Let Francis Ford Dracula fascinate you: your neck will not regret it

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2007)

Brilliant inspiration by Francis Ford Coppola, and a delightful homage to the beginnings of cinema (Lumière, Mélies). Besides, it is a 100% romantic film, much more than a horror film. Traditional visual FX and modern make up FX merge effortlessly and very successfully, the photography is excellent and the production design spectacular. Wonderful costumes by Eiko Ishioka, some of them barely seen. Incredible music by Woiciek Kilar for an incredibly atmospheric movie.
Enjoyable Anthony Hopkins as cynical Van Helsing, and Gary Oldman as charming Dracula: a clever transposition of sympathies. There is abundance of cultural references to art history (the Gorgon, oriental art, paintings, 19th century gardens...) and to the time in which Stoker's novel is set (e.g. Van Helsing saying something about electromagnetic fields, then the state of the art in science, cinema itself and, interestingly, Mina naming Mme. Curie).
There are so many details to discover, that you can watch this film again and again.
10 out of 10. Almost every frame is beautiful like a painting.