MovieFreak699
This movie is so different than the other vamp movies out there, the plot, cast and camera usage creates a genre on its own. It does not conform to any monster/comedy movies I have seen out there. Sort of like a Frankenstein of its own with parts sewn on from a variety of different genres that you would not think would work, but it comes together!! New Comer Jordan galand filters the creation of this movie through fresh eyes and the viewer never knows what is going to happen next. The Performance by Devon Aoki was quite noteworthy as well, as I think this is the first speaking role I have seen her in. other interesting appearances are Ralph Machio and Jake Hoffman. Whose deadpan acting wants you to see more.
MisterWhiplash
I should have known, but curiosity got the better of me. A movie titled like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead is something irresistible to me, much like Rugsuckers from Outer Space or Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Whether or not the movie itself is very good always remains to be seen. The film purports itself to be clever just by its title- a take off on Tom Stoppard's play which itself was a take-off on the classic Shakespeare tale. It could perhaps even work as a Troma movie. But what it turns out to be is a, ahem, romantic comedy with vampires and a weak, limp-noodle screenplay by first-time feature-filmmaker Jordan Galland, who writes stuff that should be clever but isn't clever enough by half.I'm sure some will find the dialog witty and spot-on for the tone Galland is after, which I suppose is something of a cross between straight-up horror and romantic comedy. The story follows an unlikeable theater director, Julian Marsh (played with equally lame and dull screen presence by Jake Hoffman), who responds to an ad looking for a director to helm an upcoming off-off-off Broadway production of Hamlet. Turns out the ad was really looking for a director who could "easily be controlled", this being Theo (John Ventimiglia, who all but steals Robert Downey Jr's persona for the performance), who is in fact a vampire but hides it oh-so-not conspicuously... except, of course, from Julian, who thinks this re-vamp (no pun intended) of Hamlet called Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead and is a take-off on the classic, is just dandy.That is, alas, until several things happen, which include his best friend and actor Vince (funny but not really that funny played by Kris Lemiche) is bitten by Theo the vampire and his two 'girls', and Julian's friend-girl (not quite girlfriend due to his philandering) is cast as Ophelia and, also, turned into a vampire, AND that he gets an instructional video from a society that is looking to get a Holy Grail Theo has that he will use to kill the whole cast and the audience opening night. As all of this goes on, we see scenes and dialog roll along that are, at best, amusing. There are few laughs to be had in some scenes, such as the actors playing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern suggesting some changes to their characters (albeit one of them becoming a running gag that turns less funny as the film goes along), and it's also a pleasant surprise to see Jeremy Sisto appear as a detective, however in only a few precious scenes where he can only do so much.I can't say how this will do with audiences. Some will come to already knowing that they'll enjoy it, or perhaps their sense of humor goes for the more obvious than mine does. I love over the top horror and bad puns and jokes, but the problems in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead all come back to a few key things: the script is full of lame running gags and one-liners, the characters save on occasion for Ventimiglia's Downey-like vampire or Aoki's sexy girl-turned vamp, aren't interesting, and the lead character (and actor) are not convincing as a protagonist. In fact, the script takes itself a little too high on itself as a meta-work to really be a crazy over-the-top horror comedy, and when it could be a good horror movie, save for the first time we see Theo and his girls sucking the blood out of a guy in an alley, it's not scary or much atmospheric.Some laughs pick up in the climax, when things start to turn around and Hamlet finally appears (!), but by then it's a little too late to save the rest of the movie. No one has dimension enough to care about them and to take it seriously, and it's not funny enough to be a funny-crazy-bloody comedy. I really came in hoping for the best, and it's been given a nice little grass-roots promotional campaign (outside the theater in NYC there was a guy with a full poster hanging around his neck and with fliers and discount beer at the local bar et all), but the film itself was just... weak. It needed more teeth gnashed at the viewer, or a sense of 'screw it all' and go for broke, instead of such clever insights like, say, title cards with "Long Day's Journey into Fright." Ho-Hum.
ehrdupont
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead is quite 'brilliant' cleverly written & directed by Jordan Galland with the exceptionally beautiful musical score by Sean Lennon which seems to breathe life and color to the story and the players ,they have successfully brought new life to Shakespeares characters , not an easy feat by any means.Everything in this film works seamlessly ,the players the direction , the musical score I have always thought 'arthouse' was the most pure and authentic of all film making, it is from here that some of the best films ever made have been born.Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead will certainly live on.If you are really really "lucky" you get the opportunity to share in something truly special such is the experience of seeing the work of a brilliant young film maker , Jordan has sealed his place in the world of film making with this iconic production ,and as he continues to write and produce other works he will join the list of outstanding film makers
charlenerose
I saw this funny flick when director/singer Jordan Galland came to my province of Ontario, to partake in "Canada Music Week" as a movie premier and also as a panel speaker (because of his contributions to movie/sitcom soundtracks) I had seen the preview of this movie back in summer and had been happy it came to a city a few hours drive away.I can say that this was unlike any movie I have seen! Lately I have found that a lot of movies lose my interest 30 minutes into the film, because they are so formulaic, but this movie kept my attention because I could not predict what would happen next, the special effects were pretty fresh and funny! and had a Monty Python (its a British comedy and not a snake like I first thought!) flavor to it. It was also reminiscent of "Young Frankenstein" The plot line had many twists to it as well, and ending was definitely not your typical "happy ending" formula, but sinister and funny! I enjoyed the chemistry between the actors, especially Devon Aoki and Jake Hoffman. I had been somewhat curious to see her since I saw the movie "Sin City", and "Frindly Fire", and was pretty impressed by her ability to do comedy! her timing was perfect.I hope this turns into a sitcom spin-off, to fill the void left by "Angel" , " Buffy", and "Charmed"I give this movie a 10 out of 10
