Spoonixel Amateur movie with Big budget

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

mocaler A big problem which I see in most vampire stories is that they include too many supernatural elements. Byzantium goes for a more physical approach and I like that. Some elements which could be interpreted as supernatural are actually left to interpretation by the viewer. I think that it could have done better with the means by which people become vampires. But the rest is a purely physical tale. I also like the female orientation of the tale. The story also touches on some thought provoking sociological elements.

duskraider I really tried with this film but about half way through, I knew that this film would not deliver on what I thought it promised. Perhaps it is my fault for not watching a trailer for the movie, but I generally like to go into movies with no more than a tagline. I thought this movie would be about vampires. To a light degree it is but it is a much distant tertiary plot at best. Instead, viewers are treated to a slow burn of a movie, where a 200-year old vampire somehow has not grown up or figured much of anything out yet. Ronan's character just seems to float through this movie with no awareness of her surroundings or how to live life even if it is eternal. Through her needless actions she gets more people killed who have lived a quarter of her life and seem to have a better grasp on reality. But I articulate too much on a characterization and motive flaw.This movie tries to juggle multiple storylines but falters in carrying them all. We jump back in time once and while in this flashback we jump to a flashback within that scene. A big lack of cohesiveness fell over this movie. This type of jumping happens multiple times within the film and never really grasped me or made me feel for any character except perhaps the mother. The movie never quite knows if it wants to be a period piece or a origin story. I could have done with neither and instead focus on vampires. But this movie treats vampirism as if it's not really worth talking about. We get a weird subplot about the Brotherhood but it is never explained what they do, how many there are, why females are not permitted, why they couldn't find our main female protagonists for over 200 years conveniently. I have much disdain for the sickly boy that the Ronan's character falls for. Why does she fall for him? It's not really explained but his character annoyed me to no end. One scene he seems able, the next he's literally a zombie. Regardless of whether this may be a true to life representation of leukemia patients, his performance sucked the soul out of this movie. His plot of being turned was predictable. The movie doesn't justify why he deserves it. The surprise plot twist of the vampire aristocrat turning on the Brotherhood just seemed to serve as a convenient plot device for the main characters as well.My last criticisms are for the ineffective backdrop of the main characters being vampires. The sickly boy even asks questions, which go unanswered, that left me scratching my head. Where are the vampire fangs? Not a prerequisite but the thumb nail puncture thing did not work for me. Why can these vampire's be in direct sunlight with no ill effects? Why did not one of the vampires display anything supernatural about themselves? So I can go to an island and be instantly granted eternal life? I was looking for a movie to give a different take on vampire lore and all I got was a generic movie with silly character interactions.

TxMike I came across this movie on Netflix streaming, it caught my attention for Saoirse Ronan who is such an accomplished young actress. The Vampire genre isn't very high on my list but I went into this one with an open mind. I was rewarded handsomely. The story spanning a bit more than 200 years from 1804 to present day is in itself interesting and well-told. The story-telling approach is to let us know early what is going on in present day, and that these characters are over 200 years old and must live on fresh blood. But the complete story of how all this came to be is unfolded only very gradually until at the end we know everything we need to know.But to me the best part of the movie are the cinematography, the musical score, and the many expertly done scenes throughout the movie. Each one of them is a work of art and when it is all said and done a very gripping movie.Saoirse Ronan stars as Eleanor and she carries the movie well. Her constant companion is Gemma Arterton as Clara. Early on something happens that causes them to leave town in a hurry and end up in a seaside village in England. (Filming was done in both England and Ireland). Eleanor and Clara are opposites of sorts, while Clara shamelessly seduces men and brings them to a secluded location to take them, Eleanor has a more gentle approach and only takes those who are otherwise ready to depart this life.The third character I will mention is young Texan Caleb Landry Jones as Frank, a boy with Leukemia who befriends Eleanor. The young man has an unusual look about him that fits very well with the overall story and his acting in this role is super.SPOILERS: Clara is actually Eleanor's mother, impregnated when as a teen was forced into prostitution. She was supposed to kill the newborn but couldn't bring herself to do it and sneaked the baby to a religious orphanage, her note requesting that the baby be told her mother was dead. All that happened in 1804, and in ensuing years both got with a Vampire clan that resulted in their being turned, and they forever were to appear the age that happened. In the end Eleanor helped Frank on the remote island and her voice-over is, "I am Eleanor Webb. I throw my story to the wind and never will I tell it more. Another one begins. "

Reno Rangan An Irish vampire movie, thus back to where the vampires were originated. There are no good vampire movies these days, all those are teen target products which are simply a fantasy flick. In the old days, its horror and terrifying ugly giant beasts, the werewolves were, but in the todays movies they are adorable giant wolves. It's either vampire movie or werewolf, the result is same. 'Twilight' or 'Vampire Academy' and others, just not my type, though watch them for entertainment and to keep up-to-date.The reason I watched it is for Saoirse Ronan, because I like her. But Gemma Arterton has been so good like always. To me this is what called a vampire movie. Of course, themes should vary from a movie to another, that does not mean one can completely abandon the basic theory. Neo-Gothic is one of that, the present filmmakers forgets, because that kind of set-up gives Dracula effect. This film has been just like everything I wanted, so I enjoyed every bit.It is always great to see a movie that portrays the world over the span of 100 or more years. As usual survival and hiding the identity is the main intention for the concept. But from who (other than humans) and why is the suspense that reveals formally at the right time. If you like 'We're the Nights', then this is the right one to pick. But not great as 'Interview with the Vampire' was, in fact, it was directed by the same director.7.5/10