After Steven Sommers' success with The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, it was a no-brainer for Universal to turn its back-catalogue of classic monsters over to the writer/director for Van Helsing. Unfortunately, the movie fails on so many levels that it calls into question the entire future of every one of these franchises.
Hugh Jackman stars in the title role as the famed vigilante, an almost entirely thankless part devoid of any motivation, depth, or emotion. While Van Helsing's amnesia is meant to lend an air of mystery to the character, it really only serves as an out for Sommers not to have to develop any back story. Even as a tool of suspense, the question of Van Helsing's history falls flat due to the lack of any meaningful revelation in the third act. Jackman does the best with the material he's given, but there's so little to work with, his performance falls completely flat. For much of the movie, Jackman appears to be wondering along with the audience exactly what the hell is going on.
Supporting performances by Kate Beckinsale as the requisite love interest and David Wenham as the bumbling sidekick are only marginally more enjoyable simply because they are allowed at least a bit of emotion and humor. After the vampire vs. werewolf eye candy of Underworld, Beckinsale was well on her way to becoming a favorite for this sort of genre film, and her role as Anna Valerious, the last surviving member of a family of vampire hunters, should cement her status as the latest fan boy obsession. Wenham seems to exist in the film only to provide convenient solutions for Van Helsing to escape one impossible situation after the next.
Richard Roxburgh's performance counts as among the worst-ever portrayals of Count Vladislaus Dracula ever to grace the screen. When compared with Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, or even Gary Oldman, Roxburgh's Dracula is an almost campy imitation.
Article comments
1 - RJ Elliott
Geez. Is it that bad? This was one film I was kinda sorta looking forward to...
2 - Natalie Davis
Then I suggest you see it and make up your own mind rather than miss what might be a good time because of someone else's opinion. Sometimes a good escapist, over-the-top popcorn flick featuring wondrous eye candy can be super-great fun. And VH, IMHO, is terrific fun.
3 - Duane
Gee, I don't suppose that Natalie's positive review has anything to do with the guy in the lead role? Would it have been as much fun if Ed Norton had taken the starring role? Sounds like Scott knows whereof he speaks.
4 - Robbie
This is the worst review I have ever read!! Sure it's thorough, and yes a few points (ie Dracula) show some truth...However, the rest is all completely trash. If I was looking for a book critic, I think I have found one. It's painfully revieling that the critic that has written this, is a far more a book fan rather than a movie expert, or fan. Please, please, critic books! I'm sure you are much better with books. As for you, the reader. Go see Van Helsing. If you love movies, and you love monster movies even more. You will find Van Helsing much more than catchy!! As the author of this review has pointed out in his/her falsifying opinion.
5 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Robbie, good for you for saying you don't agree and offering a different opinion. Better than saying nothing. But i thought this review was really very good. Just becuase you disagree with it doesnt mean it was a bad piece of writing with regards this film. It was perfectly composed, and a lot better than 90% of other reviews of such to be found online, either of the same opinion or more positive. The strength of a piece like this isn't neccesarily in whether you agree or not, as Natalie says, make up your own mind, but in how well it gets the writer's feelings across, and how thought-provoking it is. Which, based on the comments here, seems to be what this done.
Thanks, Scott, for an impassioned and considered piece of writing.
6 - Robbie
Thanks for the generaly open minded reply :-)
7 - Viper
The original review of this movie was done by a person who obviously doesn't like movies. His arbitrary statement that there is NO meaningful revelation as to Van Helsing's identity is hogwash. I don't know how many times the statement of "He is the Left Hand of God" and he was called "Gabreal" by Dracula himself. If you put these two bits of information together you come up with Arch Angel Gabreal, the warrior Angel, the Left Hand of God. I guess if the reviewer did a little basic Bible reading instead of sole seaching he'd realize how full of crap he really is. The movie was a good ride, and come on people its fantasy, ANYTHING goes. There are no rules here or benchmarks for that matter.
Viper