Beautiful, Striking, Horror film with Romance.

Rating: 8/10 (8 October 2010)

Vlad Dracula (Gary Oldman) is a member of "Order of the Dragon", he fought against the turks in the year 1462. But when the love of his life (Winona Ryder) committed suicide thinking that Dracula died in battle. When he returns to his castle, seeing his dead wife. He decided to renounces in God and he desecrates his chapel. He declares that he will raise from his grave and to avenge his late wife with all the powers of darkness.
Four centuries has passed... now the immortal Vlad Dracula wants to move to England for an new life. When a law clerk by the name of Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) takes over the work of mentality unstable Reinfield (Tom Waits). He goes to Transylvania country to meet Dracula. Once he meets Dracula for arrange the formalities of Dracula's real estate acquisition in London. Once he arrives in his castle, he realized that Dracula is evil and he finds himself trapped in castle and being seduced by his three evil brides (Monica Bellucci, Michalea Bercu and Florina Kendrick).
Dracula discovers that Harker's fiancée has the same striking looks of his late wife (Also played by Ryder) and her name is Mina. Dracula leaves his castle to meet her and hoping to seduced her that she can be immortal as well. Since Lucy's best friend Lucy (Sadie Frost) seems to be insane and waiting to drink blood, since she was bitten by Dracula. Dr. Jack Seward (Richard E. Grant) decides to get Dr. Abraham Van Helsing (Oscar-Winner:Anthony Hopkins) for help. Dr. Helsing realized that she is bitten by a vampire. Now Dr. Helsing. Dr. Seward, Lucy's fiancée:Arthur Holmwood (Cary Elwes) and Quincey Morris (Billy Campbell) has to destroy Dracula.
Directed by Four-Time Oscar-Winner:Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather Trilogy, Apocalyspe Now, The Outsiders) made an visually fascinating, horror film with romance and an dark sense of humour (Especially coming from Dr. Helsing's character). Oldman is terrific as Dracula, who also changes in different forms in the film. Ryder is strong in this movie in one of her best roles. Hopkins certainly steals the movie, when he is on-screen. Reeves isn't as bad as the Englishmen, he is at his best with the sequences with Dracula. He does his best with an underwritten role. While the supporting players Grant, Elwes, Campbell and Frost do well on their roles.
The Blu-ray has an good anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) 1080P transfer and an strong PCM 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in Dolby Digital 5.1 only). The Blu-ray also includes an introduction of the movie by Coppola with an running commentary track by the Oscar-winning filmmaker. The Blu-ray includes three featurettes, 28 minutes of deleted scenes (Some of the deleted moments are good), original theatrical trailer and an teaser trailer.
"Bram Stoker's Dracula" is certainly an very good movie, it's does have some flawed moments. Sometimes, i felt, it was style over substance wins this movie over. It was certainly the last big hit that Coppola had in his career 18 years ago. "Bram Stoker's Dracula" does get better over repeated viewings. The old fashioned special effects does help this movie. Winner of Three Oscars for Best Costume Design, for Best Sound Editing and Best Make-Up Effects. The movie also received an Oscar nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. Also Michael Ballhaus' (Air Force One, Goodfells, Outbreak) cinematography is excellent. "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is a visually perfect film but for story-wise and Reeves' somewhat weak performance put it down a bit. Otherwise, if you are an fan of Vampire movies or Bram Stoker's novel, don't miss it. Written by James V. Hart (Contact, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Muppets Treasure Island). (****/*****),