Van Helsing

[WhiteSlash]

Title: Van Helsing
Release Date: May 7, 2004
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Stephen Sommers
Screenwriter: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham, Shuler Hensley, Will Kemp, Kevin J. O'Connor, Elena Anaya, Silvia Colloca, Josie Maran, Sam West
Genre: Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: Not available
Official Website: VanHelsing.net
Plot Summary: Deep in the mountains of Carpathia lies the mysterious and mythic land of Transylvania--a world where evil is ever-present, where danger rises as the sun sets, and where the monsters that inhabit man's deepest nightmares take form. Innovative filmmaker Stephen Sommers--who so imaginatively re-envisioned Universal's classic Mummy character in the worldwide blockbusters "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns"--now widens his cinematic scope and multiplies his creative inspiration by breathing new life into the most time-honored pantheon of classic Universal monsters and setting them in a stunning new world of fantastical reality. Sommer's all-encompassing vision for a world as tangible, real and visceral as any caught in the stranglehold of inescapable evil blends the recognizable and the unimaginable into a vivid, epic backdrop for his tale of ultimate evil against a lone force of good: Van Helsing.

Audiences will be drawn into a visionary, supernatural but seemingly all-too-real world of Sommers' singular creation--set in 19th Century London, Rome, Paris and Transylvania--where mankind is in constant danger from incarnate evil in a multitude of forms: monsters that outlive generations, defying repeated attacks from the doomed brave souls that challenge them in their never-ending war upon the human race. In Sommers' hands, Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man and others are effectively reborn as dynamic heirs to the traditions handed down by the filmmakers of the classic Universal monster pictures. Honoring their legacy while propelling them into the next generation of cinema, Sommers turns what was once classic into cutting edge.

Into this world, brought to life and played out on massive sets and sweeping locations, Sommers brings Van Helsing (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 (Roxburgh) and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious (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.

What do you think of the idea for this movie?
Will you see it? Why?

[Snidget]

What do you think of the idea for this movie?
The idea for this seems great! I just don't know if the director can pull of such a story line. I mean, although the mummy movies were entertaining, they weren't the absolute best. They put a smile upon my face, but nothing more. I love the concept for this story, but hopefully he can pull it off. That's what was making me and my friends doubt how well the movie could actually be.

Will you see it? Why?
Yeah, I'll see it just because it has a good story line and it has Hugh Jackman in it and I love him. :-D

[Wab]

The trailer had me until they mentioned Frankenstein's creature then it was: "I'm outta here".

[mina]

It pretty much looks like your average summer blockbuster (though it comes out in spring).

The idea of it? Doubt it can be pulled off without ridiculousness. Oh well, it is an action movie...they usually are somewhat lame.

Will I see it? Maybe...if nothing else good is in, and I have time. It's not on the top of my list.

[pasalita]

The fact that Hugh Jackman is in it, not to mention he sang snippets from "Grease" at Comic-con during their panel discussion to promote the film last year (BTW, he has an amazing singing voice...Australian muscial theatre, gotta love it)....


I'm there in a heartbeat.

[MadMagic]

I was more excited until I heard that he battles Dracula as well as Frankensteins monster and some more monsters all in the same movie. Maybe they are stretching the plot a bit far with all that.

[WhiteSlash]

Well, that's actually what the movie is about. A monster hunter dude. In an interview with the director, he said, "That this isn't your father's Van Helsing" refering to the orginal guy. This is a more action monster movie, that made things like the bat in vampires, have a 15 foot wingspan. It's sound kinda cool really.

[Wab]

Van Helsing hunted vampires when he wasn't doctoring or teaching. If they want an all purpose monster dude by all means, but grab a different name.

[Kerbox]

http://www.vanhelsingmovie.com/trailer/qt_700.html

Anyone heard about this movie? It looks awsome! :drool:
It might be because Ive read through all the harry potter books resently, but I somehow got a Harry Potter wibe watching this trailer. I mean, this could be him as an auror or something some time in the future :)
(If you look away from the fact that Van Helsing doesnt use magic... yea, I know. Its silly)

[Wab]

No, no, no.

Dr Van Helsing had one role besides that as medical genius; vampire hunter. Not every bit of evil that crossed his path.

If you want a Victorian Buffy, do so by all means. But leave Stoker's physician out of it.

[ChoChanger]

yeah, that looks good, looking forward to go and seeing it...

luv Cho xxx

[Kerbox]

For christ sake Web, I dont care about "Stoker's physician". I was judging purely based on the trailer.

[rotsiepots]

Erm, Stoker's physician is Van Helsing. And I don't think Christ has anything to do with it.

Personally, this type of movie has never appealed to me. An actual movie about Abraham Van Helsing might be interesting but fobbing off the original story and creating a "kid brother", Gabriel, just seems rather...bad. Anyway, time will tell.

