Everyone needs to chill out and enjoy!!

Rating: Null/10 (28 November 2004)

Van Helsing is not the best action movie I have ever seen, but it's far from the worst. In fact it's one of the better movies I have seen in the last little while. One of the biggest problems with not only this film but most of the current action adventure or fantasy films out there is CGI!! Enough already, it looks like crap, it doesn't look real and it's not impressive. What is impressive is when you watch the original Star Wars trilogy where they had to work to get special effects, blow up models, use miniature creations and puppets. Sadly even George Lucas fell to the CGI disaster in his recent Star Wars films. This is why we aren't enjoying action movies like we used to. In saying that, the CGI in Van Helsing is tolerable if not for any other reason than the story and movie around it.
Stephen Somers previous credits including the CGI heavy Mummy series, including producing The Scorpion King. A good series, as good as Van Helsing. The story revolves around Gabriel Van Helsing, a monster hunter working for a secret organization within the Vatican. He has lost his memory and doesn't remember his background at all. The Vatican sets him up on a mission to destroy the monster of all evil...Count Dracula himself who has decided to use Dr. Frankenstein's creation of life to bring to life thousands of Vampire offspring. The only thing currently standing in his way is a bloodline of people determined to destroy him. Van Helsing teams up with the last of this bloodline, the lovely Anna Valerious to stop Dracula once and for all including his three brides, his children, the werewolf he has been using to help kill.
One of the best things about this film is it clocks in at just over 2 hours and is not ashamed of that. Finally a film worth paying to see that isn't over in an hour and change. They don't hesitate to tell a story amidst numerous action sequences. The action is literally non stop and certainly far from boring, it's one battle after another, each one creative and original and fun to watch. Van Helsing is played by the amazing Hugh Jackman who is one of the fastest and finest rising stars of recent years. His performance as Wolverine, Leopold, to Stanley in Swordfish has shown him to not be an average action star. He actually acts!! He puts passion and uniqueness into his characters and Van Helsing is no acception. Kate Beckinsale returns in another vampire like movie since Underworld as a kick ass heroine who is determined to avenge her brother's death and kill Dracula with or without help. The romance between Jackman and Beckinsale is very light, barely noticeable but their chemistry together is perfect. David Wenham plays a monk who unwillingly becomes Van Helsing's sidekick. He's funny, and is a great addition to the cast.
The cast was excellent, the story line watchable and the action scenes amazing even with the CGI. One of the perfectly amazing highlights of this film was the character and performance of Shuler Hensley who plays Frankenstein's Monster. This is basically one of his first roles and he's one of the only monsters in the film that isn't CGI'd to death. His character is great anti-hero, compassionate and interesting. I would love to see a spin off following his character if done properly. He was without a doubt my favorite character from the film. I have said this many times before but when watching most action movies you have to let go of reality, forget plot holes and errors (although I didn't find any in Van Helsing) and enjoy. This movie was meant to just be enjoyed, and they accomplish that in a big way. Unlike most I thought the ending was perfect for the movie and had no complaints. Basically the movie is definitely worth watching but won't blow you away. Somers did a great job of giving the film the old Universal Monsters feel to it and the opening scene in black and white helped set the tone. It's pretty had to give an old movie feel to a movie like this but he pulled it off by keeping the old familiar characters pretty true to legend. Dracula who was played by Richard Roxburgh looked and felt just like the old Dracula we all know from the old movies.
As for sequels the basis for franchise was not put firmly in place for this movie which is a good thing for the most part. Doesn't mean it couldn't be done but most likely 99% likely any attempts at sequels would ruin the film and any franchise. Handled properly with care, that 1 % could turn a sequel into an epic trilogy. That's just my opinion. I hope they don't take that risk and leave well enough alone. Van Helsing is a good movie!!
7.5/10