Friday, June 24, 2011

Five Things on Friday - Vampire Boyfriend Edition

Have you seen, My Babysitter's a Vampire? The answer, unless your house is inundated with 6-11 year olds, is probably no. It's a Disney Chanel movie along the lines of the far superior Adventures in Babysitting, with the added twist that the very cool, pretty high school babysitter gettin' the kids into all kinds of shenanigans is a vampire. Also, the two kids who are clearly too old for babysitting have some undiscovered supernatural powers.

Anyway, the movie must have been pretty popular, because they are turning it into a weekly series. Can I tell you who is bouncing off the walls with excitement over this? Me? Well, okay. Who else?

Brynna cannot wait. And I, though I think this is going to be mediocre at best, am thrilled that Brynna and I can bond over supernatural storylines, vampire mythos and the special effects of dusting. I've been waiting for this moment since they laid her tiny little body in my arms for the first time.

In any case, amid announcements like, "I really like vampires, mommy," (could you just MELT or what) we've been discussing why vampires are sooo cool. Like cooler than zombies and werewolves and witches combined, according to Brynna.

I always thought it was a sex appeal thing, cause, you know... Vampires have got it going on. But, for a six year old to think they are so great has got me questioning my whole mentality on the subject. We've discussed that they are mysterious, they live forever, they are evil, but also kinda charming, etc, etc, etc. Of course, I can't discuss the whole beautiful thing with her, so that's where you, Oh Beloved Readers, come in.

My Five Favorite Vampire Boyfriends


This is just about the only picture
in creation where he's smiling.
1. Mitchell (Being Human) - I've mentioned Mitchell, right? I'm still in mourning for him. I can only hope that they manage to bring him back somehow. After he's done being in The Hobbit and all. What makes Mitchell such a wonderful vampire boyfriend is that he walks the fine line. He's a bad guy trying really hard to be good. He's not all bad and he's not mastered being good. He looses his temper and he eats someone. Or twenty someones in an underground train. You know how it goes. He's tortured by his past, but he is trying (and sometimes failing) to overcome it. He's held up by the love and support of his friends, but when he hides his murders from them, they become the enemy. That was, more than anything else, his tragic undoing. Excuse me while I weep profusely.

Looking ponderous. 
2. Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - Like Mitchell, Spike is trying to do and be better. What sets them apart is Spike's reasoning. At the beginning of his journey, he really sees no reason to be good as opposed to being evil. He does it because after being implanted with a chip making it painful to hurt humans, he misses the violence. What's a wounded vampire to do, then? Fight monsters, obviously. And, of course, he discovers that he's pretty good at it. Seems like all those years with a railroad spike were wasted. After a little time fighting the good fight, though, he falls in love. Every move he makes from that moment on, is made out of love for Buffy. Even the dumb ones. Spike doesn't feel guilty, he's not remorseful, but he's going to do what it takes to get the woman he loves. And that is hot.

I think you can forgive the hair.
Based on it being 1987.
3. David (The Lost Boys) - And, we're done with the good vampires. (Sort of.) David is the baddest of the bad. The leader of the pack of nearly feral vampires roaming the streets of Santa Carla. (Which we all know, is pretty great except for all the damn vampires. So sayeth Grandpa.) David is a user of people and surrounds himself with mindless followers. Why is he so darn hot, then? Well, because he's Kiefer Sutherland, back when that meant something. Even though this is pretty much just a Corey vehicle, Kiefer is the one you remember, the one who sends chills up your spine. It's that smile. The one that's sort of amused that you are alive. Like he's watching a hamburger walk by.

It all started with
Veronica Mars.
4. Josef (Moonlight) - I'll forgive you if you missed this short-lived vampire PI series. Mostly, because pretty much everyone did. I watched it religiously. All 17 episodes. (What? That's like 4 more than Firefly.) Even though the series was about the Vampire PI, Mick, for me it was all about resident friend-but-still-pretty-evil Josef. He has figured out how to live the good life, surrounding himself with luxuries and women. I'll forgive him.

