Visually staggering, which is all that is needed.

Rating: 8/10 (9 December 2009)

Francis Ford Coppola is a great director, and his adaptation of Bram Stoker's widely influential novel, Dracula, is perhaps his most ambitious and technically impressive film next to Apocalypse Now. Taking a very famous story and recharging it with incredible cinematography and camera work, this is an incredible looking film; one that transports you back to the times and is completely engrossing from beginning to end.
The most common criticism of this movie is that the narrative is not very strong, so it makes it difficult to get emotionally involved with the characters and the story. But, I don't think Coppola was concerned about that. Instead, it is obvious that the look and feel to the atmosphere of each scene was the most critical and key part of it all. Indeed, that is what looks the best so it is the best part of the movie. I do wish that the storyline would have been more clear because there were times when I was a little confused at what was happening and who exactly these people were. Nevertheless, the acting is strong enough to support the plot and the visuals accentuate it.
As for the acting, the entire cast is excellent save one Keanu Reeves, who like many of his roles is so wooden and unemotional that he drains all the energy and feeling from his scenes. Putting him against a wild and charismatic actor like Gary Oldman or Anthony Hopkins hurts their performance and the scene. Still, the positives clearly outshine the negatives.
The sets are incredibly detailed, the costumes are first-rate, the photography is dark and seductive and the music from Wojciech Kilar is among the most effective scores I have ever heard in a movie. It had its weaknesses, but it certainly affected me and I can imagine that was all Coppola needed to know this would be a success. Besides, compared to those Twilight supernatural creatures, this movie is astonishingly accurate and convincing.