Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Slade: Genius or Crazy?
The name scares a lot of Twilight fans when mentioned. But what do we really know about the enigmatic 40 yr old, British film director in charge of the third Twilight Saga movie, Eclipse? Well, we know he’s directed some music videos. We know he directed another vampire flick. We know he’s a photographer. We know he has a twitter account. I decided that I wanted to write a post for the blog in the hopes of calming some of the fears, taking a look at his previous work, and getting everyone excited for the upcoming film. I for one have been a BIG proponent of Slade since day one.
Up until last weekend, many fans were angry or even annoyed with Slade. His random, esoteric, and strange tweets from his twitter account @David_A_Slade, made everyone nervous. Was Eclipse in the right hands? “Where is the trailer?” some people asked. “There better be a leg-hitch!” others demanded. “No more Jacob photos!” we pleaded. Then Eclipse stills started to leak and there was a sense that many of the fears started to disappear. The stills showed us a luscious, vibrant meadow scene with our beloved Bella and Edward. We saw love, tenderness, passion, and chemistry. I know this sealed the deal for me in terms of excitement. Dare I say this may be the best film out of the saga so far?! A bold prediction on my part? Perhaps. So let me back it up!
First off, Slade began his career directing music videos. Isn’t the Twilight saga mainly inspired by music according to Stephenie Meyer? (Read her Author’s Notes if you have not!) He directed videos for bands such as Aphex Twins, System of a Down, Tori Amos, Muse, and my personal favorite The Killers. He also directed the video for “Sour Girl” by the Stone Temple Pilots. It starred Sarah Michelle Geller, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I am not a huge fan of STP or anything, but I remember that video. Have you seen it? Strange. Startling. Dark. Brooding. Gothic. Haunting. Sarah Michelle looked like a gothic princess, and had a sizzling chemistry with Scott Weiland. The video was set in a dark meadow with rose petals falling from a red sky. Does this sensibility work for Eclipse? I certainly think so. Check it out on YouTube if you have not.
I decided to check out some other Slade videos, and the more I saw the more I was convinced he is the man for the job. In Tori Amos’ “Strange Girl”, a little girl is being chased through a cornfield by get this: a large black wolf. Again, Slade uses a grey and black palate mixed in with hues of red and pink. It’s visually stimulating and startling all at the same time. In his video for “Newborn” by Muse, he works in the same color palate as his previous videos. Is it a little strange his work? Sure. It’s definitely not everyone’s bag. But will it keep you glued to the screen and remembering that image for days? Absolutely.
Slade’s first major feature was an independent movie called “Hard Candy” starring a pre-Juno, Ellen Page. Now this is definitely not a movie for everyone! Talk about hard-core and disturbing. It’s a psychological thriller about a young girl (Page) confronting a sexual predator played by Patrick Wilson. Whoa! There is torture, talk of a castration, and a suicide. Yikes! The film opened at Sundance and garnered positive reviews, especially for Page which eventually landed her in the star-making role that was “Juno”. Slade was deemed a hot, new, dark, edgy, and talented filmmaker. So how will this spell good news for Eclipse? Well, he got some amazing and memorable performances out of his cast. He conjured up startling images that are memorable. Slade may just bring this sensibility to Eclipse. Don’t we want something memorable and remarkable instead of just ordinary? Don’t we want to see Kristen and Rob shine?
Slade’s second feature film was “30 Days of Night” which is probably his most mainstream film. It’s a vampire film based on a graphic novel. Now I will preface that I am not a fan of horror. I hate gore. I hate scary stuff. The only vampires I can handle are “Twilight”, “True Blood”, and “Vampire Diaries”. I watched the movie with my husband one night, and you know what? I liked it! It was an entertaining movie. Josh Hartnett and Melissa George are the two leads and give solid performances. But what really enthralled me was the cinematography. Shot in Alaska and New Zealand, Slade captures the illustration of the graphic novel, and the struggles of the Alaskan town to survive thirty days without sunshine. The colors and the scenery are perfect.
Again, the film opened to mixed reviews, but Slade was singled out for his skills and style as a director. 
Fearnet.com said, “…visually the thing is an awesomely overcast, darkly beautiful, and periodically explicit piece of horror”. Not bad right? JoBlo.com said the “film sported great pace, awesome practical effects, and an extremely authentic look and feel”. Getting excited? Variety said Slade “excels at bloodthirsty action”. They continue on to say that “Slade’s direction… creates a blunt
visceral action that makes the vampires speed, strength, and thirstiness vivid”. Can’t you just see the newborns, Riley and Victoria now?!
Eclipse is the most action heavy book of the series. I, for one, am excited about seeing Slade’s version. We saw from the photos released last weekend that he seems to be able to capture Bella and Edward’s chemistry and romance. He’s an edgy filmmaker with a rock music sensibility, who has experience with directing vampire movies. He’s pulled some strong performances out of his actors. He’s an artist and a visionary. I think he will bring new fans to Eclipse, while entertaining and enthralling the loyalists. I stand by my statement that this will be the best Twilight film to date. So let’s give Slade a chance! Don’t judge a man by his twitter!
