'Van Helsing'

Rating: 7/10 (2 May 2006)

'Van Helsing' is, in my opinion, a very good film that stands on it's own. I realize that the director's intention was to tie this in with the Universal horror films made in the 1930s and 1940s, but he failed. For example: 1. In the 1931 version of 'Dracula', the famous monster-killer's name was Abraham Van Helsing, not Gabriel Van Helsing.
2. In the 1931 version of 'Frankenstein', The Moster doesn't talk at all. The Monster in this film, however, speaks perfect English. This is a homage to Mary Shelley's original Gothic-novel first published in 1818.
3. 'The Wolf Man', released in 1941, was not a topless creature that stood God-knows how many feet tall. The Wolf Man's hair is a brownish-hazel, and he wears clothes. The Wolf Man in this film has a brown-like color to him, and he is topless. Just a little thing I found.
4. The Kate Beckinsale roll is not in either 'Dracula', 'Frankenstein', or 'The Wolf Man'.
Visually, this film is stunning. However, I would have liked more make-up for The Wolf Man, and less CGI for Count Dracula (in human form). The acting is bland on Kate Beckinsale's part, but Hugh Jackman was believable.
Overall, I give this film an 7 out of 10. If you are a fan of the horror genre, then you might like this.