The book series is miles above the movie and I can't believe how physically painful the movie was to watch in comparison. This deserves a full on TV series reboot
The book was very awesome. They should think more about it before making the movie reboot of a book. Even the Spooks Series reboot movie seventh son was garbage
@@TheDoubleSided i had heard a rumour it was being adapted into a movie series but it'd be an 18+ due to the graphic nature of the books, but that just fizzled out
Studios keep seeing the age of the main character in the first book and trying to make the adaptations family friendly, and any plans keep falling apart due to the books actually being graphic horror. Its why the film was a stupid teen action comedy. Ridiculous considering the main character is an adult for the majority of the story.
This book series means so much to me. I met my wife through it and my best friends I even started me art with it. It's nice to see that the fandom isn't dead.
Cirque Du Freak easily has the coolest interpretation of vampires. The dynamic of the vampaneze who murder people while the vampires actually protect humans. Darren’s arc going from human to half-vampire to vampire Prince. And Steve coming back pretending to be a vampire hunter like how he always said, pretending to help the main cast just to turn out to be the ACTUAL vampaneze lord after Crepsley dies. Criminal that nobody talks ab this series but with that being said i’m glad i found your vid!
I read this entire series when I was in middle school It really bothers me because I saw the potential in this series and in this movie the casting for Mr.Tiny, Larten, Mr.Tall and many others were literally perfect
@@jwilsthem.c3780casting could have been star studded considering the names they already had, I can only imagine what we could have seen with vampire mountain and the princes and generals
Seems like poor directing for the most part. Plus trying to fit 3 books into one film is a poor choice given how each books is 5-6 hrs long (when being read at a decent pace) I don't believe the cast they used fit all the roles they had. Ken as Mr. Tall whilst not inaccurate does lack that menacing aura Mr Tall has at times. I guess they went with the freak show part a bit too hard perhaps.
I wish the book series would get a faithful adaptation. My cousin showed me underworld right when it came out on dvd and cirque du freak was the first vampire series I read after that. The lore and characters in the books is some amazing stuff and very different to a lot of other vampire lore. Great video.
Yeah, so many adaptations are total shit. A good adaptation I highly recommend is the metro 2033 series book and videogame... just finished it and literally cried at the end... I hope there will be more.
When I was a teenager, this book series was my all time favorite. I really thought this movie would get a full series but I guess after all this time it has been forgotten about. Shame really... But at least we still have the books.
@@Mexican1632 I tried but at the time I wasn't in a good headspace for something so dark. I should try it again though because I've heard it is good and much more mature.
Cirque du freak and the demonata series from Darren shan were my absolute favorite series' in middle school. I'm a huge fan of his. Even the thin executioner
growing up i couldn’t read or write i bullied for it badly but i picked up book 6 the vampire prince and then went back and read the rest of the books at the end i cried, now because of these books i have read lord of the rings, game of thrones, harry potter and dune so needless to these books are part my heart
The one thing I hated about the movie. Why put in Rebecca?? It still could've been Sam as a friend. The whole reason Darren actually does it in the books, was to keep a part of Sam's Soul alive. And I know they were trying to merge the stories, but that's no reason to have just completely changed the ending. Especially cause, even though we know Steve knew what happened, and was pissed about it. We didn't learn he became a Vampaneze until he himself was almost 30. It could've been a great set-up movie where Darren became a Half-Vampire, and leaned about the abilities/weaknesses. Just like it did, but instead of rushing the Showdown, and forcing a random Love Interest. Showed one of the friends Darren made, and became best friends with, end up dying in an attack from the Wolfman, and Darren having to come to terms with what he actually was. Just like the books. And then the second movie could've been the Love Interest with Rebecca (? Don't actually remember her name, as it's been 12 years.) Finding out about Steve, and then Darren becoming the Full-Vampire, and ending with the start of the War. And then have a 3rd movie that was the aftermath, and Darren's journey to stop the War in the first place. Finally finding out everything about Mr. Tiny, making his final decision to go back, and prevent his past self from stealing Madame Octa. Thus preventing any War, and the End of Humanity.
