Legendary in Death...

Chemistry...no, blood get these two immortals hot and heavy! Never read Anne Rice but a fan of her books to movies. This movie attempted to encompass the 2 books that followed her Interview With A Vampire novel, therefore much had to be deleted &/or diminished from plot and characters in order to be adapted to the screen time and s wider audience. IMO, the film version did not suffer too much. Rice knows how to create engaging plots; this one is poised and glossy, thorough and intense.

The rogue vampire Lestat [Stuart Townsend] wakes up to a new world that he is excited about. It's got all the spoils he craves. His mission now is to conquer the world; it seems possible with this new status quo of a world occupied in exhibiting its sinful delights. Lestat uses that which awakens him [figuratively here] from his sleep, the one thing that screams, literally, rock music as his opportunity. He becomes a rock star that mystifies and indulges a generation ready to differentiate themselves from their parents and the past. But for the Ancients [original vampires] this is too imposingly overt. Lestat finds out about Akasha, the Queen [Aaliyah], and her King. They are stone figures in slumber. Lestat is curious to gain their attention. He wittingly revives Queen Akasha who only comes to life while he is resting. The ensuing adventure sees Lestat and Jesse finding each other, while Akasha pursues him in a brilliant display of fine visual & special effects. The use of special effect is key on this film; it strengthens the extraordinary attributes of vampires, such as extreme speed, astonishing strength, the ability to fly, walk on walls, and destroy victims, in a highly persuasive level.

Classy yet chic costumes help to distinguish characters by roles & status, like the regal, unblemished yet exposing pieces worn by Akasha, versus dark, tight fitting & covered pieces worn by Lestat's mortal interest, Jesse. Townsend wardrobe is always en vogue going from 18th century aristocrat to 20th century Goth rocker therein testifying Lestat's immortality. The beautiful & stylistic scenes all aid to enhance the atmosphere of cool & enigmatic, or hot & sensuous. The soundtrack is fantastic too. The Deftones song ?Change? really hits the mark and turns up the erotic experience in the scene where Akasha and Lestat are in the tub of red flower petals and he goes into a kind of trance from their ?love-making?. This is not horror or a blood fest [yes, blood is spilled, and scare & shock are dispensed, but does not overwhelm] even though it is depicting the vampire kingdom. This is about survival; this is about dominance! Townsend's Lestat is sensuous, transcendent and grabs the audience with his performance in this role; he is a better pick than Cruise for the rock star image that Lestat employs in this movie. Aaliyah's exotic beauty is well flaunted; she becomes an ethereal enticement that can't be denied. But Queen Akasha's abysmally diabolic & merciless nature is ill demonstrated and I am not fully persuaded that Lestat, a selfish, covetous, nouveau-riche, would sacrifice her for humanity then surrenders himself to Jesse, a mortal plain Jane. Aaliyah dominates the scenes every time she is present, which is so in character because AKASHA IS THE MOTHER, THE QUEEN of the vampires! (Who wouldn't take notice?!)