Plus, he just looks
like a vampire.
5. Silas (The Graveyard Book) - Alright, I'll address the problems first. 1. We don't specifically know that Silas is a vampire. We know that he only comes out at night, that he exists somewhere between the living and the dead and that he eats, but not the same food as Bod. I have decided in my mind he's a vampire. Please don't correct me. 2. I have basically fallen in love with a father figure from a children's book. Don't judge me. What I love about Silas is that you don't know if he is good or evil. He is certainly good to Bod and as a reader, isn't that what matters? But, what if he goes out every night and slaughters an entire sorority house? He could be, we really don't know. He is good or evil or both. He's mysterious and he cares for a lost little boy who lives in a graveyard. That's pretty much enough for me.

Okay, so if we can all just agree that vampires are hot: who is your favorite?


11 comments:

Suze said...

Ohhh Spike Spike Spike...someone my husband works with once won a drawing to have lunch with him.
Never heard of Moonlight, but isn't that dude Logan from Veronica Mars?

Jessi said...

I would love to have lunch with James Marsters! (Sigh).

Yes, he was Logan before he was Josef. He was pretty pretty in that too. But as a vampire, forget it.

Anonymous said...

Did you two eat at McDonald's when you were kids? (I promise that question is about to be relevant.) There was a cashier there who looked lots like Kiefer Sutherland in the Lost Boys. I thought so, anyway. (I don't remember being into him...I think I was still into LeVar Burton.)

ann

Anonymous said...

I think part of what makes vampires so sexy is the fact that they can kill you - there's something to be said for that fine frission of fear lurking in the subconscious.

So far as sexy vampires go, I'm partial to the ones in the Anita Blake series of books by Laurell K. Hamilton - Jean-Claude and Asher especially. But when discussing actors playing vampires in TV and movies - well, all the ones you mentioned are pretty dreamy. :-)

Jenn-Jenn, the Mother Hen

Anonymous said...

Spike has always been my favorite vampire. I love the scene shown in the opening where he is on the subway (I think he's about to kill the principal's slayer-mom)looking so much like Billy Idol I about faint. Did I mention I LOVE Billy Idol?

Jessi said...

Ann - I don't remember him, so I guess not. :)

Jenn - You know, I've never gotten into Anita Blake. I don't know why, though.

DolceMia - I was trying to find that exact shot, but couldn't! I love that. It's when he gets The Coat. *shudder*

Strangeite said...

Gaiman has confirmed that Silas is indeed a vampire.

I was very sad when I read that The Graveyard Book movie adaptation is dead. He did leave open the possibility that it could rise from the dead however.

My little Sophie has gotten into Star Wars. She would re-watch Return of the Jedi every single day if we would let her. She is also very excited to dress up as Darth Vader for Halloween.

Jessi said...

Strangeite - Thanks! I didn't know that Gaiman had confirmed that. I thought he was leaving it purposely vague. I'd love a movie of The Graveyard Book, but since it's rather disjointed plot-wise, I can see where it'll be hard to do. It's almost like short stories with common threads.

Strangeite said...

You would need to treat a Graveyard Book movie like you treat a Jungle Book. Small series of vignettes that each can stand on their own, but together tell the story of Bod.

Not sure if you are aware, but the The Graveyard Book is Gaiman's homage to Kipling's The Jungle Book. Certain chapters are recreations of chapters from the older work.

Also, if you get a chance you should find the recording that Bela Fleck and Ben Sollee did for the audio book of the Danse Macabre. The song is even better than I imagined it in my head when I read the book

KYmomx3 said...

Damon Salvadore from Vampire Diaries should be on your list. I tried to copy a picture but it wouldn't let me! :(

Mark said...

Jess;
Now kiddo that you get from me. I have been in love with vampires for 40 years, when I couldn't watch any other monster movie, I could revel in the nightstalkers.
Thou my personal fav is Kate Bakensale, go figure. Barb just gives me the "isn't there anything else on" look whenever I try and tune then in and I can forget watching Being Human, oh well the price we pay.