Rating: 
Summary: Nice try, but this is not enough.
Review: Personnally I found 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' to be a bit of a diappointment. For one thing, Bram Stoker wouldn't have known his baby! Instead of the brooding, dark style of the book, Coppola has settled for a lot of special effects and a lovestory, that has nothing to do with the original. It isn't all bad, the cast really tries it's best, especially Goldman and Ryder. The exception is Reeves, who is even more bring and unconvincing then in his action movies. All in all not unenjoyable as long as you don't have any high expactations, but certainly not a classic. Stay with the Lee/Cushing version!
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing Else Comes Close
Review: This is a film that words just fall short on.Words cannot help the blind to see, and that is pretty much the best way to describe this film. Visually stunning, and wonderfully erotic, this is probably the best telling of the classic story.Tinged with esoteric ideas, like reincarnation, hallucinogen use,and a dialogue nothing short of pure poetry, this is a film that I have been in love with since I saw it openning day in 1992 as a seventeen year old.Even after the hundreth time of seeing this film, there are still more things to be noticed.Gary Oldman is unbelievable in this role.Playing a man, a monster, a lover, a prince, and a vampire.Old, young, evil, and yet somehow so angelic.This version gives old Vlad such depth...a man who has turned to evil because of his goodness...a fallen angel. All of these faces are potrayed with such skill by Oldman, that we don't even notice the transitions...from his accent to his breath, the pauses, and the movements.Oldman would have well deserved an oscar for that performance.As for Anthony Hopkins, he too is absolutly brilliant in this film.A crazy old wizard, almost Druidic. His is a character(actually, the whole film for that matter)that really represets the Victorian Era, when science and superstition stood as equal opposites to the same coin.Van Helsing teaches us that although we have illuminated the world through "reason", there are still those "things which can not be explained, and which are true".Hopkins also lends a slightly unnerving quality to the character, and we begin to question just who the real monsters are.We begin to question ourselves, and that is when we truly must appreciate a piece of art.When it shows us a piece of ourselves.As far as a DVD goes, this is grade A.A picture virtually free of the digital bugs and glitches, a wonderfully transfered soundtrack(This is a film that must be viewed in 5.1 surround to truly be appreciated.Then again, I don't see the point of having a DVD player unless you have a reciever that is digital ready) Listen as the Count's shadow moves in circles around the room...most riveting.There are, however two things I would have different.First and foremost...Keanu Reeves's performance is nauseating.I don't understand how he gets in there...Everyone else's performance in the film is top notch, and his is awful.Also, it would have been nice to have the theatrical trailer on this disc, but oh,well. We can't have everything we want.With such a wonderful movie, I almost feel bad complaining.Thank you, Mr. Coppola.
Rating: 
Summary: "COUNT" on this version!
Review: This film, the upteenth telling of the classic novel is quite simply one of the most sumptiously filmed and brilliantly stylistic. Unlike the other adaptations, it is the first to combine as completely the true history of Vlad, the Impaler with the tale of the legendary vampire. Through the excellent screenplay by James V. Hart and director Francis Ford Coppola's understanding of it, it does so with nary a seem showing. The explanation of how the fictional legend and the historical person became one is handled with such beauty, tenderness and intelligence that one might forget the horror elements of the story.But the eerie quality and sometimes violent nature of the film provides enough scares to satisfy even the strictest horror aficiaonados.The music score, make-up, costumes, sets and visual effects are fantastic. The cinematography and sound are particularly good and contribute greatly to Coppola's and Hart's overall vision. That vision is among the most imaginative and original ever committed to celluloid.The aforementioned script when dealing with the legend follows Stoker's book very closely. The almost documentary use of the character's diaries, letters and newspaper clippings in the book comes through effectively in this film.Gary Oldman's portrayal of the Count is excellent and alternates with great regularity between fury, tenderness, repulsiveness and tragedy. Due to Coppola's and Hart's concept and Oldman's thinking man's approach to acting, the title character comes through infinetly more dimensional than ever before.Winona Ryder as Mina, Keanu Reeves as Harker and Tom Waits as Renfield are all quite good. Reeves particularly gives Harker more courage and strength than in past versions and therefore is closer to the book's depiction of the character.The only major flaw in the cast and in the entire film is Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing. Surely the second most important character in the novel, he was originally written as a person with equal parts strength, sensitivity and presence. In this film he comes across much too colorful and bizarre and the quiet strength of the character in the original book is very seldom felt. This, as in the qualities of the film, is due as much to Coppola and Hart as it is to Hopkins. The audience acquainted with Stoker's Van Helsing never quite become comfortable with Hopkins broad and often inaccurate interpretation. His performance keeps the film from winning a 5-star rating.In tying both the legend and the history together, things are added and sometimes changed from the Stoker novel. But these changes and additions are necessary given the extra attention paid to the life of Vlad, the Impaler. Considering the connection referred to between Vlad and the infamous Count through the years, it is the sincere wish of this reviewer that more filmmakers follow Coppola & Hart in the future. And if those future filmmakers are half as successful in their attempts, the results will at least be interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Stoker's Novel, Coppola's Film
Review: I will start off by saying that Bram Stoker's Book DRACULA is amazing. It is easily one of the best books ever written. Coppola's film is NOT Stoker's novel, but it is the closest compared to other Dracula films. It has a good cast, and Gary Oldman is magnificent as the Count. I especially liked Anthony Hopkins' Van Helsing. The film lacked in some areas where other parts are dazzling. This is considered horror, but I can't say it is. It seems more dramatic than horror. The special effects are good (except for the blue flame part) and it has plenty of blood for you sicko fans going for gore. Overrall, good, probably the best adaption of DRACULA to date. But I do wish Coppola just called it "Dracula", because putting Bram Stoker's name on it is false advertising.