LOVE IT….I cannot wait to see E & B either..seems as though he really got the gold bed/leg hitch right. I am hopeful for the rest. I am willing to give him a chance!
Oh RL, how I love this post! You have opened my eyes so much! I was very worried about "the Slade" having our Eclipse but after the pics we recently saw and now this post I'm so excited to see what he will bring! It can't come soon enough…imo. Thanks so much for your insight into his world to ease our worries! I feel so much better now! THANKS!! GREAT JOB!
I've been pretty comfortable with Slade from the beginning too. And the pics that leaked recently made me extremely relieved. LOL Not only were the scenes we want to see there, but they looked to be accurate to the book, even right down to some small details like Edward's gold bedding. I'm impressed! LOL
I think the darker edge he may bring to Eclipse will be really interesting. But then, I'm a horror fan, so I dig that kinda thing anyway.
Eclipse is also my favorite book from the series. I've been feeling all along that I may like this movie the best. I'm much more excited for this one that I ever was for New Moon, and can't wait to see what Slade delivers.
Thanks for the info RL. I'll admit I was worried about DS and the romance as well when the cast kept saying "there's alot more action." I was only familiar with him as director of 30 Days of Night (which I've never seen). But, once I saw the meadow stills and the leaked 'leg hitch' I breathed a sigh of relief. Eclipse is my favorite book in the series and I think David Slade will do it justice.
Great investigating! Very good information. I think you are right on. Can't wait!
~TJ
Awesome write up! I always got the impression Slade would be a bit too tough to do Eclipse, but after seeing the stills, I am thinking otherwise. Besides that, the man is very talented and a professional. I am positive he will do right by us. Great job!!
I love David, I think he is such a complicated/brilliant mind. I am a huge fan of "Hard Candy" and "30 Days of Night" (own them both). I know he will do a fantastic job with Eclipse. So far I am loving what I see. I canno wait to see the fighting scenes. They will blow us away!
I have to admit..I was VERY skeptical..but the more info we hear..and more David TWEETS…I so think he is a genious!!! I CANNOT wait for this flick!
-chicky
Excellent article and synopsis of David Slade's body of work to date. Eclipse was my favorite of the series and i hope the film will be as good
I love 30 Days of Night and I think when the actors said that there's alot of action in Eclipse I feel they're talking about "action" on both fronts: the fight scenes AND the romance of B&E…that;'s my thinking anyways.;) Looking forward to seeing this movie and what Mr. Slade has contributed to the franchise.
great post;-)
eclipse is my favorite of the saga and i was really worried about the romance.. but when i saw the news pic!!!! that was so…wow!!!! i´m really emotioned.. excelent article about DS… i have to say that i ddidn´t like to much what christ did with new moon, because he cut all the good scenes between edward and bella
great post,, i just hope he delivers on the edwella romance
I'm excited since seeing the Edward and Bella stills. Although, I have to admit that while Eclipse is my favorite book in the series and certainly the most action packed, I hope that the mental showdown at the end of Breaking Dawn is rewritten for the movie to be more action packed. It was a let down in book form and will be even more so on screen if the ending happens in everyone's minds. And don't even get me started on the Jacob/Renesmee thing. Let's hope they nearly skip that sub-story.
Hi Chonga,
What a great post girl!!! you gave everyone an insight to who is the man David Slade. I too have faith he will do justice to Eclipes, you can't judge a book by it's cover and that is a perfect way to describe Slade! I can't wait to see his vision. Isn't that what reading is all about, everyone invisions themselves characters in different ways, yet the story remains the same!!!!!
Excellent Job RobstenLover!!! I really liked 30 Days of Night as well for pretty much the same reasons you did.
@ the person who said that you want them to re-write the end of BD and minimize the Renesmee thing: I totes disagree. I loved the way she ended BD and her reasons for doing it that way, and I also liked Renesmee after I got to know her…figuratively speaking.
wow! great post! thanks for this!
now I can spend my idle time waiting for Eclipse, researching music videos of David Slade – and I do expect Eclipse to be the best movie in the franchise (I'm biased since it's my fave book in the series so my expectations are high) and I believe from the feedback, DS will not disappoint – loyalists and new fans out there.
Like many I have been pretty comfortable with David from the beginning. I´ve seen both his two films and I´ll probably never forget the scenery in 30 days of night, awesome doesn´t describe it! Am definitely going to look at his musicvideos! And I like his slightly weird tweets
I loved this Kara! Great analysis. I did not know much about Slade at all, but after reading this I feel pretty confident that he won't disappoint us with Eclipse. Congrats on your first blog post too! Can't wait to read more from you bb
xo