Rating: Summary: Good beggining, nosedived shortly thereafter Review: The movie had a good start and typical of so many "horror" movies these days it quickly went into a completely lame and unenjoyable plot. As one of the other reviewers pointed out, the Bible story was definitely the fatal blow with me on this one. The ending was a (...) pile too...
Rating: Summary: Actually made me angry Review: This movie *actually* made me angry. Here I was, ready to see a good vampire flick. Excited. Happy even. I get into it, start digging on the plot. Then, *flurg.* Bible story out of nowhere. Very, very, very preachy and Christian. If that's what you're looking for, great. I was just looking for vampires, not salvation. If I could give it no stars, I would.
Rating: Summary: An average film helped by a Good Cast. Review: A Team of Techno-Saavy Thieves (Jennifer Esposito, Omar Epps, Danny Masterson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Lochlyn Munro, Tig Fong, Tony Munch & Shane West) Break into a High Securty Vault and Discover a Crypt that has not been Opened in 100 years. The Ancient Terror known as Dracula (Gerard Bulter) is unleashed Free to Pursue Seduction and Power to Seek Out a Female New Orleans Virgin Megastone Clerk (Justine Waddell) in the Chaotic 21th Century.DVD`s has superb anamorphic Widscreen (2.35:1) transfer & Strong Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. An running commentary track by first time director:Patrick Lussier. Deleted/Extended Scenes with/without commentary by the Director. Excellent Production Designs by Carol Spier (She worked many times with David Cronenberg) but the Real Problem: this film tries too hard to be Tongue in Cheek but it`s ends up being Unintetionally Hilarious. At Least Casting:Christopher Plummer as Van Helsing in a Memorable Supporting Role is Great. The Plot has some new Ideas, which are Fresh & a Few Surprises but the Screenplay is average. It`s a mildly entertaining action/horror film. 2 and a half Stars out of 5 Stars. Super 35. Grade:C+.
Rating: Summary: A Vampirologist's Opinion Review: I have watched enough vampire films, read enough vampire literature, and dreamed enough vampire dreams to feel comfortable saying this (Dracula 2000) is a good film that should have been a great film. Why? Simply put, the films' creators tried too hard to make the film too many different things. Action film, horror, gothic romance, special effects and a touch of Biblical mythology for good measure. The cast is, for the most part, quite wonderful. Gerard Butler is superb as a dark, classically handsome Dracula. Christopher Plummer plays Dr Van Helsing, his archenemy with aplomb and sincerity. Justine Batemen is Mary, Van Helsing's daughter and the object of Dracula's desire. The remaining cast is also very good, providing good action acting as well as some much-needed humour. At the same time, certain stereotypes are overplayed. The Dracula of this film is represented as being over 2,000 years old. In that long a life span surely he would have learned how to court a woman! (Or, even if he did not, he must have known that terrorizing and/or killing the lady's family and friends would not endear him to the lady.) But Dracula goes right along his bloody path of terrorism, then stands before his chosen one almost desperately saying, "Everything I am is yours." I must assume it is only Wes Craven's penchant for bloodshed that allowed for the semi-gory killing scenes. Blood is food for vampires; why would they waste it? Vampires loose in New Orleans for Carnival is a funny concept and the movie would have gained some real texture if there had been more interaction with that. The revelation of Dracula's true identity is interesting and new and well worth some of the lollygagging in the film (i.e. the beginning where a bunch of thieves steal Dracula's coffin because they think it's filled with valuables.) After watching the deleted scenes and listening to Patrick Lussier's commentary I was even more convinced that this could have been a great re-telling if the directors had just focussed more on story development and not worried too much about special effects and "Matrix-style action." I hope they try again and do better next time.
Rating: Summary: Outstanding and Intelligent Review: That's a great horror movie Wes is a genius. Cool sound FX and screenplay. Highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: How Embarrassing! Review: How could it be that Bram Stoker wouldn't allow the film "Nosferatu" to use the name Dracula, but this slapdash haphazard piece of pulp is allowed to use the name Dracula? Imagine a world where everyone is 25 years old, except the undead Dracula, oh wait he's 25 years old too...he's also actually the reincarnation of...erm...the treacherous Judas of Biblical fame trying to seduce the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary (also of Biblical fame). I'm not really sure how Judas is supposed to be Dracula or vice-versa, but the whole thing is shoddy, ridiculous, and only works because it's setup to look like an MTV music video. The problem with horror movies is there always seems to be the need to be campy and hoaky. Everyone eventually grows fangs, jumps around the room wearing a cape, and trying to bite other people's necks. Absurd. Maybe i'm expecting too much. But this movie is a huge disappointment if you're looking for anything more than a campy horror flick. Duly note that this has nothing to do with Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Rating: Summary: Weird movie but interesting !!! Review: Ilustrating Dracula as the reencarnated Judas (Jesus' disciple) trying to make the reencarnated Virgin Mary his bride is really weird. As soon as I realized that was the main idea, I said: "No way Jose!!!" You will love the movie if you like to jump on your seat and scream in agony. The movie is really scary. The most scary part in my opinion is the one in the plane. Dracula looks really horrible before becoming a handsome guy.
