Too bad!

Rating: Null/10 (8 July 2003)

MINOR SPOILERS
I watched this like ten years ago in a movie theatre because as I heard they were to speak a bit of Romanian in it. So I said "Why not?" But I was in for a major disappointment. Still, this wasn't an impediment for me as I watched it again a few days ago and couldn't get through some issues.
Coppola thought his film would contribute to cinema vampirology. In what way? Erotic-wise? Hmm... All through the film, I had the feeling it pretends to be something artistic while it's not. The whole arsenal of ancient cheap horror movies is employed here just to amaze fragile audiences: blood splattering, mountain-high waves, all types of flames, ghosts and apparitions. This feeling of "cheap" maintains even in the scenes presumably shot "outdoors" when you can easily see indoor props (the forest and the way to Dracula's castle, Lucy Westenra's yard).

But what bothers me the most is the distortion of geography and history altogether. There are unforgivable geographical errors (Varna is thought to be a Romanian harbour, the mounted fearless vampire killers reach Galati in just one night leaving from Varna, Arges flows through Borgo Pass (W H A T ???)- which is actually Pasul Bargaului). Also, LOTS of clumsy pronunciations of Romanian dialogues ("Thu eshti dragostia vetsii miele", "Vant, ada-mi an dor di daca", "Acest barbat umi apartsina").
Summing it up, I don't think accuracy was what the producers and director were after. Too bad...
I give this film 5 out of 10 and this is for Kilar's score, seduction scene for Keanu (Bercu, Bellucci and Kendrick are great!), makeup effects and costumes.