[Kerbox]

yea, I know Stoker's physician is Van Helsing. My point in my first post was to throw away the idea of Van Helsing completeally, and put HP in his place in the trailer. Which why I didnt care about Van Helsing. And replace "for christ sake" with "for crying out loud", if that offends you.

[rotsiepots]

Why call a movie Van Helsing, though if it's not going to be about, well, Van Helsing? If they'd called this film something different then I'm sure Wab and a fair few other people wouldn't have as many problems with it. If you're going to name a film after someone relatively famous (albeit fictional) then there are going to be certain expectations.

It would be like making a general fantasy film about werewolves, giants, trolls and vampires and calling it Sirius Black.

[Potterfan11]

I cant wait! :drool: but June 4th seems ages off :upset:

[Kerbox]

It is about Van Helsing, as its about the battle between Helsing and different evils, including Dracula. Its not a general movie about vampires. The character Van Helsing in Dracula is vague and underdeveloped, so even though the movie elements might be different from what you'd expect, its not wrong. Even in all the different movie adaptions of Stokers novel, Van Helsing has been portrayed in several different ways.

[Mrs Padfoot]

It looks amazing, and not just because of Hugh Jackman - :drool:

Anyway, I don't have a problem with them changing it so that Van Helsling fights frankinstein, and the Wolfman as well. They've just interpreted the character in a different way. According to articles I've read about the film, it has depth and character development and so isn't just an action blockbuster. Well, I can't wait!

[Kerbox]

Hugh Jackman is part of the appeal if you ask me :p

[gabby]

When I heard of the movie I wanted to see it.

But after finding out that Van Helsling is fighting all these other monsters that have nothing to do with him or the original story...I think I will pass.

[Kerbox]

yea, we'll see about that missy miss. I bet you will go watch it anyway.

[myname]

I agree with other people who posted before.It's stupid to make that kind of movie and change a character.It's offending to both Stoker and Van Helsing(I know I'm silly since the one's dead and the other fictional,but anyway)

[Rachelle]

The Van Helsing movie reminds me of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. They totally screwed up that movie. It was based on a comic book that was written in the 1800's, but very loosely. Pretty much just the bad guy was the same, and a few of the characters. They added characters, and changed a bunch of stuff, and since it featured famous literary characters like Tom Sawyer and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, etc., I thought they could have at least respected the people who created them and made the characters more true to the books they're from. Van Helsing's going to be like that, it looks like. I just remember him from Stoker's Dracula, I don't remember him fighting The Wolfman and Frankenstien. It's nice when they make a movie based on a classic book or character, but only when they get the story right.

[Kerbox]

As I said, Van Helsing from Stoker's novell was underdeveloped and vague. Nothing suggests that the movie makers CHANGED anything. We dont know WHERE Van Helsing comes from, or what he did before. All the Dracula movies portrayed him differently, because of this freedom.

[gabby]

yea, we'll see about that missy miss. I bet you will go watch it anyway.

I bet I don't....I will eventually watch it..when it comes out on Netflix...but it won't get my money at the theater.

[SilverStar]

I want to see this! Hugh Jackman! Yay!

[Wab]

As I said, Van Helsing from Stoker's novell was underdeveloped and vague. Nothing suggests that the movie makers CHANGED anything. We dont know WHERE Van Helsing comes from, or what he did before. All the Dracula movies portrayed him differently, because of this freedom.

I don't know what edition you read but my copy clearly states he's a respected Dutch physician with a passion for experimental medicine and vampire lore.

The classic characters I suppose we can look forward to the day HP is out of copyright and Hermione can be reconfigured as a vengeful harpy and Harry is eaten by a basilisk.

[Kerbox]

"respected Dutch physician with a passion for experimental medicine and vampire lore"... oh yea, thats very specific. Thats the entire life story of a man right there.

[rotsiepots]

Kerbox: why are you being so persistently rude to people who happen to disagree with your opinion? Unless you're the screenwriter of Van Helsing you have no reason to be so defensive, sardonic and patronising.

I can always close this thread if you would like me to, or if I'm feeling exceptionally generous you might even get a free warning.

[Kerbox]

nono, thats fine. I appologise. Firstly this thread was started for a whole other purpose, and secondly I dont really care what any of you think you know about the movie. However, I have a strong feeling the movie will turn out to be excellent and fitting supremely into Stoker's story. As you put it, time will tell.

[Midnightsfire]

From Sci-Fi Wire:

Stephen Sommers, director of the upcoming Universal monster-fest Van Helsing, told SCI FI Wire that he views the film's central creatures as simply misunderstood people. "It has a very different tone to it" compared with his two Mummy films, Sommers said in an interview on the movie's Los Angeles set last May. "It's a very different story. I just love the characters. I went into this thing saying, 'There are no monsters, just people with really bad problems.'"

Van Helsing stars Hugh Jackman as monster-slayer Gabriel Van Helsing and Kate Beckinsale as the gypsy princess Anna. As they journey through 19th-century Europe, they encounter famous movie creatures, including Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, Dracula and a few others.

