Rings of garlic... holy water... silver stake... crucifix...

Rating: 6/10 (2 March 2008)

The opening to this movie was classic. I really liked seeing the villagers storming the castle to kill Dr. Frankenstein and his creation. But, what was Dracula doing there? We quickly switch to a really strange Jekyll/Hyde that looks something out of Jack and the Beanstalk, and a secret order of the Catholic Church that employs Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) to fulfill their mission of stamping out evil in the world (minus the priests that prey on boys, of course). There is even a James Bond type Q Branch with new weapons. It is obvious that this is not going to be your father's Dracula/Van Helsing movie.
The action is fast, the costuming, sound, CGI, and makeup are first rate. Dracula is brought into the 21st Century with a bang. But, is that bang worth the time? Well, the fire works were amazing and the flying creatures were stunningly beautiful. There was even a "Birds" segment with bats instead really cool.
Shuler Hensley made a great Frankenstein's Monster, and, of course, there is always Kate Beckinsale, a welcome sight in any movie.
Mummy master Stephen Sommers wrote and directed an exciting film.