MovieChat Forums > Vampire Academy (2014) Discussion > Where it went wrong

Where it went wrong

posted 10 years ago by Shimmer_Me_Timbers
21 replies | jump to latest

The movie itself was pretty decent. Usually the writing is complete crap for a movie like this. But I feel like a lot of the problems stem from them not knowing their audience.

Here were some other issues I noticed:

The title - no one is going to take a movie called "Vampire Academy" seriously. It makes it sound like a rehash of harry potter just with vampires.

Anything that has the tagline "based on the [best selling] novel" you can tell that the advertising/PR company didn't care enough about to actually put effort into. The posters looked like mean girls meets twilight... and not in a good way.

The casting was odd. I didn't mind a few of the characters like Rose, Christian, and Viktor but good lord Dimitri looked like a 35 year old creeping on a 17 year old.

[–] FatalxKrystal 10 years ago

Personally I thought the writing WAS terrible, I couldn't stand Rose's constant joking and so many pointless scenes (that weren't from the book or changed) were eyerollingly inducing.

Vampire Academy does sound like a parody movie with vampires but nothing anyone can do since that's what the publishers chose for the books.

Frankly, I think they waited too long. By the time the rights were bought, the vampire trend was already halfway over. Everyone was pretty much groaning about another vampire movie once VA's trailers hit YouTube.

I would always rather be happy than dignified. 

[–] BlacMamba 10 years ago

That is true they waited way to late. Soon as the heard about Twilight they should have got moving because that movie alone made me not like vampires.

Question everything.

[–] SnapCrackledThePop 9 years ago

Yup, the screenplay was the problem. He tried to turn it into a comedy.

[–] krobc 9 years ago

Now see, i liked that the writers didn't try and take themselves seriously. I mean, if the movie had a serious overtone, it would have felt really contrived. I mean, it's about a vampire high school for gosh sakes. I think I would have turned it off after about a 15 minutes it it tried to be super serious like Twilight.

It's not the best movie by any means, but I really enjoyed it. Sad it only got a 5.6 when beautiful creatures, which was horrific got over a 6 rating.

[–] Angel_Of_My_Heart 9 years ago

Your right there were some good choices casting wise and then some wth were they thinking choices, don't get me wrong I like Danila and he did what he could with what he was given to work with but unlike Zoey who could easily pass as 17(as she was only 18 when she made this) he looked all of his 30 years and then some there was no way he could pass as 24 in anyway, shape or form.

[–] josephnatescott 9 years ago

"Zoey who could easily pass as 17(even though she was like 22 when she made this)" She was 18.

[–] Angel_Of_My_Heart 9 years ago

Thanks for the correction, clearly my maths skills have not improved since high school LOL!!!! Will now edit my original post!!!

"You should be kissed every day, every hour, every minute" Logan to Beth - The Lucky One.

[–] MrsJove 9 years ago

Hey, so I haven't read the books, but I noticed that in my Barnes and Noble wish list they've been sitting there for quite a while. Oops. Anyway I just saw this today. I guess I really do need glasses as the main character looked older (her voice very youthful, her as well, but thought she was mid 20's, I know crazy!) to me, I come here only to find out she's 20 and is Lea Thompsons daughter! Dear Lord.

Um, the Dimitri thing was odd, but it didn't look soo creepy to me, since I didn't get a vibe coming from him rather I got it coming from her. (Blah) I liked Dimitri though, maybe because he was the only manly looking one? I dunno.😫

I agree with the title, my husband came home from work and was like, "what are you watching?", I said Vampire Academy, he said, "Wha..Why. What the facks wrong with you?" ad walked away, no joke. He asked me if it was like Twilight? I said "no its about..." before he cut me off and said, "vampires in an academy none the less, oh God." Kind of wondered right then and there how other people might of perceived it when it came out in theaters. Now I made my husband watch the 2 Twilight movies, dragged ass through the 1st one and the seconds one I really like the scene where the lady vamp is running from the werewolves, I think that scene is the only reason I watch it, it relaxes me, oh well, never again! 😖

Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.

[–] Angel_Of_My_Heart 9 years ago

I didn't get the creepy vibe from him at all as others have said and now that I have read the books I can easily imagine Danila as Dimitri apart from the fact that in the books Dimitri is 24 and Danila looks nowhere near 24 but that's probably because he isn't so I can let that slide. As for the name they didn't really have a lot of choice it's what the first book in the series is called so we can put that one on the author!!!!