"Van Helsing has some bad problems," Sommers said. "Princess Anna has some bad problems. I mean, this guy, Frankenstein, he has real bad problems. The Wolf Man, he's like a wreck. ... But they're all humans, everybody in the movie. There are no monsters. Even Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They're all people. Frankenstein's a man. He's seven men, but he's still human. ... There are no aliens in the movie."

--------------------------------------------

I admit I had already planned on seeing this but this...makes it more attractive.

I don't really care who Gabriel van Helsing is as long as they give me some decent background material or even use the "man with a mysterious past" bit. As long as it is an entertaining movie is the only question I have and I did like both Mummy movies. (And the trailer appears kinda fun. So we'll see.)

[Mrs Padfoot]

I don't know what edition you read but my copy clearly states he's a respected Dutch physician with a passion for experimental medicine and vampire lore.

The classic characters I suppose we can look forward to the day HP is out of copyright and Hermione can be reconfigured as a vengeful harpy and Harry is eaten by a basilisk.

They've hardly changed it that much! They seem to have made his character a bit more of an action hero, by making him younger and deal with more 'monsters' I'm sure they will have kept his basic character, and some of the things that he does.

[rotsiepots]

I don't really care who Gabriel van Helsing is as long as they give me some decent background material or even use the "man with a mysterious past" bit. As long as it is an entertaining movie is the only question I have and I did like both Mummy movies. (And the trailer appears kinda fun. So we'll see.)

Gabriel Van Helsing is a creation of the studios -- apparently he's the "kid brother" of Abraham Van Helsing of Dracula fame. I suppose that's why they feel they can throw in Frankenstein, werewolves, and Dracula for him to battle.

Kate Beckinsale's accent in the trailer really made me chortle. Me thinks she's been watching too much Hammer horror in an attempt to get her accent right.

[TheShadow]

I must say, I'm really looking forward to Van Helsing. I love both X-Men movies so I'm a Hugh Jackman fan and Kate Beckinsale is in it too. :D:D:D:D

[Tim the Wiz]

nono, thats fine. I appologise. Firstly this thread was started for a whole other purpose, and secondly I dont really care what any of you think you know about the movie. However, I have a strong feeling the movie will turn out to be excellent and fitting supremely into Stoker's story. As you put it, time will tell.

Well it didn't from day one, it seems its based on Abraham Van Helsing's (Bram Stoker's Dracula) kid brother Gabriel. And it also seems like he's the more go-in-all-guns-blazing of the two brothers, hence we get a nice action flick.

Just hired the DVD of The League of Extrodainary Gentlemen, a pretty underwhelmed affair. I hope this movie does not go that road.

Even though Hugh Jackman is in the movie and its all thumbs up to him from me, I don't waste time going to movies just cos it has my fave actors in it. Sometime's you get severely disapointed because that great actor chose a not-so great film to star in. ('cept for Johnny Depp, he hasn't steered me wrong yet)

Otherwise that review posted on the top of the page makes me think it might be worth a look. On DVD of course. ;)

[Tane]

I am in too minds to see this but being someone who goes to the cinema on a regular basis and will watch anything going I probably will see it. It looks like an action film with great effects though the story I am not sure off. I too was put off when I saw Frankenstein. It seems to me that it will be a lot of action and very little background, something I will be very disappointed with if that turns out to be the case. I am actually looking more forward to the Day After Tomorrow which bravely comes out the week before PoA.

[WhiteSlash]

Gabriel Van Helsing is a creation of the studios -- apparently he's the "kid brother" of Abraham Van Helsing of Dracula fame. I suppose that's why they feel they can throw in Frankenstein, werewolves, and Dracula for him to battle.

That's why. :D I guess I can't say it's Professor Van Hesling then

[TheShadow]

Wolfman and Dracula look really cool. I'm not too sure about Frankenstein though. I hope he doesn't ruin the movie.

[Mrs Padfoot]

It does look a bit cartoonish, but it should be enjoyable enough. I'm not sure if I'll go to the cinema to see it or not.

[Midnightsfire]

Wolfman and Dracula look really cool. I'm not too sure about Frankenstein though. I hope he doesn't ruin the movie.
I heard that Frankenstein's Monster is a bit more of a cyborg.

[TheShadow]

I saw an interview with Stephen Sommers, the director of Van Helsing and he said that he didn't just want Van Helsing fighting all the different monsters. He wanted them to link somehow. So Dracula needs Frankenstein to complete his plan.

[R3mus Lup!n]

I'm rather excited about watching this. Really wanna see dracula..coz i never really seen a what THE original vampire was suppose to be like..

Isn't Van Helsing just suppose to be a doctor that knows dracula's weaknessses and all that..he isn't really suppose to be able the do all those stunts right?

[Midnightsfire]

Isn't Van Helsing just suppose to be a doctor that knows dracula's weaknessses and all that..he isn't really suppose to be able the do all those stunts right?
You may wish to read a few posts back...and then a few more back from that point as well.

