Van Helsing

[InzeladunMaster]

I really enjoyed Van Helsing. I particularly liked the beginning, which was black and white, like the old Universal monster films. It had a lot of elements from those old movies, especially Bride of Frankenstein. And Igor did an excellent job of imitating Lugosi's Ygor from Son of Frankenstein (the first time I heard his voice, I actually thought it was a sound clip from the '40s). It even had the poem from 1941's Wolfman!

I noticed they changed Van Helsing's name to Gabriel from Abraham. But on the plus side, they returned Frankenstein's rightful name of Victor (in the old Universal films, they inexplicably changed his name to Henry Frankenstein).

The plot was even good! Very, very interesting... Muwahahahaha!

 

[Mark van Dyk]

I wondered...

The guy who played Wolverine is in it, right? Do you think I would enjoy it? Keep in mind, I do like Dracula and movies of this sort. I had reservations about the movie because it seemed comic book-like on the poster. Is it worth a look?

I really enjoyed Van Helsing. I particularly liked the beginning, which was black and white, like the old Universal monster films. It had a lot of elements from those old movies, especially Bride of Frankenstein. And Igor did an excellent job of imitating Lugosi's Ygor from Son of Frankenstein (the first time I heard his voice, I actually thought it was a sound clip from the '40s). It even had the poem from 1941's Wolfman!

I noticed they changed Van Helsing's name to Gabriel from Abraham. But on the plus side, they returned Frankenstein's rightful name of Victor (in the old Universal films, they inexplicably changed his name to Henry Frankenstein).

The plot was even good! Very, very interesting... Muwahahahaha!

 

[InzeladunMaster]

If you enjoy movies like "Taste the Blood of Dracula", "Dracula 1970", "House of Frankenstein", and "House of Dracula", you might like it. If you are looking for something on par with Gary Oldman's performance in "Bram Stoker's Dracula", this is probably best passed on. Dracula was by far the weakest element of the movie as I didn't feel that actor had the charisma to really pull the part off. His brides on the other hand... wow.

Although it does pay homage to the old Universal movies, it does has a very comic-book feel due to the extremely high quantity (note: quantity NOT quality) of computer animated graphics. The CG was rather distracting overall. The plot was a lot of fun, and a more traditional approach to movie-making would have benefited it, as I personally can only take so many "awe-inspiring" CG landscapes per minute, and this one was way over the limit there. The CG action sequences were so unrealistic I had to roll my eyes a few times and just shake my head at modern movie making conventions. This also contributed to a comic-book atmosphere. The movie could have benefited from using more stunt-men and less CG in regards to the action.

The movie also has a James Bond quality (they even gave Van Helsing a "Q" type character who invents modern contraptions for Van Helsing to use, such as gas-powered automatic crossbows).

I enjoyed it nonetheless because the "B" movies this one pays homage to are notorious for poorly done special effects.

 

[Mark van Dyk]

thanks

Well, I will probably skip it. I do like some of the old Frankensteins you have shown me, but there is a quality in those that I suspect is severly lacking in Von Helsing. I just love Peter Cushing. And I just can't see the guy who played Von Helsing as a character I would find interesting... no cunning, no aloof, pompous ass qualities, even like Hopkins's Von Helsing had in "Dracula". I guess I like confidence in a character that comes from within and not because he has the latest gizmo to kill vamps. Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful reply!

 

[InzeladunMaster]

No problem. Gabriel Van Helsing in this movie is far more typical of a modern grungy hero with an unknown past (just like Wolverine, Gabe Van Helsing doesn't remember his past, nor realize he is just as old as Dracula). He shares none of the attributes given to Abraham Van Helsing as portrayed by Bram Stoker, Edward van Sloan (who played him in 1931's Dracula against Bela Lugosi), Peter Cushing (who played him repeatedly against Christopher Lee during the 1970's), and Anthony Hopkins.

Other than the B&W beginning sequence, this movie is entirely lacking in the charm present in the old Universal movies from the 30's and 40's. Despite all of that, I still enjoyed the movie. I guess I realize that the old charm simply cannot be recaptured and sustained in modern popular film.

As it is made by the people who made "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns", I guess an apt comparison would be similar to comparing those two movies with Boris Karloff's original mummy movie from 1932. In short, there is no comparison, although the two modern movies are enjoyable nonetheless.

 

[Mark van Dyk]

Yes...

Yes, I believe you are right to say that the old feel can not be recaptured. I was not expecting that. I don't mind comic book type movies, but for a character like Von Helsing, it seems best to me that he should be more of the studious man rather than the caped super hero. (The book nerds have to have their day occasionally! Intelligence wins sometimes, right?) Anyway, I am sure it was entertaining. I might even enjoy it. But, the older I get the pickier I get and the more I expect from art and entertainment. I don't know if this is a mind in the narrowing process. More aptly, I think it is a mind in the truthful process of thoughtful discrimination! We should watch some of the Draculas with Cushing as Von Helsing sometime. I have never seen them.

 

[Odovacar's Ghost]

I did see this movie last night. You want art? There was quite a bit of art in that movie. CG art that is.

I'm not sure I will be buying this one, when it comes out on DVD. There were a few scenes that I also had to shake my head and groan in despair.

I can't quite remember the scenes or dialog, but there were a few things taken directly from other movies in this film. I'm not talking about the other vampire, werewolf, franky-stein movies. Could of sworn I saw a few matrix-isque take-offs. Can't remember the rest at this moment.

Some of the upcoming previews looked nice too.

The Chronicles of Riddick (sequal to Pitch Black)
The Village. (a Horror pilgrim movie)