Film review: ”DRACULA” directed by Francis F. Coppola

I saw a film the DVD shop near my house.It was called 'DRACULA' from the famous old story.

Gary Oldman is the star of the film. He plays Marques Dracula who has lived alone for 400 years. 400 years ago, he had found a treasure who had been his wife. His life had been happy. The reason why he has been vampire is he changed his character for getting back at God after his beloved wife had died. One day, he meets a woman who looks just like his wife. He doesn't want to bite her and turn her into a vampire. However she wants to be vampire to stay with him.

The most romantic and sad moment is at the end of the film. However the film is also very large scale directed by Mr.Francis Ford Coppola. His directing is amazing. I sometimes have the illusion of flying in the sky like a vampire.

Dracula: after reading - a letter of complaint to the Count

Mina had a tough time in this story. Imagine you are Mina, and write a letter to Count Dracula complaining about a few things.

Dear Count Dracula,

This is my first letter to you. My name is Mina and I am going to marry Jonathan very soon. He went to Transylvania for his business with you, but hasn't come back to me.

As you may know, we need to do a a lot of things before our wedding. He has to be here with me for those preparations.

We were planning to visit our parents before we get married. Due to his absence, I have to postpone our visit.

In addition, he seems to have been ill. He sent me a few letters but I feel he is not in the good condition. He must be fine for our best day in our life.

When is he going back to me? Please tell me if there is anything I can for him.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Mina

Posted for Tomoko

Interview with a vampire: After reading Dracula

Imagine you are a reporter for a popular women's magazine. 

Think of six interesting questions your readers would ask "Drac" - and the answers he might give.

Question 1. If you are woken up by someone during daytime, what do you do?
Answer 1. I will never wake up during daytime, but I will remember who waked me up and visit him or her to get blood.
Question 2. What kind of foods or drinks do you want to have besides blood?
Answer 2. I would like to try to drink alcohols like beer and sparkling wine. I am interested in drinking sparkling one that blood does not have.

Question 3. If you are human being and can go anywhere, where do you want to go?
Answer 3. I have never seen beautiful and shiny blue sea. I want to go Bali and swim under the sun.

Question 4. Do you think that you can win if you fight with lion?
Answer 4. I am afraid that I cannot win… It is much bigger and stronger than me. If I see it, I will hurry to escape.

Question 5. Do you wash your cloth?
Answer 5. I have been wearing a cloth and never washed my cloth.

Question 6. Do you like to buy new clothes?
Answer 6. Yes! I am interested in fashion for young people. I would like to try to wear loose clothes as my suit is tight especially when I am sleep.

Interview with a Vampire - magazine article (after reading)

All readers, I have big news!!!!! I get opportunity to interview to Dracula and ask him six questions. He answered my questions honestly.

1. Is taste of blood similar with tomato juice?
Ahh, it is more fruity flavor for me.

2. Have you ever been to beach in summer time?
Never! I can't live under sunshine, but I wish I could lie on the beach.
 3. What type of girls do you like?
I prefer ample figure girls because such kind of girls seems that they have good taste blood.

4. Your body is slim. How do you keep your body shape? Do you do excise or go to gym?
I often go to Pilates studio, of course in the night. 
 5. Do you want to marry?
Yes, I do. I'm looking for future partner.
 6. How many kids do you want to have?
Three kids! 

Posted for Miyuki

Dracula - after reading report

A lot of films have been made of this story! 

Write about your favourite version, explaining why; include details about the director, actors etc...

I know about the story of the Count Dracula and a lot of films have been made of this story, but I have not ever watched the film of this story itself actually. But I have watched a lot of similar films with Vampire theme. The most impressive film is “Interview with the Vampire”. As you may know, very famous actors and actresses like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Christian Slater appeared on the screen. Even only this made me very interested. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt ware known as handsome actors in those days. I was very interested in how they play the role of the villain like vampire. The result was successful. They played the difficult role excellently. Especially, Tom Cruise looked like a real vampire. Moreover, this film was not just a horror film. It showed the history of vampire family, how they became vampire and lived as a vampire. This point of view was very great. It is like an epic of vampire family. In case you have not watched this film, I will recommend you watching it absolutely.

Posted for Hiroshi

Blue Hood - story from Ugetsu-monogatari

 Dracula is a famous European folk/horror story. Is there a similar kind of story from your culture? Compare and contrast it to the story you read.

We don’t have same story of the Dracula in Japanese culture, but I found similar story. It is one of the stories in Ugetsu-monogatari called Blue hood.

English: Buddhist monk Genshin (Japan) Русский: Буддийский монах Гэнсин (Япония). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There was a Buddhist monk who is a person of virtue. One day, he visited a small village and heard that the people in the village were afraid of devil lived in the temple of the mountain. The devil was a virtues Buddhist monk before, but he changed because of his servant who was very beautiful boy. The servant got ill and died soon after he lived with the monk. The monk refused to let go of the boy’s body and got crazy, then ate his body finally.

After changed to devil, he went down to the village and dug up the graves. A Buddhist monk was trying to get him stop dug the graves. He visited the temple and stayed there one night. The devil was trying to eat him but couldn’t because of his power was strong. Finally, he was dead while chanting a Buddhist sutra which gave from the Buddhist monk.

I thought the devil didn’t drink someone’s blood, but some points were similar as the story of Dracula such like dug the graves.

Posted for Reiko

Interview with a Vampire - after reading Dracula

Imagine you are a reporter for a popular women's magazine. Think of six interesting questions your readers would ask "Drac" - and the answers he might give.

Question 1
Which blood do you like man’s or woman’s ? And which do you like older or younger ?
: I like man’s blood because woman’s blood is weak for me.
And I like both old and young healthy man’s not too old or too young.

Question 2
How do you choose the person who you will drink his/her blood ?
: I choose by good looking and good smell. If he/she has plenty of muscle, his/her blood is very good.

Question 3
How much blood do you need a day ?
: I don’t need blood to live every day.
I need the blood once or twice a month.

Question 4
Do you eat any food without blood ?
: No, I don’t .I need only blood .

Question 5
How many vampires live in near here ?
: I think many vampires live in near here.
So if someone died and people doesn’t know why he/she was ill, he/she killed by vampire.

Question 6
If you can live under the daylight, what would you like to do?
: If I can live under the daylight, I would like to swim in the sea.

Tales of Horror

I read Tales of Horror. This book has three contents. They are Horror stories. I introduce The Judge's House.

Malcolm Malcollmson was a student at college. He wanted to study hard for his examinations. But his house was always noisy. So he rent a house to study hard.

The house which he rent was a ghost house but he didn't mind. There were many rats in the house. There was a enomurous rat in it. It was a ghost who was owner of the house. He was a cruel judge.

Finally, Malcolm was died by judge.

Malcom was very foolish man. He listend to a rumor of the judge's house. If I were him, I didn't rent the judge's house.

Tales of Horror

I read a book "Tales of Horror". This book has three story, all story is horror. I don't like horror story and don't like this book. I felt a boring and grim story this book.

Most boring story is first story "The Judge's House". Why Malcolm was killed the painting? He is student. He want to study hard, only want to quiet surrounding. But he was killed ghost(?). I didn't understand this story, I was not satisfaction.

I felt second story "Iron Maiden" is grim story. Elias killed kitten. Kitten's mother revenge Elias. Cat revenge Elias is right. But I felt very grim that Elisa was killed way. I didn't like this story like book.

I hope next book is interesting story!

Noriko