Halloween Horror Salute 2010: Vampires

Vampire: A reanimated corpse that is believed to rise from the grave at night to suck the blood of sleeping people.

 

Sounds pretty creepy, huh? lol

 

I have always been obsessed with the undead. There’s just something about Vampires that I’ve always been drawn to in movies, tv, and books. I think it’s the appeal of mortality. The modern day vampire: sexy and cunning. And to live forever? Icing on the cake. Or is that blood on the neck? lol Anyway, I love all vampires stories: from the ugly and creepy to the sexy and alluring. There’s nothing like a bloodsucker.

 

Since it’s Halloween, I’ve decided to do a short vampire salute. Not really a countdown, but to give a shout out to my all time favorite undead creatures of the night. Category Style

 

Greatest Vampire Movies:

 

1. The Lost Boys

 

 

The movie that started it all. For me. The Lost Boys has been my all time favorite movie since I was a kid. The epitome of sexy, kool, and undead, it’s because of The Lost Boys, that I grew up loving all things vampire.

 

2. Interview With the Vampire

 

 

Interview With the Vampire is one of the greatest vampire movies ever. Period. I love the entire atmosphere of the film. I love how the story unfolds over 200 years. There’s just a uniqueness about the film that I don’t think will ever be matched. Plus, it has a really great cast.

 

Honorable Mentions:

Salem’s Lot

From Dusk Til Dawn

30 Days of Night

 

Greatest Vampire TV Shows:

 

1. True Blood

 

 

Hands down, my favorite series on tv. Sexy, gory, funny, with incredibly awesome writing that is able to blend every aspect together beautifully. There is never a dull moment in Bon Temps.

 

2. Buffy The Vampire Slayer

 

 

I havent watched Buffy in years, but it used to be one of my favorite shows back in the day. I loved that the kick ass vampire slayer was a girl!

 

Honorable Mention:

Vampire Diaries

 

Greatest Vampire Books (Adults):

 

1. Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

One of my all time favorite Stephan King novels. If you want scary and creepy, then this is a must read. The movie is good, but the book is fantastic. Definitely not a vampire you want to be inviting in.

 

2. The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

True Blood is based off the series. It’s not as gory or as sex charged as the show, but it’s still pretty juicy.

 

3. The Anita Blake Series by Laurell K. Hamilton

Now if you’re looking for plenty of gore, and lots and lots of sex, then Anita Blake is for you. Actually I prefer the first few books in the series cause there’s not a lot of sex in there, it focuses more on preternatural beings and Anita kicking their ass! I love the character Anita Blake. LOL Its weird, but she aways says these awesome quotes that makes me think.

 

Greatest Vampire Books (Young Adults):

 

1. The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

 

2. Night World Series by L.J. Smith

3. Twilight Stephenie Meyer

 

Hottest Blood Suckers

You didnt think I could go a full blog about vampires without mentioning the hottest immortals around did you? lol

 

1. Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries

 

 

2. Eric Northman from True Blood

 

 

3.Selene from Underworld

 

 

Honorable Mention:

Michael Emerson from The Lost Boys.He would have been number one, but technically he was only half vampire

 

 

Okay so there you have it. Consider this my Halloween treat lol. Of course this is a list of my personal favorites, so feel free to share your faves, because I know everybody has a different opinion. Somebody will read this list and go “Wtf?” no dobut about it lol

 

Happy Halloween!! =)

Banned Books Week

September 25-October the 2 is known as "Banned Books Week." It's held every year to celebrate the freedom to read, and how censorship is not only harmful, but violates our First Amendment rights. I've never even heard of "Banned Books Week" until the other day, but I've always been against banning books for any reason. Books expand the mind and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. One book series that is often challenged happens to be one of my all time favorites: Harry Potter. It has been challenged in 19 states and even burned in New Mexico for being Irreligious. In honor of "Banned Books Week," I wanted to repost a blog I wrote back in 2007 that shows my thoughts and feelings on banning Harry Potter. While rereading the original blog, I decided  a few things needed editing. I actually ended up taking some stuff out and adding new thoughts and even came up with a new title. I wanted to focus more on book banning than just ranting.

BANNING HARRY POTTER IS BANNING IMAGINATION:

I consider myself to be a very opened-minded person. I'm not one to criticize a person for their personal or religious beliefs. By living in America, I believe a person has the right to say or do whatever they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else or it isn't illegal. I also believe that a person should be able to write a book or make a movie without some person saying it is immoral or wrong. See, the beauty of the First Amendment is that it gives a person the right to freedom of expression. If you don't like what that person has to say, then don't listen. If you don't like a book, then don't read it. And if you don't like a movie or a TV show, then don't buy it, don't watch it; just change the channel. The reason I am saying this is because the scripture Deuteronomy 18:9-14 comes up a lot.

[Deuteronomy 18:10-11] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination , or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Now you might ask, what does that have to do with what I'm talking about. Well the reason is simple: Christian fanatics trying to ban Harry Potter books and movies. Now first off I want to say that I dont think all Christians are fanatics, but sometimes you have to draw a line between what is fantasy and what is reality. I think people who practice the dark magik for the purpose of doing bad things are evil. I think all the "John Edwards" of the world are probably going straight to hell. But, that is in reality. When it comes to TV shows, books, and movies, that's all make believe! It's fiction, it's not real, and I don't see anything wrong with it. It's just like I said before, a person has the right to like it or hate, but that person DOES NOT have the right to sit there and tell another person what they should or shouldn't be reading or watching!

When I came across a website that said movies like Harry Potter are corrupting little kids and that they should be banned, it really pissed me off. One reason: It isn't up to movies or celebrities to teach children right from wrong, that is the parent's job! But that's besides the point, because I also strongly believe that one parents belief system shouldnt infringe on the rights of another child. If you are parent and you dont want your child reading Harry Potter, then thats your decision. But when you start petitioning to have certain books removed completely from school, then you are shoving your beliefs down others parents throats. You're not only trying to take away another child's right to be able to read the book of their choosing, you're also limiting a child's imagination. Nobody should restrict a child's imagination, even if their imagination includes wizards. It's what makes their childhood fun. People should just let their kids be kids, and not force them to grow up so fast by preaching to them about "evil" fictional characters. I think parents should have more faith in their child's ability to judge right from wrong, and not live in fear that a book or a movie will corrupt their child's mind. Banning books wont solve problems, because books dont create the problems in the world, people do.