Rating: 
Summary: "Love Never Dies"--A Lush Production of the Romantic Dracula
Review: Dracula, the greatest character in the long history of B Movies, finally gets A Movie treatment in this lush production from Francis Ford Coppola. The art direction, costuming and special effects are first rate; they are used as prime examples in a recent film textbook. With Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins as the main protagonists, you can forgive a couple of younger well known name actors being a bit out of place. Despite the title, this film actually goes beyond Stoker, trying to work in a bit more of the original Vlad the Impaler backstory. The biggest difference is that this Dracula film is an epic love story, with Mina now the reincarnation of Vlad's long dead love. Stoker's novel has long been open to interepretation and variation, so this is hardly the time to consider it holy writ. If nothing else, this is the most beautiful vampire movie you will ever see (yes, even more than "Interview with the Vampire."
Rating:
Summary: A pleasant surprise
Review: One may think of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel 'Dracula' as a sickly haemoerotic (concerned with bloodlust) fantasy. Dracula is a symbol of our fear of death and of our own dark desires. It was a very pleasant surprise to discover that Coppola was able to transoform this seemingly 'evil' work into a wonderful film celebrating the redeeming power of human and divine love. If you find the story of Tristan and Isolde deeply moving this is a film for you. The film's screenplay is not its only advantage. Wojciech Kilar's music scored for a large symphony orchestra and chorus is very powerful. Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder and Sir Anthony Hopkins are brilliant actors. All this together with spectacular visual effects, beautiful costumes, sophisticated sound effects and of course Francis Ford Coppola's direction make this film one of the best interpretations of the Dracula myth.
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Summary: Oldman, Hopkins and Ryder make this a classic!
Review: In the 1462 a young Prince Dracula (played by Oldman) goes off to fight againts the Turks. During his absence his beloved wife Elizabetha (played by Ryder) fearing him dead throws herself from the castle turret. Upon Draculas return he finds his beloved bride dead. He is told that his brides soul can not be saved because she has choosen to take her own life. Dracula, who is angry, hurt and confused, then renounces God and his faith. He strikes his sword into a mightly cross and blood flows from the wound. Dracula raises a goblet to the blood and drinks from it--becoming a vampire.This is the opening sequence that is so expertly filmed and acted that it will forever be one of the defining moments in Bram Stokers Dracula. The basic concept of the movie is simple: Dracula after several hundreds of years finds Mina, a woman that so closely matches his image of his beloved Elizabetha that he is drawn to her. However, the movie also contains many more subplots that add to the overall richness of the final product that is Bram Stokers Dracula. The screen play written by James V. Hart is a wonderful adaptation to the original Bram Stoker's classic. Hart adds much more depth and subplot to the original story line. Also, in Hart's adaptation he keeps the movie running on the original Bram Stoker concept of journal entries and letters. Francis Ford Coppola's direction of the movie utilizes Hart's script and special effects to create a visual delight. This combination of Coppola and Hart works out wonderfully. The acting in this movie is varied. Stellar preformances are delivered from Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder and Anthony Hopkins. These three work both their dialogue and their actions together to create an excellent preformance. Keanu Reeves preformance as the young Englishman Jonathan Harker is not that great. His acting sticks out as a poor example against the rest of the cast. Other notable preformances come from Sadie Frost, who plays the stunning and sexy Lucy, and Tom Waits, who plays the best Renfield ever. This movie is without a doubt eye candy. Eiko Ishioka, who designed the costumes, knew what she was doing. The cotumes are a true visual delight. Also, the set in the movie is surreal, dark, and fantasticly designed. This movie creates some of the most beautiful vampires that I have ever seen. I recommend that this movie be watched and appreciated for both its beauty and fine acting. It is a haunting movie that uses dark images and certain sexuality to connect the viewer to the film. This is an intriguing film that can not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: "We've all become God's madmen. All of us."