Rating:
Summary: A horror masterpiece
Review: This is one hell of a good horror film. Very dark and sinister and the effects are brilliant. Gary Oldman is brilliant as the count and Anthony Hopkins (good as ever) plays Van Helsing. I'm not a fan of the old horror films, but this is an excellent remake!
Rating:
Summary: A must have for any decent film library
Review: Of course it is admittedly different from the novel due to adaptations made for it to be a cinematic success, as all movie adaptations are. But even if you are crazy about the novel this is THE BEST movie portrayl of Dracula to be found (i know because I own them all) The mood and the talented acting will swallow you into the movie from beginning to end with great special effects to boot. Excellent to watch with your signifcant other and a cornerstone for anyone's collection (horror buff or not)
Rating:
Summary: Timeless!
Review: I've always thought that Francis Ford Coppola is a great director. I never missed one movie of his. I really believe in him. This, along with my great interest in vampires, not that of horror thing but to imagin how would a vampire live or think or love. This movie has it all. It's not intended on scaring you, not at all. but to witness one of the best love stories ever. To me, its like beauty and the beast. I say performance rule in this movie, not to mention the effects. I say its the best movie ever for Gary Oldman Its a must see. Trust me!
Rating:
Summary: MTV's Dracula is a better title
Review: Bram Stoker's Dracula? Hardly. More like MTV's Dracula where he walks around in London, wearing fashionable sunglasses. This is a Dracula where Victorian feeling in the book has been changed for stupid sex-remarks. And a Dracula movie where the cast speaks english with an american accent looses all credibility. Keanu Reeves is lousy and booring as Jonathan Harker, Winona Ryder doesn't fit in at all. Only Anthony Hopkins is really good as Doctor Van Helsing. Gary Oldman could have been good, it it wasn't for ridiculous outfits. This movie is good for anyone that hasn't read the books and doesn't have fond memories of the old Hammer-films with Cristopher Lee. It has a good set (if you don't count Gary Oldmans Dracula outfit), nice special effects and a good script. It just isn't Dracula. See this a costly monstermovie and try to keep all the other vampire-movies from your mind. Then you might enjoy this. As it is, it's too much Hollywood for me. See Nosferatu instead (any verion).
Rating:
Summary: GREAT FILM
Review: I loved almost everything about this. Cast, performance, direction, soundtrack.... I loved the way Coppola used the shadow to accentuate Vlad's moods as well a the usage of colors in the film...very well executed...best adaptation of the tale since Dracula 1979 with Langella....I think Oldman did a superior performance as the tragic figure....and Winona was Winona....great actress and beautiful as she always is
Rating:
Summary: Why Keanu and Winona?
Review: Bram Stoker's Dracula is hands down one of the greatest movies ever, EXCEPT for Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder. Gary Oldman and occasionally Sadie Frost, in my opinion, carry the whole movie from start to finish. Every scene in this "gothic extravaganza" is seductive and brilliant except for the scenes that include Keanu Reeves and sometimes the scenes that include Winona Ryder. Gary Oldman IS the only Dracula that ever was, ever will be, and ever should be. You know you're watching a good actor when he can take your breath away despite the not-so-good supporting actors, and I'm not speaking of Sadie Frost or Anthony Hopkins. I would have given this amazing film 5 stars, but unfortunately Keanu Reeves had too many scenes.
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