if they're still doing so, but last week when I was in Best Buy they were giving away a copy of the reworked pilot (with Rutina Wesley as Tara instead of Brook Kerr) to anyone who bought any HBO series on DVD.
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WELL I have seen RYAN and he can be naked in the whole series for all I care. I know I am a shallow horrible person. [ghost_tongue2]
MB you must have connections. You told me that story about your avatar and now this. You name fits you!?? :) Mysterious!
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Oh sorry for the double post. I forgot to say thanks Goober. I was interested to hear your take since you have been reading the books. I read the spoiler since one has no idea if ALAN BALL will completely stick to the books. Again thanks for the insight! Those mothers CAN be hard to convince. I remember those days....However relish them for the bad, the good, and everything in between, because it will be over in the blink of an eye!! I wasn't allowed to watch Smurfs or Dungeons and Dragons or anything that dealt with magic when I was young.That was mostly brought on by our churches preacher's views! [ghost_wacko] However, when I hit about 13-14 my mother (kind of like yours) did let up on me. SHE had no problem with me watching DS 1991 and it was kind of provocative and bloody for it's time and dealt heavily in the occult. She did make me quit watching them after I had watched them a hundred times over the summer waiting for it's return. They thought I was becoming obsessed. Maybe they were right! ;)
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Oh, I love my mom, and she doesn't have restrictions on anything related to magic, and never has (though, as I've said before, my grandmother is another story! [ghost_tongue2]). There are a few things I'd like if she lightened up on, but she's cool, basically.
Anyway, I likely won't be seeing the show for a while (if ever; I'm not really that interested in watching it, to be honest), but I do hope it turns out well.
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Anyway, I've seen a few clips of TB, though I haven't seen the whole first episode. Bear in mind that these are merely based on what I've seen from clips.
First of all, I hate the title sequence. Not the song; I love that song, though, since Sookie is the main character, a song performed by a female artist would have been slightly preferable. But the visuals go over just about every Southern stereotype there is, and I personally find it somewhat offensive. We have rickety swamp shacks, closed-minded Bible-thumpers, roadkill, Coyote Ugly dancers... Ugh. And none of the cast whatsoever appears, which I could deal with if the video montage they used wasn't so horrible.
As for casting, Anna Paquin is a bit too pale to play Sookie, but I could easily have put up with, except that her accent is terrible. "Wayull, Beeyull, yoo juhst likkd awl ovurh mah hayud. Thayut's prihtee puhrsahnahl." Stephen Moyer looks the part of Bill, and his accent, though not great, is easily passable. Ryan Kwanten and Sam Trammell just don't play Jason and Sam the way I pictured them. And, God, did they ever butcher Tara. From what I've seen, her character has been reduced to a hollow stereotype. Gran is also not how I pictured her.
I find it strange that they felt a need to jack up the profanity from the books. I'm not offended by it or anything, but Dead Until Dark had two f-bombs in the whole book, whereas a two-minute clip of TrueBlood that I watched had about 15.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts based on what I've seen.
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I love the show. I actually just finished the second episode Bill really does remind me of Barnabas in lot of ways. They have taken some Whedon mythology and added it in. Or possibly the guy who made The Lost Boys, did those vampires need to be invited in?? I can't remember. [ghost_wacko] I don't mind the F word. I don't mind the sex. I am actually glad I haven't read the books so I have nothing to compare them too. I may read them after the show is finished. Kind of like my brother is doing with Harry Potter!
BTW!! It has already been picked up for Season Two!
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I"ve seen the first two episodes, and am very impressed. To address some issues...
First, I grew up in the deep south and the series felt very much like it was happening there. That includes both the emphasis on manners, the hardship of often-stagnant economy, the attitudes people throw up, etc.
Second, this is the way people talk. How you could have a story set where and when this story is set, among these characters and not have profanity is something I don't see how it could work. Keep in mind, not all the characters do curse very much, if at all. But some do, and that accurately reflects life.
Likewise, the story is about--among other things--sex. That is a perfectly valid thing for stories to be about.
Lastly, Bill does have some parallels I can see with Barnabas. Both have returned to their homes long after their families are dead, restoring an old house, becoming interesting in a local girl whom he is sorely tempted to bite. He visits the neighbors, and stirs up strong feelings including friendship with the family matriarch. More, Bill does have a slightly melancholy air about him, a certain gentlemanly grace, and a stillness that sets him apart.
Plus, his name starts with a "B."
There are a lot of differences, though. Bill is far more diplomatic than Barnabas, and seems more comfortable with his vampire status. He isn't nearly as aristocratic, nor seemingly as vain. Not a ring or over-elaborate cane in sight! If anything his wardrobe is very ordinary. Plus he doesn't seem as obsessed with the past, the way Barnabas was forever dwelling on what had been (often at the expense of what was or could be).
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...this is the way people talk. How you could have a story set where and when this story is set, among these characters and not have profanity is something I don't see how it could work. Keep in mind, not all the characters do curse very much, if at all. But some do, and that accurately reflects life.
Likewise, the story is about--among other things--sex. That is a perfectly valid thing for stories to be about.
Oh, I know that. I was merely making an observation that there's considerably more profanity in TrueBlood than in the books, as well as that the sex in TB seemed more explicit for a TV show than the sex in the novels was for books. And when I complained about the hick accents that some of the actors were putting on, it was primarily because, at one section in the first novel, Harris mentions that a character (who, despite being a somewhat minor character, will likely be the hardest to cast; I refuse to spoil the hilarious reason why) speaks "with a thick Southern accent" - which, at least to me, implies that the other characters' accents are light to moderate.
