"Queen of the Damned"-- Rocks Hard but Lacks Bite
Like Townsend, Aaliyah suffers from overemphasizing her lines. This is a shame since she has the bad-ass attitude of her character down perfectly. Viewers won't be disappointed by her entrance (which is a good hour into the film) and it's sad that director Michael Rymer didn't use her more. Her on-screen time could easily be compared to The Rock's in "The Mummy Returns," which could leave more than a few viewers upset since her character is hyped so much in TV ads.
The hype surrounding Aaliyah's role, however, is nothing compared to the build-up to "Queen"'s ending and its disappointing payoff. While it isn't uncommon for films these days to take nearly three-quarters of the time to build up a final battle only to settle the fight in a matter of minutes, one would expect more from an Anne Rice novel. Unfortunately, as viewers will find out, the final battle in "Queen of the Damned" isn't as complex or challenging as one would have thought. The climatic ending takes all of two minutes to be resolved, leaving audiences feeling cheated of the final showdown they were promised. Luckily the scene isn't short of amazing special effects, which almost seems like a last minute apology to viewers for the disappointing climax.
No matter how bland its plot or how mediocre its cast is though, "Queen of the Damned" remains entertaining thanks to cinematographer Ian Baker. Baker creates a visually stunning film right from the opening credits, interspersing black and white music video clips with footage from old vampire films like "Nosferatu." Baker not only knows how to make MTV-style editing effective in ways "Moulin Rouge" failed to do, but he also knows how to make it impossible for viewers to take their eyes off the screen even during the script's weakest moments. Paired with a powerful, hard rock soundtrack, "Queen of the Damned" almost seems more like a feature film rock concert rather than a vampire flick, but only those who are fans of the book will be left complaining.
While those who are expecting a lot of blood (and a lot of Aaliyah) in "Queen of the Damned" may be left disappointed, those who want to experience an entertaining, special effects extravaganza should be pleasantly surprised. Although the film lacks the quality acting and engaging storylines that made "Interview with a Vampire" such a success, its cinematography and soundtrack
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