Probably my favorite Dracula movie

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2017)

Being someone who reads (or read) a lot, I feel bad about not having read the original Dracula novel. It makes it hard for me to determine whether or not certain films are direct retellings of the original or completely new stories. As I've seen the famous Bela Lugosi version, this seemed to follow the same plot as that one. Of course, when you have something as big as Dracula, you can't help but know a bit of the story. This is most likely the best Dracula movie I've ever seen. I remember how the hairdo was parodied in a "Treehouse Of Horror" episode of "The Simpsons". It's a shame that just disappears thirty-six minutes into the movie.
I had no idea Anthony Hopkins was in this movie and boy, does he do an amazing job! I loved him as Van Helsing and appreciated how all of these characters had such unique personalities. I didn't even recognize Keanu Reeves! It's great to have so many beloved actors in a movie. I was surprised at how sexual and bloody this film was. It really does seem like a whole new take on Dracula. The first five minutes are the best as it actually explains his origin. It's a short scene, but dang, is it poetic. I thought this would be longer, but I think the length was perfect. I just love the atmosphere, the bright colors, the costumes, it's a wonderful film. ***1/2