Beautiful Film!

Rating: 10/10 (11 November 2006)

I saw this movie for the very first time today and I thank Comcast On Demand for their allowing me to do this. I had heard of Coppola's adaptation of Stoker's masterpiece but had never gotten around to viewing the film, fearing that it would ruin the original classic for me. Was I wrong! The film is rightly name "Bram Stoker's Dracula" for a reason. I couldn't imagine that a film maker could come as close to the classic novel as Coppola so eloquently did. Several factors contributed to this.

James V. Hart's screenplay closely followed the events written down by Stoker so long ago. This included no phony or suave versions of so many Dracula's that we have seen before. This makes for a creepier and more real feeling horror movie.

Micheal Ballhaus' breathtaking cinematography makes you feel as if this film were actually made in the time that it takes place. Transylvania is often portrayed as red, backing the grisly theme of the Count's tragic and grisly story.

Lastly, I applaud Coppola for turning around every stereotypical vision of Dracula that has ever been made, and turning it into his own, which is probably the closest to Stoker's version.

Bram Stoker's Dracula is, with no doubt, the best version of the classic novel (arguably better than the Bela Lugosi favorite). Coppola does not portray Dracula as only evil, but by the end of the movie you almost feel as if you pity the life that he has led, full of suffering and lack of love.
Undoubtedly, 10/10!