[R3mus Lup!n]

My post on top was rather dumb eh..

[veinsofglass]

I can't wait for this movie - I've been pre-obsessing over it for ages, lol. I'm more looking forward to seeing Richard Roxburgh as Dracula *droolz* Although I'm not to sure sure about his character being a sort of Dr Frankenstein role as well, but I'm sure it'll be great!

[Wab]

Interesting. The elder VH destroyed Dracula and his three wives.

[veinsofglass]

to me, the storyline seems a bit messed up :huh: perhaps it'll make more sense once we actually get round to watching the movie

[K.K. Slider]

I saw it today, it was pretty good.

[SilverStar]

I saw it today, it was pretty good.

Was it really violent? Like gross-violent?

[WhiteSlash]

Saw it last night. Very good, but not great.

I figured out the whole movie half way through

[TheShadow]

I'm going to see it in about an hour. I'm looking forward to it and hoping it isn't a dissapointment.

[Lucius]

Okay, I know this sounds pathetic...but I have a thing about vampires. :s For some crazy reason I've been afraid of them since the year dot, yet I really want to go see this movie. (David Wenham has a role, that's a contributing factor.) :D

So is it quite scary? I've heard it's mainly action laced with horror elements which would be great. I really want to see Wenham even though he is playing a bit of a typecast role after Faramir.

Cheers guys.

[Liselle]

Just back from seeing it, it wasn't bad but it wasn't exactly wonderful either. I though Hugh Jackman was good anyway, the Count Dracula reminded my a tad of Bono :lol: for some reason.

The end isn't great though, the film started out well enough but got a little cartoon-ish towards the middle....if you see it you'll know what I mean and the last scene is truely awful but in general its not too bad. Just don't take it too seriously!

[loony4moony]

Is it gory? I'm pathetic when it comes to gory films, I still have to hide when Aragorn decapitates that orc at the end of FOTR...if it's gory I'll wait till it comes out on video.

The reason I want to see it might just have something to do with a certain David Wenham...

[Liselle]

Is it gory? I'm pathetic when it comes to gory films, I still have to hide when Aragorn decapitates that orc at the end of FOTR...if it's gory I'll wait till it comes out on video.

The reason I want to see it might just have something to do with a certain David Wenham...

I'm so dozey! I just realised now who he was....I was sitting watching the movie and all along in the back of my mind there was the feeling that I recognised him from somewhere!!!!

Its not too gorey but there's one bit
It has to do with "sacs" of Dracula's children. Thats a bit gross, I have to give credit to the sound effects people though it really sounds disgusting
but in general its not too gorey at all.

[Lone Wolf]

Is it gory?

No, it's not gory. Actually, it's not good either. I was so hugely disappointed after watching it last night. They hyped it up to be THE blockbuster of the summer. How wrong they were. The plot is weak. The script it awful. I'm not even going to mention the accents (especially Kate Beckinsale's)

The special effects were alright, but there were too many imho. I'm surprised my eyes weren't bleeding when I came out of the cinema.

My kids enjoyed it though, as did my husband. My eldest is now in love with Richard Roxburgh's Dracula (she has a thing about Goth guys) Personally, I didn't like him. He was a bit too 'camp' for my liking.



The reason I want to see it might just have something to do with a certain David Wenham...

Now he was the BEST thing in it! He was wonderful, is a pathetically cute geeky way. He had some weird flick thing going on with his hair, but he was great!

Hugh was a treat on the eyes (as he always is) But I felt that even he was struggling with the script and plot at some points in the film. It was like he was trying too hard, I almost felt sorry for him. There was also one scene (I'm not giving away any spoilers - it's at the end) and he has this look of utter confusion on his face as to what's going on 'above' him. I almost laughed out loud at this scene. It reminded me of a certain Disney film, although I'm sure the writer didn't have The Lion King in mind when he scripted it.

But this is just my view of it. I'm sure others enjoyed it.

[WhiteSlash]

The Friar was great.

I love that scene after they have sex and he yells out "Vampires!" and then goes. "Oh yeah." :D

[TheShadow]

I saw it today and I enjoyed it. I was annoyed at one bit:
Don't read below if you haven't seen it!!!
When Anna dies at the end. I think that ruined the movie. It would have been better if she had survived and lived with Van Helsing happily ever after, lol.

The brides were great! I especially liked Aleera (the one that died last). Elena Anaya. :love:

All the werewolves were cool and it looked good when they morphed from human to wolf.

Dracula was good. I enjoyed the last scene with him fighting Van Helsing.

I was worried Frankenstein would ruin the movie but he was OK I suppose.

All in all, it was really enjoyable. :D

[Revolution]

But it was good for the rest right? Because I really want see it strangely enough my dad is also pretty keen on it.

Van Helsing was Dutch right? I read somewhere on the internet that he was from Amsterdam, was he?