Rating: Summary: Great movie. Great sounding DVD. Review: First of all, Dracula 2000 is rather well made horror movie. As it provides some fresh ideas. It speculates about the origin of the Dracula dating back to the biblical era. Gerard Butler who plays Dracula is certainly fine actor and play the role well. However the same can not be said to Johnny Lee Miller who plays the good guy. Some lovely actress play the female undead. The DVD itself is great. Solid picture and great Dolby 5.1 with rear surround. If you like horror genre, this DVD will not disappoint you.
Rating: Summary: A New Twist Review: I went into Dracula 2000 with high hopes. But after seeing the film in theaters, I left confused and dissapointed. It wasn't until I got the DVD when I finally was able to understand the movie completely. The movie itself alone falls short on many levels, but on the DVD if you listen to the commentary and behind the scenes documentaries, the movie is explained in a lot more detail and I was able to appreciate the movie more fully. If you just watch the movie you may not be able to pick up on many of the key elements. That's why I say that Dracula 2000 doesn't explain the happenings within the movie that well. So you could say that it's weak in some ways. But if you take time to look over all the features on the DVD, you may realize that this movie does have potential. It gives a new and fresh twist on the Dracula story which has been retold many times in the past. The acting is also very well done. My favorite perhaps is Jeri Ryan. She's wonderful as the TV news journalist Valerie Harper. Jennifer Esposito, Colleez Ann Fitzpatrick (better known to her fans as Vitamin C), Johnny Lee Miller, and Justine Waddell also deliver stellar performances. The DVD is packed with extras. I suggest you go out now and rent it and see for yourself.
Rating: Summary: You have to admit, this is not your traditional Dracula film Review: "Dracula 2000" certainly proves how hard it is to come up with a new twist on the Dracula legend. Looking at the "evidence"--Dracula does not like crosses, silver or sunlight--and adding a useful detail--Dracula is the first vampire and therefore you can never hope to kill Dracula, you can only hope to contain him--Joel Soisson and Patrick Lussier come up with what they consider a stunning but logical twist as to who Dracula "really is." Granted, this is an interesting choice and there is a certain logic to it, but wait a minute: I understand why Dracula can never ever die, but how does that turn him into a vampire? Especially since we are talking your Bram Stoker control the weather, turn into mist/wolf/bats, defy gravity type of vampire? I think the writers here got seduced by the power of their twist and simply failed to connect the dots. At the end of this film I am just sitting there sputtering, "Yes, BUT...!!!" Furthermore, as I continue to dig my own grave here, I think Gerard Butler makes an excellent vampire (Christopher Plummer hits the nail on the head when he says it is a combination of intense eyes and a sense of stillness), but I have a hard time buying him as Dracula. Ironically, at the end when we find out who Dracula "really" is, then I find him to be a lot more believable. Go figure. That being said, the film is stylishly directed by Patrick Lussier, who provides a delicious sense of style that holds up against Coppolla's Dracula film. The opening sequence when the thieves break into Van Helsing's vault and make their way to the inner sanctum, ignoring the largest number of warning signs in vampire film history to get to the silver casket, is as strong an opening for a Dracula film as I can recall. The idea of bringing Dracula into the present is handled well and the link between Dracula and the Van Helsings offers a nice twist on Stoker's legend. There are several tongue in cheek moments throughout the film--Mary Van Helsing's roomie is Lucy "Westerman" and a minor character is named "Dr. Seward"--which reference the original novel. "Dracula 2000" also offers as fine a trio of Brides of Dracula as you would ever hope to find with Jennifer Esposito (Solina), Colleen Fitzpatrick (Lucy) and Jeri Ryan (Valerie). The old vampire hunter role is smoothly handled by Christopher Plummer and Jonny Lee Miller gets the best line in the movie as the antiquities dealer suddenly turned vampire slayer. The wire work is not particularly inspiring, but does add a new dimension to the vampire film that I am sure will be exploited more fully later. "Dracula 2000" offers excellent "extras" with an above average commentary track (the guys who made this movie were really into it," a short featurette and even the audition tapes for Butler, Justine Waddell (Mary) and Fitzpatrick. Despite my obsession with this film's flaws, it is certainly an above average vampire flick.
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