Top-notch entertainment

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2006)

Gabriel Van Helsing (the son of Bram Stoker's character Abraham Van Helsing) is a monster killer for hire - the best in the business. His latest assignment has him traveling to Transylvania to investigate the infamous Count Dracula, who the Vatican suspects, is up to some sinister plans that threaten humanity.
From the first scene to the last this is a film that is as ridiculous as it is ridiculously entertaining. Packed to the brim with amazing set pieces, stellar production values, and top-notch special effects, which is topped of with terrific action scenes this is one terrific pure adventure movie. And Hugh Jackman, in the title role, makes a terrifically like-able hero. Not only that, it is terrific ode to many classic works of literature and and old European legends. The story is pretty simplistic, but also pretty clever as it weaves the story of Dracula, Frankenstein, and many other classic monsters into one story.
The only problem is that a lot of these stories were originally serious works of philosophical and metaphorical nature. All that is lost here at the expense of spectacle and entertainment, but on the other hand, you'd be pretty dumb to think this is serious movie before you sit down to watch it. Also on a positive note, the ending is not as cheesy as you'd think for a mega-budget action-fest as this. 8/10
Rated PG-13: a lot of action/violence and ghastly goings-on