Richard Roxburg involving the Frankenstein Monster Shuler Hensley , the Wolf Man Will Kemp , and the two last surviving members of a Transylvanian family that has long been battling the vampire.Van Helsing is a fast-paced, computer graphics-laden horror/adventure/fantasy film wherein Universal re-imagines its core stable of classic horror characters. I actually like cgi, I'm not a purist, I love the genres--I'm not looking for realism, and I love fast-paced action-oriented thrill rides as much if not more than I love character studies.As for the character remakes, Van Helsing becomes a slick retro-Matrix-styled macho action hero, part James Bond/007, part Indiana Jones, part Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a secret Catholic Church order filling in for the Watcher's Council and the Bond "Q Branch" combined. Dracula becomes a suave, scheming, mad scientist who looks like a romance novel hero. Frankenstein's Monster becomes much closer to Mary Shelley's depiction of an intelligent, loquacious, tormented, slapdash victim of a misguided doctor. And the Wolf Man, when wolf, becomes a cgi generated over-sized, super-agile, hyperactive beast. That should already turn off all of the purists.The look of the film is lush, with lots of unusual point of view shots, exotic locations and computer-generated environments. CGI is used extensively for the human characters in the film as well as the monsters--it's frequently employed to enable physics defying stunts and amazing, far-ranging "computer camera" transitions. Van Helsing provides a good argument for such extensive digital assistance, as many of the visuals would be simply impossible to achieve through any other means and substituting some of the creatures with mechanicals, animatronics, special effects makeup and the like would have caused the film to go far over its already outrageous estimated budget of 160 million.The plot, while not deep on characterization, couldn't be more full of events and action. Combined with the extravagant visuals and quickly changing, sprawling locations, the result is epic in scope. Director/writer Stephen Sommers, who was also responsible for remaking the image of another classic Universal character in The Mummy 1999 and The Mummy Returns 2001 probably the reason the Mummy is not present in here , begins Van Helsing in a black and white scene that wonderfully recreates the feel of the James Whale-lensed Frankenstein films, including referencing a number of shots, scenes and characters from those classics.After the titles, we move into a color-filled world ala The Wizard of Oz while we're treated to a brief character-establishing scene of Van Helsing battling Mr. Hyde in the bell tower of Notre Dame. Sommers then quickly whisks us away to the Vatican, where Van Helsing receives his orders.This whirlwind beginning can be almost overwhelming--it certainly is visually--and it takes a moment to get up to speed and catch our breath, but once we settle into the town square of Transylvania, we're enraptured by the story and the pacing reaches a more sustainable level. Although fantastical at heart, the performances from the principle cast members help anchor the film in "reality". Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Roxburgh, Henley and David Wenham all turn in nuanced performances that imply the depth of character that the film does not have the time to fully explore.The intense action throughout the film combined with the cgi and spectacular sweeping camera moves often gives Van Helsing a feel somewhere between a comic book film and a video game. That fact might turn some viewers off, but as innovative, suspenseful, exciting filmic art, this is years ahead of most other recent releases. In fact, the sophisticated technological wizardry and entrancing epic storytelling is somewhat reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings films, which makes me wonder just what other viewers see in those to enable them to consistently sit high on the IMDb Top 250 list while Van Helsing struggles to attain a slightly above average rating. Perhaps Van Helsing deserves a more tempered first or second viewing from those who have summarily dismissed it due to unjustified expectations/preconceptions. This really is an outstanding film that at least deserves to be appreciated on a technical level, and should be easy enough to enjoy for its action-oriented storytelling prowess as well.

no credit break to kill the run of the film. The black-and-white beginning, going to colour soon after, was not new, but echoed nicely with the old Hollywood movies that the start was echoing. Altogether, a great fun watch. But that's just me!

and have never had the chance to come to life... or the afterlife vampires live. They simply are dead.Then, Dracula comes upon a mad scientist named Dr. Frankenstein, whom wants to discover the secret of creating life. He helps the doctor in his sort-of admirable task of creating life, hoping to use his creation to bring life to his children. But it is not to be. As the film opens, Dr. Frankenstein is killed by Dracula, who no longer needs him, and his monster, whom Dracula needs to give the essence of life to his children, appears to perish in a fire.A year later, Gabriel Van Helsing, a tortured man without a past is sent to Transylvania by the "Holy Order"... An organization of all of the religions of the world. With the assistance of a trusty sidekick, the still living monster of Frankenstein and a beautiful young woman, he must hunt down and destroy Dracula before he can give life to his thousands of children.The reason I gave this movie a 9 out of 10 is that is never seems to get the recognition it deserves. It has great action, great actors, and a great story. At least for a summer film It's not the type of movie to be taken seriously, it's the type to sit down with some friends, have some popcorn, and get ready for a silly, scary, fun ride. I love it!. 9/10

