Full of stunningly beautiful and interesting imagery

Rating: 10/10 (13 September 2009)

Whatever they say in those negative reviews, they are wrong. Wonderful imagery of lush colours, lovely women in lovely fruitcake costumes, gorgeous sets, roses which boom and wither, rich rubyred blood... Special effects are beautiful and actually support the story. Characters - ah, the characters! Yes, Dracula is sadistic massmurderer before turning to a vampire, so the film-makers sympathy plea IS obscene, but Oldman's portrayal is multifaced - he is probably best Dracula, easily outshining much-hyped Christopher Lee. Lucy is turned from virginal, wimpy heroine as nymphomaniac, making poor Stoker to spin in his grave like a mad, but like delicate, doe-eyed Mina (ideally cast Ryder), she is both full of life and feast to the eyes. James V Hart's script is excellent, and the score is a masterpiece in it's own right. The film is great baroque fun, like Hammer Gothic made in modern times... just mistitled. Not for Dracula purists, though, or fans of gore/exploitation crap.