[SiriuslyBria]

I haven't seen this movie (though there is a good chance I will next weekend), but I was surprised to see it this morning in the Sunday Target Ad. It said it would be on DVD on Tuesday... :huh:

[TheShadow]

But it was good for the rest right?

Yeah, definetly! If you like those kinds of movies, monsters etc.. you'll enjoy it. Hope you didn't read my spoiler because you will enjoy it alot more if you haven't. :)

[Liselle]

someone said: When Anna dies at the end. I think that ruined the movie. It would have been better if she had survived and lived with Van Helsing happily ever after, lol.


I thought that Frankenstein would fix that situation....I don't want to say what I really want to say without ruining the whole thing for everything else


In a way it was fitting that she died, and although technically Van Helsing killed her, he also re-united her with her family....I see other people thought what I did that some of it was a little too cartoon-ish but thats not necessarily a bad thing, it could have been so much more

[WhiteSlash]

The ending was a little, Woo, I didn't see that. I bet she'll be brought back to life though for the 2nd one. But, I heard PotC is doing that...So I don't think they will. The end just showed that her family was relived and the happiness of death for some.

[GryffindorGr]

I seriously enjoyed watching this movie on the BIG screen :)
It was super uber cool. (I like special effects and all that entails!)
Storyline was mediocre but hey, I went there to get the special effects that the previous creators of "Mummy", "Mummy2" and "ScorpionKing" had. And I was not disappointed!

[Liselle]

Is there going to be a second one? I suppose it was left open for that......

[GryffindorGr]

Is there going to be a second one? I suppose it was left open for that......
Oh! I heard that there's going to be two more! *big eyes* lol. Although, I'm wondering what kind of baddies Van Helsing will be facing.

The part where the monk/friar showed all those weapons to Van Helsing reminded me of James Bond, medieval style. I seriously doubt that Kate Beckingsale will be back though, even for a re-birth....hmmm. ALthough Van Helsing himself was once Gabriel.

[Liselle]

:lol: that part reminded me of exactly the same thing too...right down to Van Helsing asking

Why can't I have one of those

[Magi]

I thought it SUCKED.

Can you say "cheesy"?! Cliched? The only laugh-worthy jokes were the "friar" ones, and even those were over-used.

And that howling sad scene near the end. It was so pathetic half the viewers in my cinema were laughing! Sure, it was supposed to be an "awwwww" moment, but for me and most other viewers, it was a resounding "snort".

Storyline? Thanks for a laugh... a 4-frame Phantom comic strip had more storyline. Cheese, but only half cooked.

Special effects? Some of the animation and compositing were dreadfully sub-standard, and there were too many needless effects shots. It looks like the CG teams were extremely overworked.

Too much repetition, drawn-out action, and lack of consistency in time continuity wrapped it up and threw the movie in a trash can.

Now that I've ranted. A good thing about this movie was the acting by the main characters... Hugh Jackman, his sidekick, and Kate Beckinsdale all put up pretty solid performances. Not great, but consistently good. The CG wasn't actually horrible, thanks to the modelling and texturing of the werewolf and Count Dracula -- those were Academy Award standard.

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars.

[GryffindorGr]

AH, a true critic! :D I think lots of people will have thumbs down and thumbs up on this movie, because frankly, this movie is not to go for in terms of storyline. One would be truly disappointed otherwise.You're right that the funniest silliest lines were from the friar! And if you re-watch Mummy and Mummy 2 again, there's just those silliest moments too that were unnecessary! And even the corniest music came on.
(I also saw Eight legged freaks on DVD the other day and noticed the music and the spiders were making silly noises like a cartoon!) LOL.
EDited for typo. (i just type too fast sometimes.)

[Liselle]

This isn't a film you go and see for the story line anyway, but I like switching off my brain when I go to the cinema

[GryffindorGr]

I just watched the making of Van Helsing just now when I downloaded it. It only took about a trailor movie time to watch. And it's funny that the creators of the film AND the actors/actress were saying that it's a good storyline. :D The film creator wanted to make a storyline with all 3 mythical creatures: Frankenstein, Werewolf, and Dracula because he knew they'd all been done before. I've always read storylines like this on comic books, etc but never had it on screen with nice special effects before.

by Liselle
This isn't a film you go and see for the story line anyway, but I like switching off my brain when I go to the cinema
Just sit back, watch and eat popcorn, right?

[Liselle]

yup and this was a perfect movie to do so in my humble opinion....that and Hugh was nice eye candy too :)

[Magi]

Hmmm. Being a bloke, I didn't find Hugh to be much of an eye candy, but Kate filled that niche nicely.


This isn't a film you go and see for the story line anyway, but I like switching off my brain when I go to the cinemaThat's very true. But what is annoying is that some action movies like to shove half-baked corny storyline into your eye sockets. This, alas, was one of those movies.

Good escapism though.

