A childhood favorite that I still enjoy

Rating: 7/10 (23 May 2015)

As is the norm with the films of Stephen Summers, the CGI is mostly lackluster, with Dracula's bat children being the worst example of the special effects. On the other hand, the production and costume design is very good, from the leather coats to the corsets. Gothic castles and scientific equipment are showcased throughout, with actual antiques being used in the opening.
Van Helsing is certainly a more stoic and serious lead hero than Rick O'Connell of Sommers' Mummy films, and Dracula is a much more talkative and performance-wise over the top villain than Imhotep. Hugh Jackman does a good job as Van Helsing, and his arsenal of cool gadgets don't hurt either. The worst characters are Dracula's brides, who are rather annoying and are given most of the worst lines in the film.
It's reminiscent of Castlevania, with a one-time-use objects that helps the heroes out and Dracula turning into a large demonic creature for the final battle. Sommers clearly likes the Universal horror films of the 30s and 40s, and rather than trying to do a film in that exact style and tone, he simply took various elements of them and adapted them into an action adventure film (as he did with The Mummy), and it works for the most part.