A camp-action masterpiece - actually, THE camp-action masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2017)

When I first saw this film in a theater, I wouldn't have given it more than a 7 - but I liked it enough to buy the video, and on third viewing, 13 years later, I was blown away by its overall excellence: the photography is gorgeous, the plot original, the script first rate, the acting first-rate, the music rich and strong without ever overpowering the movie itself, and the combination of camp humor, action, and an unexpected ending (spoiler alert) make it for me one of my all-time favorite movies. If you like a mixture of humor and action, with spectacular photography and a rich score, this is for you. While The Mummy is okay, Van Helsing is far more original and well-done in every aspect - a camp action masterpiece. Much better than 90 percent of the movies I have seen in the last decade.