I liked it, but it could have been much better.

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2004)

Picture James Bond in the 1800's and instead of fighting criminals he is fighting monsters and you will have a pretty good idea of what this version of the movie is like. They even go so far as including a Bond Babe (Kate Beckinsale) and Q the Gadget Guy (David Wenham). Most of the creature effects were obviously left 'outrageous' to fit with the 'Monster Movie' theme and I feel that the movie could have been a lot better had they done it 'more realistic'. It could have also been a very good horror movie as well as a very good action movie instead of just a decent action movie with monsters had they focused more on the story and less on the effects. Dracula's effects were very cool until the end when they became more like the other 'cartoonish' effects. Although the elements of Dracula's plot were cool, I feel the delivery of it was too corny and cheap and thus took away from the story. I knew that I wasn't going to like the creature affects from the trailers but I had hoped that the story would make up for it, unfortunately, it did not.
I am sure there will be sequels a plenty for this one, especially if it continues to make the money it did in the first weekend. I will probably go see those sequels as well as watch the TV Series, but since the base on which they are built didn't meet my expectations, I can't see myself enjoying them as much as I could have had the original movie been up to par.
Even so, I give this one a 'it in a good theatre and rent/buy it when it comes out on DVD' rating.