Don't write the DVD version off!

Rating: 6/10 (18 October 2004)

How the director / writer conceived Kate Beckinsale's character so badly is curious enough. How she could have read the part and agreed to do it that much worse. What stuns the viewer, however, is the fact the entire crew from costume designer to camera operator could have collaborated! This could have been a great campy fun horror movie along the lines of a classic Hammer film (but with really great sfx) instead we groan when Kate Beckinsale first walks into a shot, suede high heels and all. Not that I am against a sexy character or two. The brides (especially Elena Anaya) are fantastic! So much so you forgive the fact their outfits appear to somehow be as impervious as their vampiric selves.
Despite a poor performance from Ms. Beckinsale I did enjoy this in an odd sort of way. The effects are so brilliant you wonder how movies like the Hulk still get made, the costumes (apart from the aforementioned Kate's) are cool in a "I wanna be _____ for Halloween" sorta way. The DVD extras are fun, particularly the bloopers real. The side characters all put in great performances, I want to say especially ... but they were ALL brilliant. Hugh Jackman IS a super hero, better cast here than as Wolverine though the comparisons were inevitable. Rent or buy the DVD and be happy you saved your $10 you would have spent seeing it in the cinema.