Who doesn't HATE Van Helsing?

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

An over-the-top premise is not a license to slack on the execution. And honestly, it's a real shame that so many people seem to think it is, because that's what lets dreck like this get produced.

Ahhh, so its a shame that I like this movie even though I don't agree with you about the execution? I loved it. I thought the movie was great, it was fun, and I had no problems with it. But I'm sorry that I liked it, and I'll make sure to stop enjoying the movies that entertain me so you don't have to waste your time with obvious dreck.

 

[takyris]

Ahhh, so its a shame that I like this movie even though I don't agree with you about the execution? I loved it. I thought the movie was great, it was fun, and I had no problems with it. But I'm sorry that I liked it, and I'll make sure to stop enjoying the movies that entertain me so you don't have to waste your time with obvious dreck.

Don't be deliberately obtuse, Ankh. You don't agree that the movie was poorly executed. That's fine. I disagree with you, but that's how the market works.

I was responding to somebody who said that an over-the-top premise like Van Helsing's meant that you didn't need a plot or consistency. As, you know, mentioned in the part I quoted. If you have to be sarcastic and snippy, please be sarcastic and snippy for a cause other than an aggrieved defense of an attack I didn't make.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Brides had no nipples, they give Batman nips and BAMB, but vamps don't get them and POW!

Typecasting - God help us if he becomes Bond.

Well really, if you're going for the T&A bit, do it right with a rated R movie. At least give the audience what they want.

I know opinions differ of course, but I think the thing I hated most about this movie, was it took a lot of attention away from a movie I thought had better plot, acting, lines, and well, overall character, good old Hellboy.

 

[Ranger REG]

But its not, just forget all that mythology and it not bad, action, bit of acting, naked women.....

Not nearly naked enough, nary a nipple*.

*Unless you count Jackman's. Sorry, not a fan of man-nips.

 

[barsoomcore]

No, taky, tell us what you REALLY think. Don't hold back.



I'm with you. Van Helsing was crap crap crappity crap crap. I was pretty excited about it since I greatly enjoyed MOST of Sommers' previous films. I love Deep Rising and The Mummy and enjoyed most of The Mummy Returns. His version of The Jungle Book blows huge chunks though, so he's not a solid always-home-run director.

The problem with VH isn't the fencing in heels. It isn't the liberties it takes with old legends. It's that it's dull. It uses lots of flashes and noise to distract you from how dull it is, but ultimately it's boring, it will die and nobody will remember it, and I wasted my time watching it.

What's worst is that twenty minutes in I turned to my wife and said, "This is AWESOME!" and right at that moment (the end of the village fight) is when the whole contraption went off the rails and died.

Sommers dropped the ball in, as taky says, pretty much every way he could have.

One further note: a movie isn't a really really great idea. It's MILLIONS of really really great ideas, all pulled together and drawn into a functioning package of really really great ideas. ANYBODY can have a great idea. It's continuing to produce great ideas and organizing them that creates great films.

And films are either great or crappy. There are no crappy films that are worth watching. Sister Street Fighter is a great film. Them! is a great film. Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter is a pretty good film. So the argument "Entertainment doesn't have to be great art," doesn't fly with me because BY DEFINITION great art is entertaining. If it's entertaining, it's good.

And if VH entertained you, then great. But I found it dull as frickin' dishwater. And for a movie with Frankenstein, Dracula and the Wolfman to be DULL is the most unpardonable sin I can think of.

Final point: Turanil, what made you think MOST ENWorlders hated this film? It scored a solid 7-8 on it's "Rate This Film" thread. Most ENWorlders (as evidenced by the responses in this thread) liked it.

 

[Captain Tagon]

And films are either great or crappy. There are no crappy films that are worth watching. Sister Street Fighter is a great film. Them! is a great film. Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter is a pretty good film. So the argument "Entertainment doesn't have to be great art," doesn't fly with me because BY DEFINITION great art is entertaining. If it's entertaining, it's good.

Except that the vast majority of what most of us view as "good art" is really just what we enjoy.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Well really, if you're going for the T&A bit, do it right with a rated R movie. At least give the audience what they want.

I know opinions differ of course, but I think the thing I hated most about this movie, was it took a lot of attention away from a movie I thought had better plot, acting, lines, and well, overall character, good old Hellboy.

Yea, that brothered me too as Hellboy was the better movie.

 

[barsoomcore]

Except that the vast majority of what most of us view as "good art" is really just what we enjoy.

Uh, didn't I JUST SAY THAT? What part of your statement is not in complete agreement with every part of my statement?

If you hadn't included "Except that" in your post, it would have been a straightforward "Me too," post, but you make it sound like you're disagreeing with me when you're just restating exactly what I said. I don't understand.

 

[Mystery Man]

I thought you were saying "Jesus Christ! Vampire Hunter was a good film" until I googled it. There really is a film (Kung-Fu Action / Comedy / Horror / Musical) called Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter! I think I'll take Van Helsing over that one thanks.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I found it good, not great, but with a great soundtrack. It was well worth the price of admission. Considerably better than The Mummy Returns, a big step down from The Mummy and Deep Rising.

Of course, The Mummy Returns deserves undying hatred for turning one of the best main female characters in recent cinema into the usual one-note cliche.