[WhiteSlash]

It's actually a good storyline pulling all three of the monsters together. No one has done that. That's why they say it's a good storyline. As for it in it's self, it's not like X-men. Hugh Jackman was way better in that, but that movie has an overall meaning about racism. THis one you just go to for the fun and excitment of watching effects and people flying through the air on ropes.

[Liselle]

you have to say it was a nice little salute to his character in XMen though :lol:

[TheShadow]

I agree, some of the lines were cheesy. For e.g. when Marishka says "Too bad, so sad." LOL. It was enjoyable though. I thought the storyline was good because it would have been a bit stupid just Van Helsing fighting all the monsters, it was good that they linked together.

The ending was ok but Anna was a good character and if they do a sequel I don't think she could be in it because it would be dumb if she came back to life.
The Friar kind of annoyed me. Some of his lines were funny but I think they overdid it a bit. They tried to make him too funny. Nearly all of his lines were meant to be funny.

[SiriuslyBria]

I haven't seen this movie (though there is a good chance I will next weekend), but I was surprised to see it this morning in the Sunday Target Ad. It said it would be on DVD on Tuesday... :huh:

If anyone cares, the DVD is a cartoon. I knew something was up, but I still find it odd that they showed the movie poster in the ad... :huh:

[FlyingPhoenix]

This movie isn't any money worth. Alone the beginning was so badly played I wondered what this actress did there, trying a parody or something?
As for so many monsters in one movie, eh The dance of vampire, I think have similar amount of monsters or the Adams-Family.
The actress weren't good not a single one of that lot. It was boring the whole plot, and yes it did remind at James Bond, Alien 3 and X-Men.
The only good thing was that there didn't exist a big sappy happy end.

[Wab]

It's actually a good storyline pulling all three of the monsters together. No one has done that.

I'm pretty sure Abbott and Costello did.

[magicmaffia]

Van Helsing was really good!! The story made sense and fitted in with most have the "dracul" stuff I've read. The thing that astounded me was the special affects!
I was sat at the end of the movie saying "how the heck did they do that?!"

[Wab]

Yet to hear a good review.

[TheShadow]

Most of us here are giving good reviews and I've seen loads in the papers and on the internet. :shrug:

[Girl]

I would love to watch the movie but there aren`t any good cinemas were I live. I`m hopping to catch it in June or Jul, I hope it will still be on.

[Wab]

Most of us here are giving good reviews

A review is more in-depth than the commentary here.

This is probably the kindest one I've read: http://www.sbs.com.au/movieshow/reviews.php3?id=1338

And this http://www.sbs.com.au/movieshow/reviews.php3?id=810 is evidence that the trio is indeed growing up.

[TheShadow]

A review is what somebody thinks of the movie, whether they are in-depth or not. Here are some reviews:

http://movies.yahoo.com/mvc/drv?mid=1808406421

As you can see, most of them are good and the overall is a B.

[OrlisGrape]

I saw it. The worst movie I've ever seen! It was so stupid I had to laugh!!! It wasn't well made at all. I think they did a **** happy job, throwing it together so they could make just a bit of money. It was horrible!

[Pilum]

I went to see it last night. It was hammy, cliched hokum. But it was ENJOYABLE hammy, cliched hokum :D !

As an aside, they're still not quite there with completely believeable and unnoticeable CGI yet, are they...? Especially where a human charcter is concerned (I'm thinking Mr Hyde, for those who've seen it).

[roz]

I liked it. It was fun. It wasn't deep and meaningful but it didn't try to be. It was never going to be one of the all time greats but as a mindless summer film I liked it. Not enough to go again even though Hugh Jackman is cute. But enough to consider going to see a sequel.

Some of the special effects were over the top. But alot of them were spot on. I got what was going on half way through but I didn't expect what happened to Anna at the end. And even knowing what was happening didn't stop me from getting drawn in.

I loved the bit where the friar was giving Val Helsing some weapons. I thought Q right off. But that made it all the better for me. I also loved Frankenstein's Monster. He was simply a good character. I hope we see more of him.

Roz.

[Tane]

Not the best movie I seen and found it a little been there seen that before, oh well. Not well acted and actually reminded me too much of The Mummy (recent adaption that is) and I was not that impressed with this movie either. I guess it depends upon taste though saying that I'm too excited about the next films that are about to come out and that probably took away some of the enjoyment.

[SilverStar]

Ok I need to teach myself not to read spoilers when I haven't seen the movie...obviously....*smacks head*

So from what you guys have been saying it sounds like I should wait til it comes out on video.

[TheShadow]

I think it is probably better on the big screen. So if you have any spare time, I'd go see it.

[SiriuslyBria]

Just back from seeing it, it wasn't bad but it wasn't exactly wonderful either. I though Hugh Jackman was good anyway, the Count Dracula reminded my a tad of Bono :lol: for some reason.


