One To Remember

Rating: Null/10 (11 May 2004)

I had high expectations for this film, or at least I did until I read all the bad reviews. Yet I did go see the film today, and it definitely is a film that lingers in one's mind-or in my mind at least.
The film has some great sets and the make-up seemed to be pretty good (although probably not as masterful as Jack Pierce's classic creations). The plot isn't the best, but it's not too bad either. The acting was done fairly well, and Roxburgh makes a good impression as a semi-original Dracula. Shuler Hensley does the Frankenstein Monster justice, but does seem to be a bit under-used. The werewolves are ferocious, and the transformation sequences seem to be the best in horror films thus far.
There are inconsistencies, or things that do not make sense in the film. Or at least they are not given any rational explanation.
Now the nitpicky stuff. Kevin J. O' Connor was great as "Igor" who seemed very reminiscent of Bela Lugosi's "Ygor" (From "Son Of Frankenstein" and "Ghost Of Frankenstein"). Once more this film rewrites the end to "Frankenstein" just like "Bride Of Frankenstein" had rewritten it to better suit its story. On even more technical grounds, they even mess up the real life Dracula's years of birth and supposed death (in the film it is 1422-1462, in history it was 1431-1476). They also minorly changed the words to Curt Siodmak's classic Wolf Man poem, but is slightly noticeable unless you've practically memorized it.
All in all, it is a good multi-monster film, even if some characters are under-used. If you can look past some funny cliche-ish lines, constant stunt scenes, and some nitpicky details-it should be a fun film to watch and one that may captivate your imagination just like the original Universal films have captivated the imaginations of generations since 1931 (since 1925 for the famous "Opera Ghost" and 1923 I believe for the original French hunchback, but 1931 was the year that Lugosi and Karloff, Bela and Boris, gave us the cinematic gems that persevere in our hearts and minds...and in our fears and imagination).
Sincerely, Exchronos