The second best dracula movie

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 2000)

"Dracula" is one of the most popular characters in film history. Yet, few 'vampire' films are on the same level as "Bram Stoker's Dracula".

Even though it's no secret that Coppola watched "Nosferatu" (the best of the genre) before making this film, Coppola has added his own touch. I can't think of any 'Dracula' film that started with the historical background of Vlad the Impailer in Romania/Transylvainia; nor can I think of a film director that captured the Victorian era better than Coppola (I love the stag film shown in the background during the 'white-wolf' scene in London). Finally, Coppola actually read the Bram Stoker book: reading the source novel doesn't seem to be a popular Hollywood practice.
I'm surprised at the negative reviews this film has received. Coppola has guts for filming a big budget picture on sets, especially after losing it all by doing the same thing with the Las Vegas settings of "One From the Heart". The sets and costumes were brilliant, as well as the cinematography (it reminded me of 'Excalibur'). Finally, Gary Oldman makes Bela Lugosi look like a boy scout.
Coppola has made a couple of bad movie's in his career (need I mention "Jack"?), yet "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is not one of them.