Van Helsing DVD

Van Helsing
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, Elena Anaya, David Wenham
Studio: Universal
Rating: 6.5/10

CORPORATE LINE: Into this world, brought to life and played out on massive sets and sweeping locations, Sommers brings Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman), the legendary monster hunter born in the pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In his ongoing battle to rid the world of its fiendish creatures, Van Helsing, on order of a secret society, travels to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire. Also populating Sommers dense canvas are: Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley as Dr. Frankenstein’s misunderstood monster; former Matthew Bourne company leading dancer Will Kemp as Velkan, Anna’s stalwart brother who transforms under the full moon into the Wolf Man; Kevin J. O’Connor as Dr. Frankenstein’s loyal yet treacherous assistant, Igor; David Wenham as Carl, a friar entrusted with ensuring Van Helsing’s safe return; and Elena Anaya, Silvia Colloca and Josie Maran as Dracula’s three bloodthirsty brides who will stop at nothing to help their master in his plan to subvert human civilization and rule over a world of havoc, fear and darkness.

THE LOWDOWN: Van Helsing is a unique concoction that isn’t a drama, it isn’t a comedy, and it isn’t a horror film. What is it? A monster soap opera perhaps? It combines each of those elements to create a crazy sort of big budget blockbuster. I couldn’t tell if the actors were trying to give us a little Ed Wood style B-movie acting or if they were acting goofy, but serious. Is it good to be confused? I’m not sure it is.

Before seeing the film, I was told this was a teenage boys dream come true. I’m not sure that is the case. There are some fantastic effects and plenty of cleavage, however there is no point in the film where you don’t know what is going to happen. It doesn’t happen exactly the way you expect—but it happens.

Hugh Jackman pulls off the character Van Helsing by acting like Wolverine. Kate Beckinsale gives a steady B-movie performance. Carl, the friar, played by David Wenham is sort of the Roman church’s gadget man, ala 007. It’s interesting that they have the gadget man because the more you watch Van Helsing the more you start to realize how much he reminds you of James Bond—in some sort of monster movie way. If you’ve ever wondered what it’d be like if James Bond took on vampires, werewolves, and other monsters then Van Helsing has the answers.

DVD EXTRAS: The director Stephen Sommers and producer Bob Ducsay offer commentary on the shots and more. A half-hour was enough. The cast of monsters were more informative and interesting. There are some segments that are too short to be interesting. Not even the documentary on Van Helsing comes off as very interesting.

The outtakes are clearly the only extras that are better than the usual fare. The problem with most of these features is they aren’t always interesting enough to keep you there long enough to see them through.

FRANKLY: Van Helsing comes off as a comic book brought to life. The improbable is made probable. I heard two guys after the film arguing about a bridge that was damaged in the film and according to his engineering background the bridge should have fallen. Oh really? If a bridge not falling bugs you because it’s not realistic then you must have been asleep during the part where vampires soar through the sky, werewolves wander through the woods, and Mr. Hyde bounces around like the Hulk. If you’re going to see Van Helsing then you have to suspend all reality—not just the part about the vampires. You can bet if this is a box office smash we’ll be seeing more Van Helsing—I haven’t decided if that is good or bad.

+ Charlie Craine


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