the treatment of Frankenstein's monster. He was much more like Shelly wrote him than Universal's first reincarnation of him. He was insightful, intelligent, and quoting Paradise Lost. He was brilliantly done. Popcorn flicks are seriously underrated, though. I love the big effects and the big, epic feeling of those blockbuster-y KABOOM pics. I'm an Eye Candy whore, yes, but that's not all I look for. I thought there WAS a nice story here. It was really rather sweet. Dracula wanted his children to live. Okay, yes, he also wanted to use them to dominate the world and destroy or enslave mankind, but other than that, it was quite sentimental. I was a bit disappointed, however, that we were not given the Gabriel/Abraham back-story. That is aggravating. Gabriel is called the "right hand of God" in the movie. Does that mean that Gabriel VanHelsing is somehow the archangel Gabriel? I dunno. It left a lot of questions for me. The homagic sequences at the beginning, those filmed in an almost film noir style in the opening, did let me know right there at the door of this thing, that Sommers had tampered with the Universal formula. But even with the changes to the feel and the base story lines, I found this endeavor highly enjoyable. They cannot explain it away by saying that THIS Frankenstein's monster was another one, and not the first, because they have Frankenstein there, screaming, "It's alive!" and not something else like, "It's alive, again!" or "GO ME!" Dracula clearly was not there in the original Universal installments to which this was supposed to be a continuation. However, as was pointed out by My mate, Dracula could have been there in the originals, but "dimly present," or downright invisible. He IS a master Vampyre, after all. But in this version, he was neither dim, invisible, nor absent. So...that leads us back to the beginning. Sommers tampered with the formula very deeply; I feel that's why this work struck such an errant note with most viewers. It just didn't feel quite right to the purists. But for me, Van Helsing was a very different experience from that.From time to time, there comes along a cinematic work which fills you with a sense of wonder and awe. For me, Van Helsing was the first one since the LotR trilogy to touch that place in my mind's eye. For open-minded fans of the old Universal classics, the use of black and white at the beginning gave a feeling of connection with the movie from the onset. Familiar characters, familiar settings, familiar stories; all with a fresh, new spin while maintaining the old familiarities. The audience is treated to the best eye candy while making the attempt to maintain the integrity of the classics. You get to see vampyres in flight, the caring and loving conceptual makeup of Frankenstein's Monster, and a delightfully fresh treatment of VanHelsing combined with stellar performances, painstaking direction, and brilliant post-production work make this one of my new absolute favorites. The werewolves were quite good. Of course, this work was also a Universal production, so they were able to use the Wolf Man words, "Even a man who is good at heart and says his prayers by night..." We were in the theater and my love said to me quietly of course , "They can't use that!" "Ah, but they can," I answered. "This is Universal, too." "No wonder it's so good," was my love's only response.I really enjoyed the dialog. It was cleverly witty and delightfully fresh. As was the take on the whole enterprise. It was beautiful and dark, yet full of hope. I thoroughly enjoyed this attempt and hope they are amply successful with this work to warrant a sequel.On a final note: while I thoroughly enjoyed the theatrical DVD release "making of" featurette, director's commentary and tons of extras for a theatrical version , I strongly suggest you get the Ultimate Edition available at amazon.com.It rates just beneath Underworld at a 9.4/10 from...the Fiend :.

of bad acting; the action is fast-paced and not too predictable; and the whole thing combines to create one really great adventure film, if you only give it a chance. I'm glad that I did. A must-see for vampire-lovers, and for those who liked The Mummy and Pirates of the Caribbean.

feel that this is a movie made by a man who is so passionate not only about movies, but beauty and horror. He was inspired by his father as a child to love the whole monster genre, but in the process to cultivate himself in the art of imagination. . . he dedicated the movie to his father I feel Roger Ebert describes the movie well when he refers to Van Helsing as having "a world that is violent and hectic, bizarre and entertaining, and sometimes very beautiful." I definitely want to hear Stephen Sommers explain why and how he created this world. Hopefully the DVD will supply some great commentary.sonb

