HD DVD Review: Van Helsing - Page 2

An active sound field helps overcome some weak bass. Fight scenes are brought to life thanks to this consistently impressive mix of surround and positional work. Thunder fills all five speakers, electricity crackles appropriately, and the mix is able to immerse the viewer better than the film itself.

Two commentaries lead off the extras, one from Somers and producer Bob Ducsay. The second features Richard Roxburgh, Shuler Hensley, and Will Kemp. Five minutes of bloopers are hilarious, with some great behind the scenes footage. Brining the Monsters to Life is a decent ten minute look at the special effects and the process of how they’re created.

Van Helsing: The Story, the Life, the Legend is a five-part piece focusing on the various creatures and monsters, while also featuring a look at Van Helsing himself. Tracking the Adventure is another five-part piece, this time with a focus on the sets. The Music of Van Helsing runs nearly ten minutes and offers a basic look at how a soundtrack is composed.

Dracula Lair is Transformed is a short time lapse of the construction process of the castle set. The Masquerade Ball Sequence splits into two parts, and runs nearly 45 minutes, though it’s two different takes on the same extra with lots of repeated footage. The Art of Van Helsing is a stack of production art, and finishes a decent set of bonus features.

While not profitable in theaters, Van Helsing was a massive DVD hit, pulling in over half of the theatrical numbers in the first week alone. Rumors have started that a direct-to-video sequel is in the early stages. It would be difficult to craft a sequel worse than the original in this case.

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Article Author: Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki is a 12-year movie and game critic. He currently freelances for Blu-ray review site DoBlu.com and video game site MultiPlayerGames.com.

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