LOL. I'm a big U2 fan. While I didn't think that in the movie, I can agree after seeing the movie. Bono does tend to wear quite a black after all. Anyway, I thought Draco was great and I knew I recognized the actor, even if his name didn't trigger what I'd seen him in. Never imagined he was the Duke in Moulin Rogue.

Carl was a great character too. What a great...mon.... I mean friar! :rotfl:

Overall I thought the movie was over the top and that they threw as many monsters at the audience as they could, just to prove they could do it, but I thought it was a fun movie for a Saturday afteroon. :tu:

[true_heir_of_slyth]

LOL, I went to see Van Helsing yesterday with Remquo and ChoChanger- and now all three of us keep talking in Transylvanian accents :lol:

Richard Roxburgh, the guy who played Dracula- he was great. I loved the way he'd walk up walls and appear out of nowhere behind people :lol: And Carl :rotfl: he was so funny.

Van Helsing: Carl, you're cursing. Badly, but still cursing. Monks can't do that.
Carl: Actually, I'm a friar. I can do whatever I want. D@mmit.

:lol:

But the best line in the whole movie has to be:

Velkan: I'd rather die than help you!
Count Vladislaus Dracula: Oh, don't be boorink. Everyvun who says that dies.

Maybe it's not the greatest movie ever made, but it's still a good laugh :)

[Nimue]

I saw Van Helsing last night. It was campy but fun. I was looking to be entertained and forget my troubles of the day, so I didn't mind that there wasn't any depth to it!

I liked the way they protrayed the werewolves. I know JKR's version is supposed to look almost like a real wolf.

Also, whoever it was that played Dracula-- I kept thinking he would have made an awesome Snape. Nothing at all against Alan Rickman, whom I love to death, but Snape's supposed to be the same age as James.

[malfoyschick]

I thought it was brilliant. I didn't mind about the lack of depth, there were plenty of things that made up for that - good entertainment, good CGI and some good lines especially this one:
Carl: Are you always this popular?
Van Helsing: Pretty much.

Plus, Hugh Jackman :drool:

[Azimuth]

I saw it today. It was entertaining, I guess. I missed a really important part because I just couldn't hold it in any more...

It showed the PoA trailer at the start - I applauded when it had finished :D

[true_heir_of_slyth]

Also, whoever it was that played Dracula-- I kept thinking he would have made an awesome Snape. Nothing at all against Alan Rickman, whom I love to death, but Snape's supposed to be the same age as James.

Yes! Absolutely! (No disrespect to Alan Rickman- he's my idol and he's fantastic, but he's too old for Snape) Except for the nose. His nose wasn't Snapey enough. But then again, it's amazing what they can do with prosthetic limbs and whatnot...

[albustomove]

I saw with my friend, and we talked to eachother thrugh...throgh...thruout the whole movie. I agree to the friar having too many funny lines, because thats the movies selling point.Go for the monsters, stay for the comedian friar, who says one swear word and everyone's rolling with laughter, but if you want funny monk however, watch "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". In closing i'd like to say, the best charavter was the innocent bystanderd (however yo spell it)
in the whole "Feed my darlinks, FEED!" scene. :nc: (sorry if there are any blatant spoilers)

[Tortuga]

Well, I liked it. Kate Beckingsale looked great and the action was fun and non-stop.
I hated the ending though. I was too cheesy.

[Apostasy]

What do you think of the idea for this movie?

Well it's just playing into all fantasy movies as the latest fad.

Will you see it? Why?

I found the movie fun and easy to watch, much like The Mummy, but I'm kind of dissapointed that Hollywood insists on changing good stories and adding its own flavour. Films like X-Men, which are long and detailed stories are effectively recycled for a hollywood audience. I appreciate the need to change things to appeal to a broader market, but come on... Wolverine is an expert fighter, not a brawler! However, that's off topic...

[true_heir_of_slyth]

I hated the ending though. It was too cheesy.

Really? I thought it would have been worse if:

Van Helsing and Anna ended up together... in a way, I'm glad she died. It wasn't a typical happy ever after story :)

[Snape2008]

Did anyone know that Robbiei Coltrane was the voice for the hide monster. I didn't know that until i watched the dvd today. I think Jackman and David Wendham made the movie. The Van Helsing werewolf was wicked. When he sharpened his clAws. Dracula was scared right away. I think the most interesting thing In Van Helsing. Was finding out he was as old as Dracula. The odd thing is this. Is he a fallen angel or an actual werewolf. There was some reason why he hasn't aged. I hope they make a sequel even though many think they won't since it didn't make 400 million world wide

[Raven_Girly]

I watched it on DVD yesterday and I loved it. I love vampire movies!

