close but not perfect

Rating: 8/10 (11 January 2006)

Bram Stoker's Dracula... Before calling it such, it should actually be faithful. While being closer to the novel than most other adaptations there are some rather large deviances from the novel that need addressing. While this version did comprise most of the characters from the novel usually missing in the others, save for Lucy's mother, and include direct dialogue and narration as well as scenes from the novel, romance should NEVER be present between Dracula and any of the women in the film. Dracula is not a romantic story. Dracula is a repulsive, hairy palmed creature with only evil intentions. He is not a seducer, he is a killer with more in common with Hannibal Lecter than Don Juan. Lugosi, Lee and Schreck had it right. I guess we can blame Langella for giving us this sad, attractive take on literature's most famous undead villain. That aside, Oldman does quite well portraying the character and has his moments of true terror. The feeding of the baby to his brides, the murder of Lucy, and his rampage following Mina's departure to marry Johnathan are among them.
Also, there is no connection between the literary character and the historical Dracula except in that Stoker borrowed the name. His novel, originally entitled "The Undead" contained a character (Dracula) named Count Wampyr until he discovered Dracula's name in a book about Transylvania well into the writing of the novel. (for more on this see David Skal's commentary on the Universal Legacy Collection DVD of Dracula)
This aside, the visuals and the costumes as well as the acting( save for Reeves and Ryder) make for a well told and entertaining movie. Yes, when adapting books, there are often changes made to story lines and I am not opposed to such. There should be however, some responsibility in this however in making sure that those who are not familiar with the source material aware of the differences so that should they discover the book, they are not completely shocked. I have had many a person borrow one of my copies of Dracula and complain about the lost romance they expected from seeing the "based on the book' version of the film.Being aware of the liberties that Coppola and Co. took, the film still stays with the major points of the novel. Oldman left his mark on the character much like Lugosi and Lee before him. I would definitely rank him up there with those two brilliant actors as the three definitive portrayals of Drac. Hopkins is amazing and in my opinion brings much more to the table than Van Sloane or Cushing in his portrayal of Van Helsing. He embodies the quirkiness of the character and the intelligence often ignored in other films. He is not the cardboard cutout vampire hunter that appears in most genre films. The acting by the two lovers portrayed by by Ryder and Reeves is laughable at times and their accents are anything but British.
The film did win Oscars for makeup and special effects which was rightfully deserved as the costumes, set design and creature effects are outstanding. Dracula was possibly the only exception as in the book he is never seen in anything but "clad entirely in black without a spec of colour about him anywhere". Trivial I know, but for a scholar of the book I would at least like to see the main antagonist appear as described in his original element. The only scenes in which Dracula appears dressed as Stoker described is outside Lucy's window prior to her death and when walking the streets of London.
The final chase scene is what I expected and wanted aside from the final scenes with Mina consoling and beheading Dracula in his castle. He should have turned to dust...
I hope I have not been too negative because aside from the 1931 Tod Browning/Lugosi film and Herzog's 1979 version, this is my favorite Dracula film. I just get very annoyed when many viewers are led to believe that this film is completely accurate to the source novel. There never has been and never will be a movie that is completely accurate. This one comes closest, but not perfect. Read the book first and then watch the film. Have fun with it and enjoy the liberties taken. This is overall a solid horror film in almost all areas. It is moody, depressing at times, full of action and gory as hell. Do not let my gripes deter you, not everyone is a Dracula geek like me. There are such things. Be warned!