So bad it's good

Rating: 7/10 (7 May 2004)

Pretty much what we were expecting from Sommers: cardboard characters, bad dialogue, bad script, great CGI action sequences.
The first half of the film is great, especially the black and white Frankenstein scene, Dracula's eccentric speeches as he walks the castle, and Mr Hyde: the film's best CGI character.
Jackman and Beckinsale look great but are given little to do but run and fight so their characters aren't as interesting and you don't care for them as much as you should. And this is the film's biggest mistake. If Sommers had cut an action scene or two and replaced them with smaller more intimate moments, this could have been something special. As it is, it's just enjoyable trash with nice expensive CGI and great production values.
I liked the ending but as I said, since the characters aren't rounded, we don't feel the strong emotions we should. Van Helsing is so bad it's good.
7/10