Review: Francis Ford Coppolla's stylish, bloody vision of Bram Stoker's infamous novel borders on greatness. Minor flaws (mostly performance wise) make this merely a good, beautiful Horror film. Gary Oldman as the Count has got to be the best rendition of the character ever brought to life. Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Van Helsing does a superb job. Wynonna Rider as Mina is believable. But then we get to Keanu Reeves, Mr. Mannequin himself. Probably one of the worst casting mistakes in the history of film, Reeves plays Harker with all the passion of a rotting log, making an integral character annoying at best. Thankfully his on screen time is limited and we can enjoy the eerie sliding motions of the Old Count, the crawling down the walls, the shadow an entity all its own. The blood and gore levels are high, the effects truly astounding. Purists argue that too much liberty was taken with the source material, and in some areas I have to agree. The level of the blossoming love between the Count and Mina was just a tad bit over the top, but we can't have the same movie over and over again. Coppola's vision is all in all satisfying, loyal enough to its source to quench most Horror fans bloodthirst. For some reason, taken as a whole, this film works. I just calls 'em as I see 'em. Required viewing for all the children of the night.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible, except for Gary
Review: This film disgusted me. The way the vampires are portrayed, so ugly and unfeeling, repulsed me. (For a look at some beautiful vampires, check out Interview with the Vampire). There was far too much reddness and fog in the sky in Transylvania. The visual effect is that of a low-budget sci-fi flick. If Amazon had half ratings (which, they don't, so too bad), I'd give it one and a half stars for Gary Oldman, who can portray a tortured lover like no other (see Immortal Beloved and The Scarlet Letter). Wynona Ryder isn't too bad in this film, but I've seen much better from her.
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Summary: Forget All Other Filmed Draculas; This Is The One
Review: When this was released in the early 1990s, both the critics and thepublic were not favorably impressed. They were mistaken. This is agorgeous, wonderful film that only a hardened romantic cynic couldfail to like. Gary Oldman is an extraordinary talent in any film andthis was his finest moment. He brings a complexity to Dracula that noone else has ever managed to achieve. Coppola created the mostartistic version of the Bram Stoker novel as well. He hired manyartists to create gorgeous sets and backdrops. The Japanese costumedesigner won the Oscar for her creations. Best of all, were thepuppets Coppola used to achieve special effects in several key scenes.I've read the Rice vampire books and this is better. I've read theoriginal Bram Stoker novel and this is better. A decade earlier Ithought Klaus Kinski made the best vampire I'd ever seen in Hertzog's"Nosferatu" but Gary Oldman even surpassed that performance.It's been very sad for me to see Oldman typecast in more recent yearsas a movie villain. He makes a fantastic leading man and is beingwasted in these other films. Ironically, some feel that the reasonfor this is that he isn't good looking enough to play leading men.Yet in Fall 2000 he lights up the advertising world doing the sexiestclothing ads imaginable for Donna Karan.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite's of all time...
Review: GREAT vampire movie! I can watch this over and over again and never get tired. I would have to say if anyone were to ask me what is my favorite movie of all time, it's this one. Dracula, in this film has a love that transcends time to find his beloved Mina. His character was unbelievable, the passion he had, the vengeance, the love - all added to the film. Very moving film, by the end you don't even realize that you wound up on Dracula's side!
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent movie
Review: I watch this film over and over again and never tire of it. It's gory, it's suspenseful and always entertaining...Gary Oldman gives a stellar performance as Drac. He conveys the love story and sense of loss of his Elizabetha with great sensibility. Winona Ryder gives a good performance as sweet Mina, innocently stepping into the enchanting, beguiling love affair with the 'Prince'. Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker, does a good turn. I especially love his scene with the 3 'devil's of the pit'. Only Ke could pull it off so well. And also his struggle to escape the castle and find his way from the brink of insanity is to be well applauded. Anthony Hopkins give a great performance, as usual as Dr Van Helsing, giving the part seriousness and frivolity as required. You are drawn to the hunt and the race against time to stop evil Dracula from claiming his bride. Cary Elwes et al give all round good support to the piece. A Great soundtrack, giving even more fright to an already frighteningly good film. A MUST FOR ANY COLLECTION...... (p.s. I can't believe someone of 11 has seen this film! Shame on you parents!)
Rating:
Summary: Something else
Review: Yes, this film really is something else. I've seen it four times and every time it gives me a thrill. It spellbinds. The actors ( especially Gary Oldman ) make it really work. I am a bit surprised though, that I don't find myself liking the other films made by Francis F. Coppola. I only find them boring. But this is a true masterpiece. Although it's labelled as a horrorfilm I think it's more like a romantic tragedy. If you're into gothic, romantic or anything please watch this one.
Rating:
Summary: WHAT A LETDOWN!
Review: When this film was first released I hoped it would be a great version of the story but it turned out to be an overblown mess. The costumes,visuals and performances are all done to excess. My friend and I went to the theatre and laughed out loud at Winona Ryder's acting. Do not believe any reports that this film is faithful to the novel--this is NOT TRUE! Stick with Hammer's HORROR OF DRACULA or Dan Curtis' DRACULA. At least they show some restraint. This is a horror movie for people who don't know what a real horror is!
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