Werewolves, Vampires, And Frankenstein! O My! 'Van Helsing' Is A Monsterous-ly Good Time! * * * 1/2 (Out Of 4 Stars)

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2004)

I remember all the way back to the good ol' days of B&W, where Lugosi, Karloff, and Chaney Jr. ruled the horror silver screen. Nowadays, horror has expanded to evil maniacs, crazy monsters, and oddball zombie flicks. It's just not as scary as they 3 originals did it. Thank god that Steven Sommers (Of 'The Mummy' fame) has brought the 3 classic monsters: Drac, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein, back to the silver screen to rule over again. In "Van Helsing" I found myself at awe with the film. Hype has lead it to be this summers first blockbuster. With summer blockbusters you get a great mix of: action, comedy, special effects, and of course, the loose plot. Summer blockbusters were never meant to be analyzed. They were made just to go in, have some popcorn, and come out smiling. "Van Helsing" is the perfect example of a summer blockbuster. Hugh Jackman is charming and exciting as Gabriel Van Helsing, who's life work is to rid the world of monsters. Working for a secret society in Rome, he must travel to Translyvania to fight Dracula. What he comes upon is much more. There he meets more then just one vampire, but three more: Dracula's brides. He also runs into Frankenstein, who we find out was "created by and for evil, but not ruled by it", making the monster a gentle creature who just wants to help Van Helsing. Kate Beckinsale, who was just hot of the success of "Underworld" as a vampire as turned her roles right around, as the beautiful Anna Valerious, the last of the Valerious' who's life's work is to rid the world of Dracula as well. On their way, they run into the Wolfman, who is all special effect, and rightfully so, since it fits. I enjoyed how the transformation of man to wolf starts. Don't expect special effects from the original 'The Wolfman'. And of course, Dracula, played by Richard Roxborough doesn't quite hit the mark on his impression of Dracula (Or Bela). You, willingly or not, will automatically try a comparison to him and Lugosi. Does he top it? No, but he adds a new, more sadistic sense to the image. I did enjoy his performance. The film, a special effects extravaganza, is one of the most impressive works as FX goes. Amazing shots of Rome, Translyvania mountains, and inside masquerades make the locations amazing. The monsters, most of the pure FX are impressive, yet corny. The vampires switch from human-like form to more demon-vampire mode. When they do, they grow giant mouthfuls of fangs, about a foot long each. It looks hokey, but still fun to smile at. Like I was saying it being the perfect summer blockbuster: it's true. Amazing special effects light up and ignite the action throughout the film, the plot acts hokey, dumb, silly, but highly enjoyable, and also it is loose. Very loose. You will question scenes and moments at least more then twice to yourself. I tip my hat to Stephen Sommers, who keeps the film on fire from beginning to end. It also kept my mind spinning from beginning to end as well. Lugosi, Karloff, and Chaney Jr. would be proud.
My Rating: * * * 1/2 (Out Of Four) 8 (Out Of 10 On The IMDB) A- (A+=Highest, F=Lowest)