I first saw the movie when I was 11, just thinking "yeah it's another supernatural movie about vampires, lizard people and such" and I loved it, fast forward to my freshman year of highschool, I got a chance to read just about all of Darren shan's books and was taken into a whole different universe of vampires/vampneze, demon Lords, demons the size of 4 planets, magician werewolves, powerful half breed wizards etc. So by this time, I remembered there was a movie and I watched it and it was horrible, I couldn't believe I had loved it so much back then, the cirque du freak and demonata series imo could've been the next Harry Potter or something like it if done right
Yesss someone else who's read the demonata series. I used to wait for the next books to come out so eagerly, the only book that's ever made me do that.
Wildest twist ever. Darren becomes a little person, and is sent back in time and breaks the chain of events the night of Darren and Steve going to the circus that one night. Then little person dies as he changed his own future and gave mr. Tall his diary to publish. Fucking amazing.
I read the manga as a child because I wasn't able to get my hands on the books at my library. I enjoyed the manga a ton as a kid but I would like to read the books now I can get my hands on them. I also liked the movie and all of the quirks.
This was my favorite book series growing up. Darren Shan is a master of a writer and the end of this book series genuinely made me cry. Also read the Lord Loss series, that is incredible as well.
This series had me hooked until the tail end of book 12. If there were some sort of reboot, it’s one of the few times I’d relish them getting the opportunity to mulligan that ending
I will always have a soft spot for this movie. I watched it so many times when I was 11, in the end I could watch it in my head. Beat for beat, line for line. It was amazing. Of course the books are the better part of this universe, but the movie was my introduction to it - the beginning of an obsession that lasted well into my teens and never 100% went away.
I learnt about Darren Shan from the Demonata Series I read back in secondary school. Then I read the Thin Executioner loved this book, listened to the Cirque Du Freak (narrated by Ralph Lister)series on audible
@@coganLollins feel like tho if they someday reboot this into either show or movie they need some known actors to help it least build more on the franchise for people who never heard or seen this that way in future seasons or movies if reboot it will get a bigger fan base to help it make money to make more and them getting better.
Your video essay makes me finally understand why i first watch the movie, scenes feel rush and disjointed like a missing or cut content. Thank you for such an informative video and the lore of Darren Shan universe
Thank you for doing a review on this movie cause for a while I thought it was a fever dream. I asked many of my friends if the have heard or even seen this movie/series and they all said no. I really hope that someone repicks this back up and either makes a better movie or a possible tv series out of it.
The books were amazing, my biggest problem with the movie was the added content/discrepancies from the book. They added the monkey girl for the movie,and slacked on the bromance Darren had with Evra (very important for later in the books,Darren's first romance is critical and has long effects down the road). Madam Octas Color scheme was also altered. With other changes they did with compressing 3 books into one movie, they really trapped themselves from being able to make any kind of faithful sequels.
I absolutely adored this book series, Any chance you could please do a video on the book series itself? Maybe even multiple videos on specific elements of the lore and story.
I would love to see a new movie for it, now with films, even "kids films" have some really serious tones, and most superhero films are very dark, so hopefully that would mean that a good director who knows how to make a good serious movie adaptation of the book series, might actually come in, Maybe the director who did Steven Kings IT movies, he did pretty well adapting the books.
The issue is that its not a kids book. It's graphic horror aimed at teens which would be probably rated M15, and gradually becomes darker and darker. By book 3, I would say its no longer a book I'd call for teens at all. (In the sense that the MC is no longer a child and the themes become even more mature) The last few books would definitely be R18 when adapted to cinema.
Yoooo that is crazy, I found your channel a few weeks ago, but then just remembered about cirque du freak yesterday. Seeing you upload this today is trippy
Most people would disagree w/ me, but I think the movie is good, just not very accurate to the books. There really should be a TV show on the entire series.
Nah, it needs a show adaptation like the Percy Jackson D+ series coming up. The changes made are so irredeemable that any further adaptation from the existing book would lead into a completely different story.
