"My life... my job... my curse... is to vanquish evil."

Rating: Null/10 (2 January 2005)

Van Helsing is what happens when Stephen Sommers, whose successful re-imagining of the Mummy made a lot of money, decides to do an update of some more Universal favorites. This time Dracula, The Wolf Man, and Frankenstein. Van Helsing is a film of ups and downs. I really loved the black and white beginning. It was a nice homage to James Whale's Frankenstein. I kind of wanted the whole film to look like that. And then I hate the introduction of Van Helsing as he fights The Hulk, oops, I mean Mr. Hyde. What I truly despise about Van Helsing is all the terrible CGI. I remember a time when all make-up effects were practical, and they looked believable. Remember American Werewolf in London, The Howling, and even the original Wolf Man? Something real is far more terrifying than some obvious computer effect. It takes you right out of the movie. Mr Hyde, the Werewolf, and Dracula all looked terrible in my opinion and I long for the day when filmmakers realize that too. But I think Sommers did the best job he could with intertwining all of the story lines without altering too much of the original mythos. That was a real plus. And of course the acting was fine. Hugh Jackman is always really good, Kate Beckinsale is wonderful, Richard Roxburgh may have been a bit over the top but it was that kind of role, and Kevin J. O'Connor does what he does best. O'Connor's Igor was one of the characters I was most impressed with. He was like a wicked combination of Dwight Frye and Skeletor. The whole time I was watching Van Helsing I was thinking I would have really enjoyed this if I were a kid. This is the closest thing to The Monster Squad I've seen for the younger generation. While not a complete waste of time, it would be a better starter kit for young ones interested in horror.