"You should be kissed every day, every hour, every minute" Logan to Beth - The Lucky One.

[–] Mattfinbell 9 years ago

what would you call it then?
its Vampire academy

well later down in the books they do have sex and make love and he turns into Storgi

BlacMamba
That is true they waited way to late. Soon as the heard about Twilight they should have got moving because that movie alone made me not like vampires

do you think they should have done blood lines instead

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA

[–] Shimmer_Me_Timbers 9 years ago

do you think they should have done blood lines instead

It could be done with good writers and creative team but I think starting out at the beginning of the story (since Blood lines is a sort-of continuation of VA) would've been received better.

[–] Mattfinbell 9 years ago

Shimmer_Me_Timbers
do you think they should have done blood lines instead

It could be done with good writers and creative team but I think starting out at the beginning of the story (since Blood lines is a sort-of continuation of VA) would've been received better.

What if they had the story of the three girls?

Becuase yes its about Lissa Rose but its also about Sydney

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA

[–] Shimmer_Me_Timbers 9 years ago

It might be too much at one time. Especially because the outcome of VA is what starts Bloodlines.

I think it would work if they made a TV or Netflix show. Four to six seasons of Rose's story then move almost seamlessly into Sydney's.

[–] Mattfinbell 9 years ago

Shimmer_Me_Timbers
It might be too much at one time. Especially because the outcome of VA is what starts Bloodlines.

I think it would work if they made a TV or Netflix show. Four to six seasons of Rose's story then move almost seamlessly into Sydney's

have you finished the blood line series?

I really think now they should have done a tv show and it should have starred all three characters

Well they could do the bloodline series in the middle of the tv show or movie. Yeah I like how Duncan says Mancetti my favorite your welcome! LOL

what race do you think Duncan is? they never or any of the authors never clearly state someone race unless they want too

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA

[–] Shimmer_Me_Timbers 9 years ago

I'm a little over half way through the blood lines series and no, you can't have the three stories going on at one time. The outcome of VA directly affects BL, the two series just can't happen in tandem.

It's Roses actions later in the series that set Sydney down the path that she takes and there's no way around that. You can't introduce a character like her too early or it just wouldn't make sense.

[–] Mattfinbell 9 years ago

a BI(CH

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA

[–] littlehearsedriver 9 years ago

I agree with the OP on the secondary issues. I only got 30 minutes into the movie and shut it off. I thought the actors were very stiff and the script was extremely cheesy. My best friend begged me to read the book and assured me it was 100 times better than the movie. In my opinion the book is better, hands down.

A mortician with a love for life.

[–] Shimmer_Me_Timbers 9 years ago

I'm half way through the Bloodlines Series (the spin off) and it's even better. imho.

[–] Mattfinbell 9 years ago

littlehearsedriver
I agree with the OP on the secondary issues. I only got 30 minutes into the movie and shut it off. I thought the actors were very stiff and the script was extremely cheesy. My best friend begged me to read the book and assured me it was 100 times better than the movie. In my opinion the book is better, hands down.

How would you have done it differently?

Shimmer_Me_Timbers

I'm a little over half way through the blood lines series and no, you can't have the three stories going on at one time. The outcome of VA directly affects BL, the two series just can't happen in tandem.

cool

why do you say that

It's Roses actions later in the series that set Sydney down the path that she takes and there's no way around that. You can't introduce a character like her too early or it just wouldn't make sense

yeah but remember Jill connects them all since Syndey needs another royal heir to the throne

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA

[–] Shimmer_Me_Timbers 9 years ago

Sydney, Adrian, Dimitri, Sonya, Jill... they all have important roles in Blood Lines BECAUSE of what happens to them throughout the Vampire academy series.

[–] Mattfinbell 9 years ago

Shimmer_Me_Timbers
Sydney, Adrian, Dimitri, Sonya, Jill... they all have important roles in Blood Lines BECAUSE of what happens to them throughout the Vampire academy series

True but what happens now?

Plus there are other stories we havent heard about yet

Like Duncan Jonah and Keith

Look like Tarzan talk like Jane! HAHA