Movie Guys: 'Vampires' brings new blood to horror films

* Grades: Jeff B; Dave B-.

* Starring: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith and Maximilian Schell.

* Director: John Carpenter.

* Screenplay: Don Jakoby.

* Rated: R for nudity, violent images and profanity.

* Running time: 107 minutes.

* Playing at: Regal Cinemas Sunset Station, Regal Cinemas Texas Station, Regal Cinemas Village Square, Las Vegas Drive-In, Century Desert, UA Rainbow Promenade, UA Showcase mall.

Synopsis:

By day, vampire slayer Jack Crow (James Woods) leads a contingent of Vatican mercenaries in a long-waged war against the army of the undead -- blood-sucking vampires. They must find the master vampire and destroy him before he finds an ancient religious artifact which will enable him to grow even more powerful and walk among humans in the daytime. Prepare for the dawn.

Dave:

Veteran filmmaker John Carpenter has returned to his modest style of filmmaking in recent years. His once-prolific turnout of movies -- "Halloween," "Escape From New York," "The Thing," "Starman" -- created his own unique signature that could not only be recognized in the film's title (since most of his flick's include his name in the title), but also in the film itself. His latest feature, about a group of vampire slayers lead by the enigmatic James Woods, hunting down and brutally killing bloodsuckers, offers the perfect material for a Carpenter film.

Jeff:

Halloween is my favorite time of year. It's the best holiday, and making this a unforgettable Halloween season is the tremendous recent harvest of horror films: "Bride of Chucky," "Halloween H20" and "Urban Legend." Take your pick; but good things come to those who wait, and I've waited for a long time to see "John Carpenter's Vampires" (it was released in Europe last year), and it was well worth the wait. This sucker is bloody, bloody, bloody.

"Vampires" is a mega-violent, sexy monster movie, with scores of gore, buckets of blood and rotting flesh. Carpenter pulls no punches and gives his fans a roller coaster ride into the world of the undead -- with guns and crosses blazing -- that is well worth the price of admission. This is one of Carpenter's best films in years.

Dave:

Well, Jeff, being that Carpenter has only made four movies in the last 10 years, I guess I would agree with that. The film stars Woods, who has a personal vendetta against this night breed as he and his band look to eliminate their race. Woods possesses a sharp comic delivery as he verbally abuses every vampire he encounters. No one with a sharp tongue and foul mouth could have made a better Jack Crow as he wanders the New Mexico desert, weeding out the world's population of vampires. But when he finally meets the unholy master Valek (a grimacing Thomas Ian Griffith), the 600-year-old head of the vampires who slaughtered his troupe, he may have met his adversarial match. Now a battle for the hidden black Berziers Cross is underway that will empower Valik and his new wave of vampire children to walk in daylight.

Jeff:

Woods is the typical Carpenter hero -- tough and no-nonsense. "Vampires" starts out with a thrill as Crow and his team of slayers empty a nest of vampires, hiding out in an abandoned house. They spear 'em and drag 'em out into the sunlight. It's a good system. "Vampires" is as much a western as a horror film, as most of the film takes place in the desolate back country of New Mexico and incorporates the theme of the good guys vs. the bad guys.

Crow has help fighting the vamps from Tony Montoya (played by Daniel Baldwin). The team of slayers travels in an armored tank that is loaded with all of the necessary tools to slay vampires -- crossbows, spears, machine guns -- but the only weapons that will kill the undead are a stake through the heart, or sunlight. "Forget garlic, holy water and crosses," Crow explains. "That's all Hollywood." The vampires exist without a code of honor. In one scene, they attack and murder a whole band of defenseless monks. Gee, that was tough. Still, they kill (without conscience) prostitutes, priests and the elderly, not so much for food, but for their quest for the Berziers Cross. What a great ride.

Dave:

"Vampires" is a hip, slick flick with all the gruesome trimmings for a Halloween weekend treat. This is a cross between "The Wild Bunch" and "From Dusk Till Dawn." Writer Don Jakoby (adapting John Steakley's novel "Vampire$") adds plenty of fright and horrid deaths to whet any horror fan's appetite. The film may lag at times, with a tedious subplot between Baldwin and Sheryl Lee. The musical score by Carpenter sounds like he lifted it from his last feature, "Escape From L.A." However, that hardly detracts from the western horror-themed adventure.

Jeff:

The music isn't anything like "Escape From L.A." Dave. It's an original score with a Southern rock and blues feel. What did you hear, Dave?

Carpenter is back in his element as the master of horror, a place that he should visit more often. If he would only get to work on the remake of "Creature From the Black Lagoon," all would be in order. Until then, "Vampires" really sucks -- in the best way possible. Don't miss it.

MOVIE BUZZ

'Magnolia' blossoms:

Tom Cruise may join the cast of "Magnolia," the next film by director Paul Thomas Anderson ("Boogie Nights"). Cruise would have to take a substantial pay cut to appear in "Magnolia," which is a series of vignettes set in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Anderson's script involves six interwoven stories dealing with parents, children, love and loneliness. Cruise, a fan of "Boogie Nights," became involved after Anderson flew to London to visit him on the set of "Eyes Wide Shut." Anderson returned and created the small role specifically for Cruise.

'Freedom' for Freeman?:

Morgan Freeman is up for the role of Nelson Mandela in a film about the South African president's life. "Long Walk to Freedom," based on Mandela's 1994 autobiography, will trace his life from childhood through his 27 years in jail to his becoming South Africa's first black leader. Shooting on the film, the biggest budget project in Africa since "Lawrence of Arabia," is due to start in January.

Sly of the Tiger:

Variety has reported that the thriller "Fatalis" has just been optioned by Universal Pictures. The movie, which is already being mentioned as a possible Sylvester Stallone project, follows at least one thought-to- be-extinct sabertooth tiger going on a rampage through downtown Los Angeles. Meow! All this happens after El Nino-induced climate changes force the creature(s) to leave their hidden habitat. Quick, get me 5,000 catnip mouse toys!

NAME THAT FLICK

"Do not put your faith in such trinkets of deceit. We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are not your ways, and you shall see many strange things. A scary scream of congratulations goes out to Louise Ad-Duri for correctly guessing that the quote was spoken by Gary Oldman in "Bram Stoker's Dracula." Way to go, Louise!

Now for this week's final Halloween horror quote -- it's kind of tricky. Who said this and in what film: "I shot him six times! I shot him six times!"? Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call The Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Be sure to spell your name and leave a daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read.

Before we forget, be sure to pick up this week's issue of Las Vegas Weekly and check out our exclusive inteview with "Night of the Living Dead" director, George A. Romero, which includes information on his long-awaited "Dead" sequel, "Twilight of the Dead."

'Till next week -- Happy Halloween, every body!

The Movie Guys, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears Fridays in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Las Vegas Weekly magazine and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.

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