Should be judged for what it is ...

Rating: Null/10 (10 May 2004)

It's not terribly good and not so awfully bad ... it's certainly much better than League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (LXG) - both suffer from trying to have too many 'characters' (heroes or baddies) in them but VH comes off better. For me the film has less impact from having so many different baddies with their own already established histories and mythologies: Jekyll & Hyde, Dracula, Wolfman and Frankenstein. One the plus side this makes them more immediately accessable (unlike LXG where I, at least, was not familiar with all the characters (LXG were an unlikely bunch in a different way to this slightly less unlikely bunch)). Sadly in VH there is little plot and little character development. VH's first monster is Mr Hyde who for some reason is wandering around Notre Dame in Paris (it could be that in the Jekyll and Hyde story he does go to Paris I really don't remember to be honest - however as the rest of the film didn't pay real homage to the characters I was expecting a hunchback to be the first monster to be dispatched lol) ... The special effects are very overdone (Hyde looks like a Mr Universe caricature). The first Wolfman was the best and things held together OK up to here as far as things went. The plot and dialogue were pretty awful and it's just the action that kept it ticking along - even though it's pretty over the top (OTT). The oddest thing in the movie? Dracula trying to raise a vampire army using the technology that brought Frankenstein to life. Whoever designed the GC for the vampire babies? It was awful - they looked like luminous fat vampire jelly babies. Still it kept my attention for the duration. The music got annoying - it even overpowered everything else at times (bear in mind that everything else is pretty OTT). I didn't go to this movie with any great expectations and I would question the maturity of anyone who raves about it (you may think this Rocks is you are a 14 year old boy). Despite all its flaws its watchable enough once if you are just after an action / FX / monster movie from hollywood to entertain you for a while (it overdelivers on all 3 at the expense of characters and plot but is enjoyable enough). The friar was the best character. Dracula just reminded me too much of bono (which didn't work). Dunno what they were thinking with Frankenstein - laughed when he had to put his head back in shape - but he was just too nice for a monster. Wolfman worked well enough. Jekyll/Hyde no comment. Hunback of Notre Dame should have been in it! Vampires - done well enough, though their extending gaping jaws were a bit much. VH - OK. Anna - OKish. Overall bit disappointing but enjoyable enough - better thank Hulk & LXG. 5.5/10