this is not an adventure, it's a ride !!

Rating: 9/10 (20 May 2004)

A rollercoaster of a movie, yes the CGI played to much of the movie but it works. Mr.Hyde puts the Mr.Hyde from the League of extraordinarily gentlemen to shame, the Wolfman looks stunning, Dracula and his brides... less so in they're a-sexual flying forms,Frankenstein's monster.. looks like a monster. I would have prefered Dracula to be more elegant, Sir Cristopher Lee was available and seeing as he wouldn't have to do any action (that was ALL CGI) It would have been a perfect fit. I enjoyed the movie it was full of action and had a story that I could suspend disbelief for, seeing as everybody already knows whom the Wolfman,Dracula,Fankenstein,Van Helsing are there was no need to tell their stories again so we could get right into the action.
It was a good thing the Vatican send Van Helsing to Transylvania, because Kate alone wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes with those monsters. you would have thought fighting your WHOLE life against Dracula and his minions would give you some insight (daylight raid ?!), she could have been a strong woman character but wasn't. Dracula was nice in a campy sort of way though not really scary in any form. Van Helsing was good and looked great in the hat and played his role though it wasn't much different from Wolverine... Igor was good, come with Dracula because you're my Goon now. Frankenstein's monster was good and brought meaning to: never judge a book by it's collar. the Brides looked and acted great and where the real menace instead of Dracula IMHO. CGI yes it can work marvelous, great scenery,monsters only the story and acting make a movie what it is and Van Helsing had enough story to make it work the acting could have been better at parts. Music was great !!!!
9 out of 10 for a not to serious though great movie.