[roguebludger77]

Sorry, you guys, but I think "VanHelsing" is one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my entire life. I enjoyed "The Mummy" (also directed by Stephen Sommers) and went to see VanHelsing because it sounded like it would be a good movie and I think it could have been, but I've got to agree with the critics when they say: "To think of all the tools Sommers had at his command -- all the money, all the computer wizardry -- and yet his film has no more art than what a chimpanzee might do with an Etch a Sketch. Throughout the movie, Dracula tries to re-create life from without, as though high-voltage technology could replace that which comes from within. Talk about metaphors. Once they believe that lie, mad scientists and filmmakers will get in trouble every time." (Mike LaSalle, Chronicle Movie Critic)

For the whole article, check out: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/07/DDGGR6G7521.DTL&type=movies

[CCGal]

can anyone tell me how to start a thread, send an owl pls, thx

[Kathleen Malfoy]

I finally saw this film today!

I think it was an alright movie. I like movies with vampires and all that kind of stuff.

Dracula was pretty hot actually. :love:

Does anyone know what actor it was that played him?

lol....I would be one of his vampire brides any day. :p

[LuvHP_001]

I really don't like it. The "monsters" look TOO fake,the plot doesn't move anywhere and it's just bores me.

Edit: The acting of Hugh and Kate isn't that good either.

[MrsRemusLupin]

It was Richard Roxburgh....and yes he was very sexyyyyy

He married one of his brides in real life.

[Stayce]

I liked the twist that was in the movie. I have heard all these stories so many ways but to have them all incorporated so nicely made it fun for a girl who is not quite into monster movies.

[Kathleen Malfoy]

It was Richard Roxburgh....and yes he was very sexyyyyy

He married one of his brides in real life.


Really? He married one of them? o_o;

Which one? I must know!

Lucky girl. lol.

[MrsRemusLupin]

the one with the dark hair...can't remember her name though

[Kathleen Malfoy]

Well, thanks for the info!

I never would have known that. lol.

Too bad that bat that got into my bedroom once wasn't Dracula. ~_^

My parents had it caught and killed though anyway. :*(

[MrsRemusLupin]

Well, thanks for the info!

I never would have known that. lol.

Too bad that bat that got into my bedroom once wasn't Dracula. ~_^

My parents had it caught and killed though anyway. :*(

:rotfl: ...lol

what did they kill it with a stake...if it was it might well have been Dracula... :rotfl:

[Kathleen Malfoy]

:rotfl: ...lol

what did they kill it with a stake...if it was it might well have been Dracula... :rotfl:


I'm not sure how it was killed. They just captured it and brought it to someone else who killed it. So I don't know. lol.

I feel sorry for it though. It was just a bat that somehow got into my bedroom after all. o_o;

I don't know if I would have seen it if I hadn't woken up to go use the bathroom.

[MrsRemusLupin]

that would have totally freaked me out

[Kathleen Malfoy]

Yeah, it did freak me out at first because I didn't even know exactly what it was at first. o_O;

I first heard it when I had gotten back into bed. I heard this scratching sound so I got up and turned on the light and then I still couldn't see what it was until I looked at the lamp itself and there was the bat, stuck in the lamp! o_o;

It was really weird.

It was one of those upside-down lamps so that's how it got stuck in there. It wasn't hurt or anything, just stuck.

I live in the city so I don't normally see bats but this was at my uncle's old place and there are TONS of bats around there actually. It's quite freaky. They all come out at night and start flying around the yard outside.

[MrsRemusLupin]

I don't live in the city...the outskirts of town...and you sometimes see bats at night, they try and swoop down on you, but that would have still freaked me out...I would have probably woke everybody up with my screaming...lol

[TheShadow]

The bride with dark hair is called Silvia Colloca.
The ginger haired one is Elena Anaya.
The blonde haired one who dies first is Josie Maran.

:)

[crookshanks1177]

I cant pinpoint a reason why...but I did not like this movie. My boyfriend took me to see it when it first came out. We both fell asleep.

[Wraith of Truth]

Wow, this is an old thread, but since I'm bored, and have nothing interesting to do ....
I don't like Stephen Sommers (sp?). I've seen The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, The Scorpian King (which he didn't direct, but I believe he was one of the writers), and Van Helsing. He takes a perfectly good storyline and then ruins it by adding so much comedy to the point of sillyness.
There's a lot of CGI in this movie, which I really liked, but that's pretty much it....The whole mythology behind the characters/creatures is secondary to the action, humor (coughsillycough), and special effects. It's like a mix between action/comedy/horror--which I personally don't like.
I have to admit the effects were great. I liked the werewolves a lot; they were really big with wolf faces and human bodies covered in fur. I also liked the vampires and how they transformed. I'm still trying to figure out since when the Carpathians moved south of Transylvania and why Van Helsing and Anna thought it would be good to take a five hundred mile detour to Rome.....
I was disapointed in it. But it pays off with Hugh Jackman.

[Anagram]

Oh man, I saw this twice, it was so AWESOME!! Hugh Jackman rules.

[Angeltiger121]

I heard it was a good movie from a friend.

[Wraith of Truth]

Oh man, I saw this twice, it was so AWESOME!! Hugh Jackman rules.Oh, he does, doesn't he? That's the only reason I bought the movie, even though I didn't like it.