family who's mission for centuries has been to kill Dracula themselves. If Anna dies before Dracula, being the last in the line will condemn the whole family to eternal damnation.While the plot isn't the strongest in the world, it actually doesn't make any difference as the special effects and incredible pace of the film doesn't really give you much chance to contemplate any deeper meanings or plotlines.The poster campaign has featured heavily on this film containing Dracula, Wolfman and Frankenstein's monster, though there are other wonderful classic characters which make the film an even bigger joy to watch for example Igor and Dr Jekyll with the former character becoming a wonderful stereotype of the hunchbacked laboratory assistant.Strangely, the chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale doesn't have the same spark or passion as Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in the Mummy saga, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the two characters are not the typical leading man and lady who will obviously fall in love, which again gives this film quite a refreshing edge.David Wenham as Carl, a friar sent to look after Van Helsing gives the comedy edge with wonderful one liners and a constant cheeky glint in his eye.The monsters themselves are a perfect homage to Hammer Horror / Boris Karloff films although I personally found Dracula Richard Roxburgh a little bit too camp and less evil although his character was certainly a more evil Dracula than has been seen recently. His 3 brides are possible the surprise highlight of the film turning from beautiful women to gargoyle-like creatures in a split second are a joy to watch in every sense of the word.The wolfman metamorphosis is as has been reported an incredible piece of special effects, with the victim tearing off his skin to reveal fur and vice versa throughout the change. But the important thing here is the word victim! Stephen Sommers has kept very close to the original stories portraying the wolfman as a helpless victim "it's not his fault, he can't help it" and this is no truer than in the excellent portrayal of Frankensteins Monster Shuler Hensley who as written by Mary Shelley is not an evil creature out for destruction, but more a lost soul out simply to be able to exist.My only complaint would be that some of the CGI effects take over. While Sommers has obviously learnt from the travesty that was the CGI Scorpion King, there are times when characters are swinging from walls and ropes that you feel you are watching an animation rather than a live film. However, because these effects are also extremely well done, it is more of a criticism on the viewer who has obviously been spoilt with such effects recently.The pastiges of this film are truly a joy, with references to James Bond in a highly enjoyable scene about selecting weapons , X-men, Matrix, Aliens, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Rocky Horror and countless other more obvious Horror classics.Hugh Jackman finally deserving his first lead role is incredible and this role shows what a fantastic and without doubt one of Hollywoods hunkiest actors he is. This is truly his film and deservedly so, not that he ever wasn't in my eyes, but this film has now made him one of the industries hottest property!This is an adventure of a film which all ages will enjoy and I highly recommend it, there isn't time to find fault as the pace will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Helsing and his assistant, a frair named Carl, are sent to Translvaynia to protect the last of a gypsy family from being stuck in purgatory due to a curse Dracula put on them. In the process however Helsing must also stop Drac's plan of engulfing the world in darkness all the while battling his minions. Throw in a plot device involving Frankenstein's monster and you have a pretty cool adventure brewing.I'll admit for a movie that suppose to be about Helsing. They kinda dropped the ball on the story. There's way too much emphasis on the gypsy girl rather him and they don't flesh out his back story about his lost memory and his supposed history with Dracula. Also the movie has a few nonsense parts the talk with the creepy undertaker which kinda slows down the film a bit. But still the movie stays on a linear path and the set-ups up to confrontations are well done. Not to mention the confrontation themselves even if some are a little silly ballroom scene though a good homage to the Fearless Vampire Killers , the fight with the last bride, Igor and Dracula himself . Yes their CGI laden but I don't care, its a supernatural movie after all. So what better way to do them.The actors seem very comfortable with their roles and looks to be having a great time. Extra props go out to the dude who played Frankenstien's monster, I was really feeling for him. Easily one of the best characters in the movie.Add to that some excellent backdrops and clothes to which the film really draws you into its 19th century world. Yes the movie is full of flaws but it only for fun and only wants to entertain to which it success in spades. If you don't like it, well fine. But for all who love a good popcorn flick or a fan of old school monsters, you can look no further. Van Helsing is just the ticket for a simple good time.

hunter Van Helsing, alongside his genius sidekick Carl, is sent by the Knights of the Holy Order to Transylvania to kill Dracula while protecting Princess Anna from him. However, Dracula has three brides, a werewolf, and other creatures under his control. With the help of Carl, Anna, and Frankenstein's monster, Van Helsing sets out to stop this monster madness with an arsenal of crazy weapons and an attitude to match.This is a great tribute to the classic monster movies. Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein's monster have great updates, cool designs, and unique twists to their characters. Van Helsing is tough as nails and Anna is both sexy and strong. Both characters do have soft spots, especially for each other. Carl, along with many other things in this movie, is pretty darn funny. It's great the way all these characters are tied together in this crazy battle for the fate of the world.With a complex story, nice effects, fun music, good comedy, and awesome action scenes, this movie is sure to please. A must-see film. Check it out. Be sure to bring stakes, crosses, silver bullets, and fire.