Year:
2004
Studio:
Universal Pictures/Carpathian Pictures
Feature:
4/5
Feature
Van Helsing has
had a lot of buzz, especially in the geeky-type boards that I visit.
Early on, during production, it was the "this is going to be an awesome
movie" sort of buzz. But as the general release approach, people
started having second doubts. Especially when movie reviews panned the
movie. So is this a great action movie or overblown hype? Opening
weekend results suggests the former, and I agree.
Van Helsing is an
action movie about its eponymously named character (played by Hugh
Jackman). After an initial battle with Mr Hyde, we learn that although
most of the world considers him to be a murderer, in reality Van
Helsing is an agent for the Catholic Church, sent out to battle the
demons and evilness plaguing turn-of-the-20th-century Europe.
His main mission in the movie is to kill Dracula, Count Vladislaus
Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), before he kills the last of the Valerious
line, Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), who have been fighting him for
four centuries. Helping him in this particular mission is the intrepid
Friar Carl (David Wenham), a scientist-type with knowledge on how to
combat the various horrors Van Helsing meets. And the horrors are a
who's who of famous cinema monsters and villains. The aforementioned Mr
Hyde and Dracula and his brides, werewolves, Frankenstein's Monster and
Igor.
|
But it is an
action film that exudes with style. The opening sequence, showing the
creation of Frankenstein, is done in black and white. In fact, most of
the movie is done in grey and dreary colors as befitting a remote
mountain village in Transylvannia. There is a James Bond feel in Van
Helsing's weapons, from outfitting by a steam-tech Q-section he gets a
gas-powered repeating crossbow, special quarrels and bullets, and a
Vesuvious grenade to complement his Batman-like swingline-gun and
whirring Ninja-disks. There are lots of primitive electrical devices.
There is even a high-speed horse-carriage chase complete with jumping a
broken bridge. And lots of swinging on lines like trapeze artists.
The acting is overdone, the explosions are overdone, the scenery is
overdone, even the music is overdone. It all creates a stylish movie
that's designed to be way over the top. It's a classic horror movie
done in an 80's action-style blockbuster. And it does work, at least
for me.
Hugh Jackman plays a character one-step removed from Wolverine. Kate
Beckinsale has a horrible East European accent and gets to once again
wear a leather getup. Richard Roxburgh plays a conflicting Dracula.
David Wenham is the comedy relief. Shuler Hensley plays a great
Frankenstein's Monster.
In the end, I think that this is a really cool movie. Definitely has
its own unique character and atmosphere. Huge amounts of action and
attitude. What a May action-movie blockbuster should be. Go watch it in
a theatre, as it won't be anywhere near as good on DVD (unless you have
a home cinema system).
|