Cheers for action and special effects; Jeers for character development - so what?

Rating: Null/10 (31 May 2004)

True though it is that all of the characters in Van Helsing(including the title role by Mr. Jackman) have less substance than most poorly drawn Saturday Morning heroes, the movie offers one heck of a good time. Why? Because the movie's fresh take on the monsters of classic Hollywood horror are absolutely fantastic.
Yes some people have complained about the lack of plot and character development, but let's not forget that the original film depictions of Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein from the 1930s and 1940s were no less superficial. Anyone who has seen The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, or The Scorpion King should know what they're getting in for when they go to a movie of the same genre by the same creative minds behind those three films.
They're going to see a movie that's all about action and special effects with a campy brand of humor in the mix. If that's not your cup of tea, don't see the movie; and by heavens, don't complain about what you saw if you already saw the aforementioned flicks and didn't like them.
I guess it's pretty plain then, that I thoroughly enjoyed The Mummy, its sequel, and its spin-off; I liked this movie even more. Now don't get me wrong, my favorite kinds of movies are the movies that stir your soul and make you think. The Mummy and its follow-ups certainly weren't in that category, and neither was Van Helsing. Val Helsing is the kind of movie you go see when you just want to have some fun. That's what it was, fun like a roller-coaster is fun. Why expect more - that's my question.
Just one more thing about my favorite part of the movie then. The brides of Dracula are the most amazing CG effects of the film. We've never seen creatures like this in any movie. In the same spirit that I watched Disney's Dinosaur and loved it just for the visually stunning CG characters, I love Van Helsing. Going to see the Van Helsing matinee was worth my five bucks just for the artistry that went into bringing the brides of Dracula to life.