Edward Cullen is the biggest vampire star in pop culture today, but how does he stack up against some of the great vampires of pop cultures past? Specifically, here’s the tale of the tape: Edward Cullen from “Twilight” vs. The Vampire Lestat from “Interview with the Vampire.”
The Stars
Edward Cullen is played by Robert Pattinson. While R-Pattz has a major following as Edward, he’s failed to become a star when not in shimmery makeup.
Tom Cruise, on the other hand, was a major star before “Interview with the Vampire” and remains a major movie star some 17 years later. Then again, Lestat was also played by Stuart Townsend in “Queen of the Damned,” which almost evens the odds.
Advantage: Lestat, just barely
Longevity
Edward Cullen is 111 years old this year. Lestat was born in 1760, more 100 years earlier than Eddie. However, in terms of film longevity, Edward has the advantage. “Twilight” is about to launch its fourth film in November, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1.” Lestat has only appeared in two films, with two different actors portraying him. And while “Interview with the Vampire” is a classic of the vampire genre, “Queen of the Damned” is a relatively terrible film which garnered a 17 percent positive critical rating from Rottentomatoes.com.
Advantage: Edward
Cool Factor
Edward is handsome and strong and, unlike Lestat, he can walk around in the daylight, at which time he shimmers like a diamond. Lestat, even in modern times, dresses like an 1800s English fop. While Lestat was a rock star in “Queen of the Damned,” he quite lamely used his vampirism as a rock star gimmick and the music really wasn’t very good.
Advantage: Shimmery guy.
Family and Friends
Edward has a beautiful girlfriend, Bella (Kristen Stewart), and a loyal family — mom Esme (Elizabeth Reaser); dad Carlisle (Peter Fascinelli); two sisters, Alice (Ashley Greene) and Rosalie (Nikki Reed); and two brothers, Emmett (Kellen Lutz) and Jasper (Jackson Rathbone), each of whom would risk their life for him.
Lestat, on the other hand, has alienated just about everyone he’s ever met. After turning Louie (Brad Pitt), he quickly lost his loyalty. Like Louie, Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) also quickly lost interest in Lestat and his diva tendencies; his trying to kill her and Louie may have had something to do with that.
Akasha (Aalyah) loved Lestat in “Queen of the Damned” but it would still be a two on six match up in favor of the Cullen clan.
Advantage: Edward
Toughness
Edward has proved in the “Twilight” movies that he can throw down when he has to. He’s battled badass vampires and will soon face off with some nasty werewolves in “Breaking Dawn Pt. 1.”
Lestat isn’t so great in a fight; he prefers to avoid confrontations. However, in surviving having his throat cut by Claudia, being dumped lifeless in a crocodile-infested swamp, being burned, and even being impoverished for over a decade, Lestat kept coming back time and again. That’s pretty tough.
Advantage: Draw
Mano a Mano
An Edward Cullen-Lestat smackdown would be a pretty good vampire smackdown. Edward is stronger and tougher than Lestat but Lestat is crafty and not above cheating. Give the overall advantage to Edward, however, because he can take the fight into the daylight and Lestat surely cannot.
Once again, advantage: Shimmery guy
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