Edward VS Steven

Ever since the movie Twilight was released and certainly now that New Moon is in post production, I've seen more and more mention of movie vampires and who was the best movie vampire. Yet, I have never heard Jude Laws name come up in any of these comparisons.

Yes, Jude Law. Frankly, I'd even forgotten about this 1998 release, The Wisdom of Crocodiles until I saw it on one of the movie channels the other day. I saw it many years ago. Can't remember if my son Steven had rented it (he's a big fan of horror movies) or it had been on television, but I did remember it.

Steven Grlscz (don't ask me how it is pronounced. I figure if you gurgle that should be pretty close), is a vampire living in London. He's an artist and a ladies man. He feeds on women, but particularly women who become emotionally attached to him as he has found that the blood he needs to survive, must be blood that has love attached to it. The blood of troubled people makes him ill. It seems he can survive for awhile without feeding, but he has a whole set of other things he must concentrate on in order to stay alive.

I thought it would be fun to compare these two recent vampires of our modern age based on their similarities and differences.

Sunlight: It seems that sunlight has no effect on Steven at all. In fact he enjoys it. Doesn't turn to dust, or blister and peel at the sight of a sunbeam. He just looks like Steven. Boring.

Edward, on the other hand can be in the sunlight without torching himself, but he is all shimmery and quite beautiful. Resembles Michaelangelo's David if someone had decided to drown it in Elmer's glue and then throw golden glitter at it.

Breathing: Edward only needs to suck air in order to speak and sniff out scents. Otherwise, it isn't necessary to breath to remain dead.

Steven must breath in order to stay dead, go figure.

Sleeping: Steven must catch Z's. Problem is when he sleeps, he must wear a monitor that wakes him periodically to remind him to breath. Now, I wondered about this. Guess he suffers from sleep apnea.

Edward doesn't have to sleep. If he did that would spoil all those night visions of watching Bella sleep. Wow, that would have screwed the story up big time.

Skin: Steven has normal skin and since none of the ladies find him cold, I assume that it is pretty human normal. In fact he appears to be sporting a nice tan. Could be because he actually has blood that runs through his veins. This actually makes him a fragile little vampire as he can bleed to death. He is quick and strong, but still can die if someone clever enough comes along.

Edward is stoney and white as snow. Also quick and strong, he's pretty indestructible unless certain things are done to him. Ripping him limb from limb and starting a big bon fire are the only things that will kill him. Must be done by other vamps or Native America shape-shifting wolves.

Feeding: Edward can feed on about anything and stay relatively healthy. Of his own freewill he feeds on animal blood rather than human blood because he doesn't want to be a monster. This is a plus when living among humans. Don't draw attention to yourself that way.

Steven must feed on human blood especially the blood of the women he draws in who form an emotional attachment to him. However, this leads to problems with the police when his ladies turn up dead. If he doesn't feed, he becomes weak, his blood thins out, and he doesn't heal very well. Sleep apnea and a hemopheliac. Poor Steven.

Their undoings: Well, we know that it would be the end of Edward if Bella were to die. He just couldn't move on. Doing himself in would take planning on his part, but it could be done.

Steven has the same problem with a twist. He actually cares for the lovely Elina Lowensohn enough that he is torn about what to do. However, she is too much of a temptation and he is dying. So what's a guy to do?

Fangs: Thank God, two vampires without the awful fangs. I prefer my vamps without fangs. So much more appealing.

Artistic talents: All vampires have some sort of talent, don't they. Edward the musician and Steven the artist.

Anyway, for those of you waiting impatiently for the November release of New Moon, may I suggest The Wisdom of Crocodiles. For what it was, it was done very well. I'm a fan of Jude Law and the movie also stars Timothy Spall (Harry Potter's Wormtail) as the police detective who feels that Steven is more than what he seems. Some violent scenes, but not a blood bath.

Share with me your take on this movie.