 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
Van Helsing
Written and directed by Stephen Sommers
 Forget Hugh - Vampire chicks are hot!
I had high expectations of Van Helsing. As far as I was concerned this film had potential. Truckloads of it. Not only is it written and directed by the same dude who wrote and directed The Mummy, (which just happens to be one of my favorite films), but this time he'd tackled one of my favorite genres: gothic horror. (Translation: spooky stuff about vampires, werewolves and every other creepy monster created in the 19th century).
Oh, and did I mention it stars one of the biggest hunks of all time. The oh-so-delectable, positively too-nice-to-be-true-Aussie-done-good-OS Hugh Jackman as famed monster hunter Dr Gabriel Van Helsing. (You're right. I like the guy!)
So? Did Stephen Sommers deliver? Well that depends. If you enjoy your horror movies less on the horrific side and more along the lines of a campy, non-stop action ride that will leave you breathless then yes, he delivered. Big time. (And did I mention it stars Hugh Jackman!)
Yep, the titles have barely stopped rolling when we're plunged headlong into the action. Dr Frankenstein (Samuel West) and his not-so-trustworthy servant Igor (Kevin J O'Connor) have just brought to life their monstrous creation (Shuler Hensley) as an angry mob are descending on the castle (as they do) and out of the blue Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) appears.
Huh! What is this? Clash of the monsters? Ok, time to go with the flow and forget all your much loved classic literature. This is very definitely an updated 21st Century version where CGI and full-on action rule.
Here Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is on a quest to rid the world of inhuman monsters. After vanquishing a murderous Mr Hyde (Robbie Coltrane) he is sent by the Vatican to Transylvania to hunt down Count Vladislaus Dracula (Roxburgh) and save Princess Anna Valerious (a very foxy Kate Beckinsale), the last surviving member of a fearless vampire hunting family. Accompanying the good doctor is Friar Carl (David Wenham having a very bad hair day), a character who bears a striking resemblance to a medieval Q.
The Aussies shine in this Hollywood blockbuster and they're terrific. Wenham gets to deliver the movies' funniest lines and is the perfect sidekick for the much darker Van Helsing.
Personally I could have done with a little less unbelievable action and CGI effects in exchange for a better script and some decent chills. Alternatively, Hugh Jackman could have got naked. That would have worked for me as well.
Van Helsing is fun with a capital F. Unfortunately it's just not very memorable. My recommendation: park your brain at the door and enjoy the ride. Boyfriend's comment: "The vampire chicks are hot!"
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