The actors for Mr Tall and Mr Tiny were absolutely perfect. Not exactly how imagined Mr Tiny to look though. Nevertheless the actor played him brilliantly
Love the graphic novels... though I was introduced as a 6 or 7th grade to the first book then the movie... of the book to movies in the younger adult genre, I like this one
I had no idea there was a movie series from it, I remember reading the books as a kid, even got a couple books signed when the Darren O'Shaughnessy came so my school
The Darren Shan vampires have always been some of my favorites. It's so different than traditional vampire lore, but it also feels like a set of abilities and traits that a real (if mystical) creature would have. The books themselves are also great, dealing with themes of growing up, the consequences of our actions, personal responsibility, and war. I have mixed feelings about the movie; it had really good moments sometimes, but other times it felt like the creators didn't know what they were doing. They changed a lot of stuff the books, and while I think an adaptation should make changes that are necessary to, well, adapt the story, the changes made here didn't all make a lot of sense. I think a better approach would be to adapt the series as a TV or streaming series rather than traditional movies, as it would allow the creators more room to stretch out and develop the characters and their world.
Hello thanks for posting every day I am patiently waiting for your videos, love your vids and I have a Question would you rather be a Vampire or A Werewolf. Have a Good Day!
I only read the first book and I was blown away how good it was then when I saw the movie was coming out I was excited and ultimately ended up being disappointed
This is one of my favorite movies glad u doing this cause I was gonna ask u to cover it anyway how he turned Darren was different and how Steve's blood seemed evil 😎
Read / listen to the series it's better. I did find out that the Cirque Du Freak series is an exclusive on audible (if you're a member, you can buy the books too if you're not not audio)
Reading the book and watching the movie while although leagues apart in comparison I found melancholy in how they all found a home and being a lifelong outcast it's a shame to belong to a place that's fictional
Great stuff as always. By the way, could you do a video about the vampires of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure? Their depiction in that show is quite interesting.
I remember being so excited for this movie, the series is one of my absolute favorites even to this day I'll still pick up the books. They are more than jus YA books. This film was to put it mildly, disappointing.
I wish the Debbie and Darren romance at least got a subplot into the movie but that doesn't stop their relationship being wholesome and tragic at the same time,
@@FidesAla No she doesn't. It was scrapped as the publishers were against it. I've listened to that series twice now. It's never mentioned them being interested in each other, let alone getting together.
Also, mr tiny is mr talls and the witch ressed in ropes father. And he created the vampires. He like a demi god, he cant break the rules, but bend them. Also, the tiny person Harkat is gavener i believe, or someone else, domt rly remember. But he was brougt back from the dead, from the soulwell, and back in time
Vampires assistant was a great movie. All we can hope for now is a Netflix hulu or prime original series. And I so hope that happens sometime in the near future.
This book series is what got me to start to love reading. I didn't dislike it before but it always felt like a bit of a chore. I use to get legitimately excited during school when I would finish assignments early and have time to read. Due to different release times in the US and UK I literally waited and showed up to get the last few books on their release day and it was the first time I ever read a book in a day. I was so excited when I saw that this was coming out but ultimately ended up so disappointed. Its not that its flat bad or anything it just really didn't live up to the books. And im not one to dislike something just because its not the same as the books but it just felt like it wasnt the best format for the book to thrive. I honestly think that a tv series with each season covering one of the trilogies would work much better but that was essentially unheard of at the time. Im at least grateful that the books were so wonderful and completed, if only I could say that about a song of ice and fire..