There are a lot of differences, though. Bill is far more diplomatic than Barnabas, and seems more comfortable with his vampire status. He isn't nearly as aristocratic, nor seemingly as vain. Not a ring or over-elaborate cane in sight! If anything his wardrobe is very ordinary. Plus he doesn't seem as obsessed with the past, the way Barnabas was forever dwelling on what had been (often at the expense of what was or could be).
Yes, those large differences in their personalities are why I don't really consider Barnabas and Bill to be similar people. There are some big parallels in their situations, and a few small ones in their appearances and personalities, but I don't see them as being similar people.
Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing who they cast in that role that I mentioned earlier; like I said, they either need to cast it flawlessly or skip the character altogether, and the latter would be terribly unfortunate.
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Last night's episode featured a great SHOUT OUT to BUFFY and BLADE!! I LOVED IT!!! And Ben is more and more ( to me) this new generations cool vampire. In the show at least he reminds me of Barney, Louis and Angel.
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First, what was the shout out? Second... Ben?
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I meant Bill. Typo. Without giving the plot away. Basically a guy who wants to date SOOKIE said something like. "I wish to God Buffy or Blade would come to town!!" And he delivered it so funny!! Made me smile as Buffy is my second favorite show of all time. I have three shows that are my number 1 favorite shows of all time. I love all three equally the same. There my rules and I ain't breakin' them! LOL
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Ah, okay. Sounds like it was pretty funny.
I have a strange hierarchy of my favorite shows. Buffy and Buffy alone is Tier 1, for reasons I've given elsewhere. Angel, Northern Exposure, DS, and a couple others fall into Tier 2. To be honest, even I'm not totally sure how my mind works in that area. [ghost_tongue2]
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Have any of you watched the HBO series True Blood yet? What do you think?
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I saw episode one. It was not really my cup of tea.
G.
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I find it rather intriguing. I don't care for all of the superfluous sex scenes. Most of that involves Sookie's brother, and it seems like they do it just because as HBO they don't have the restrictions of the regular broadcast networks, so they're going to make sure to put it in. And, I don't care too much for the other characters or their stories. But, I like Sookie, her ability to hear others' thoughts, the vampire and their interactions. So, at the moment I'm still watching it. I do the On Demand later in the week, so I haven't seen Sunday's yet.
The whole concept of vampire's being "out" in the community is fun. In the last one I saw, Bill was addressing a group about his experiences in the Civil War and knowledge of the current day people's ancestors in the war. Can you imagine someone who knew him talking to you about what your great-grandfather did about 150 years earlier? It was such a fun idea. Also, Bill seems a basically decent and "good" guy, unlike some of the other vampires shown.
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I. LOVE. IT! One reviewer said it's like Charmed, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Dark Shadows mixed and I completely agree! Two of my favorite shows and one (Dukes) favorite from childhood. I loved that one though so I could look at Bo and Luke nekkid! [8_1_214]
Sookie's Telepathic abilities reminds me of Charmed the down homeyness reminds me of 'Dukes' and the mystery, suspense, and vampire lead reminds me of Dark Shadows!
I am loving it! I love Bill and I love the way he says SOOKIE! SWOON! :::THUD:::: I love the undead! I am just enjoying it and that is all I guess I can say!
And for me the completely gratuitous MALE ASS scenes are a plus!! [8_1_202]
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I don't have HBO, I want to see this show. Is there anywhere online to watch?
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Try HBO.com and see if they are offering it. That was what the writers dispute was over so I would say they are showing it on line like the other networks are now doing like The CW, NBC, etc.
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there are file sharing programs like minova that offer all the episodes for download. ive seen every episode so far and enjoying them. you can also view them on www.surfthechannel.com
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I'd recommend waiting for the DVDs, as HBO (unsurprisingly) has no free online instant viewing service, and the methods joe integlia shared are a bit less than legal... aside from that, I got a damaged disk from Netflix once, and I tried one of the sites that Surfthechannel.com uses for videos, and received a lovely Trojan on my PC.
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I was hoping ITUNEs would have it but they don't...I guess because of the HBO factor. They want you to subscribe to their channel... [devil2]
I always wanted until Sex and The City came out on DVD, so I guess I am going to have to wait... [devil2]
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i must have good virus protection in my computer cause i never got a virus from either site but it is always a risk. the 1st episode was available as a free dvd rental from blockbuster before the 1st episode aired on hbo but not sure if it still is available.
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You can watch the episodes here:
http://www.watchtrueblood.net/
Or here:
http://www.truebloodepisodes.com/
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so are these legal sites? are they virus free?
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Honestly, I do not know.
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Since the vampires on True Blood are "out" and can go to a bar and order "True Blood," I thought it might be sufficiently related to post this joke here:
Vampire Bar
It was Halloween and three vampires went into a saloon and walked up to the bar. "What will you have?" the bartender asked.
"I'll have a glass of blood," the first replied.
"I'll have a glass of blood, too, please," said the second.
"I'll have a glass of plasma," said the third.
"Okay, let me get this straight," the bartender said. "That'll be two bloods and a blood light?"
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o i c wat u did thar [hall2_cheesy]
Seriously, though, that made me chuckle.