When I was a kid I read these books in the early late 90s/ early 2000s and I love these books growing up as a kid to see the movie come out I was so excited but I guess like every other fan girl who reads the book first I was a little irked that they changed so many things in the movie but it was still an awesome movie just wish they continued with a sequel
I think the books would've worked a lot better as a series rather than movies and it bothers me how they cram so much into one movie Spoilers for basically the whole series and the main plot of the second half of the books but y'know Basically Steve's return isn't until like book 7 or book 8 (I think) and he isn't revealed to be the Vampaneze Lord until like book 9. They hint at Steve being the Vampaneze Lord in the movie and Darren becoming a Vampire Prince (happens in book 6, the line in the movie is like "he looks like leadership material"). Also, Murlough isn't really involved with anything to do with the war because he's in book 3 and the war is first mentioned in book 7 by Darren, Mr Crepsley and Vancha (a vampire prince not in the movie) are selected to hunt and kill the Vampaneze Lord in order to save the Vampires from being destroyed. One last thing that bothers me is Rebecca doesn't exist in the books and is more like a mix between Darren's friend Sam from book 2 and Darren's love interest Debbie. I still enjoy the movie but the books are so much better and the reason it's probably my favorite books series is because you can genuinely feel Darren starting and a naïve kid (He's 12 in the first book) to a mature adult (he's 30 by the end but he still looks like a teen and is still very young for a vampire lol)
"Vampires have supernatural speed and can react and move to things in the blink of an eye" *immediately shows vampire failing to react and getting hit by truck*
You should do a Video just about the Vampire from Bram Stokers Novel Dracula, because many havent read it or knows the full extent of the vampire lore from the book.
I think as a kid the chaotic realness of kids understanding more of the adult would then you realise mixed with your still a kid aspects is what drew me to loving this movie so much - also i was very unaware of a lot of things like the fact theres BOOKS! HELL YA
I loved the books growing up, when I studied children's literature I actually noted the Saga of Darren Shan in my top 10 list. I still am shaking at the final book and the reveal Des Tiny is the father of both Darren and Steve and that he orchestrated the war between the vampires and the vampaneze in an attempt to bring about the apocalypse. Now that's a bar I someday hope to achieve in writing.
With me it was the other way around. I watched the movie first without knowing that it was based on a book series and even then, without having the comparison to the books, found it rather unremarkable and with poor pacing. Only years later did I stumble across the books by mere chance and bought the entire saga, since they were on a discount. I had no idea, what I was getting into. I binged all books in under 2 weeks. They were just that good. Only after I finished did I fully realize what a disservice the movie was. It is very sad, that no movie producer ever made another attempt on the source material.
I know people hated the movie, but I LOVED it. It got me to read the books, Which were better of course but, Still the movie holds a special nostalgia-filled place in my heart.WHY The Heck have they not made a TV/Netflix etc. Show of it yet
They should make a series of Larten Crepsly sage. Since its also good too. And if they did a remake of the Darren Saga, its also best to so a series too. Disney+ is doing the Olympians. I'm holding out hope for Cirque Du Freak.
One more thing, I also wished this video touched a bit more on the book lore, because you didn't mention everything like the fact a half-Vampaneze can still become a vampire by exchanging their blood with a full vampire, but this process is dangerous and can be fatal which is probably why the only two known succesful cases were done by a vampire prince; Paris who turnt Vancha because he hated killing people and Darren later in the series with his nephew who was tricked by Steve into becoming Vampaneze.
The vampires come from wolves thing comes from the origins of the vampire in Eastern Europe. Originally, werewolves and vampires were the same thing until people later used dogs to combat vampires, turning them into natural enemies.
I only watched this because Josh Hutchinson is in it. Interesting thought you had about switching the actors. Could have worked. I hope you go back to Penny Dreadful, season 2, with the witches story lines. To me that is what really stands out of the whole series. Here’s to crossing my fingers!
To be fair, I haven't read the books in probably more than 10 years, but I also felt like the tone of the books was super weird. I remember thinking that parts were silly and also reading some parts like "... Should I be reading this?"
This always happens when they combine multiple stores within a series together. It’s fine to try & set up sequels, but you can’t disrupt the flow of the stories. At max they should only use half of the next story if they’re gonna do something like that. Because there’s only so much “interpersonal fluff”, you can cut without a massive disruption of the story flow. Because think about it condensing multiple stories into one turns a war into a supernatural street fight. (No real time passes but all the major and minor characters are there fighting etc..)
Never really read the books so I was able to enjoy the movie to an extent that and I was a kid when I watched it, I think would've been better as a series I wish Netflix at least picked it but I guess it's for the best that they don't
The woman was actually a male in the books called Cormac limbs. In the books The bearded lady doesn't see the future. I'm not a huge fan of the film version of Mr Tiny.
Darren Shan came to my school back in like 2013 think i was a sophomore or junior idk and gave a talk about not being an alcoholic and how writing these books saved his life....
