Rating: 
Summary: Skip The Movie, Read The Book
Review: No, no, no. This is just awful. I swear that there is no way that anyone involved in this movie actually bothered to read the book! The only thing that does shine through is Dracula's lush sensuality. At least that was done well. But the rest of the movie is a mockery of Bram Stroker's vision.
I mean come on! Dracula and Nina Harker in love? This undead creature is a blood sucker! While women are sexually attracted to him, they are still afraid of him. At the end of the book, Stroker really wanted you to understand how brave the men and women were who stood up to Dracula's demonic power. It ends with the thoughts that all the men who risked there lives did so because they all loved Nina. The fact in the movie that she loves the count is a twisted mockery of the true story.One star! Ha! I would give it -5 if I could! Granted the book may not be the easiest to read, but at least you are getting the writer's true vision.
Now I know how you are trying to defend this movie. You might think that this is cinema. And has to be changed to actually entice an audience to watch it. Well guess what? I already know that! Take the Count of Monte Cristio. That movie is vastly different from the novel. But the difference between the two movies, is that in Monte Cristo they are still able to stick to the basic storyline. It enhances the book, it doesn't try to rewrite it!
Now as far as the acting, costumes, special effects, and sheer horror go, you have a really good movie here. But even in this it doesn't make up for it's faults! I recommend Dracula 2000 over this movie. At least in that movie there are some interesting plot twists!
Rating: 
Summary: One Of My "Fang"orites
Review: Loaded with vivid imagery, stunning cinematography, and eyepopping special effects, Francis Ford Coppola's DRACULA is visually impressive and frightfully entertaining. A haunting, well-paced story, augmented by superb performances by Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins, recreates the shadowy, murky world of Bram Stoker's novel. Despite all the positives of this film, and they are numerous, some rather quirky writing prevents this reviewer from awarding five stars. When Winona Ryder's character (Mina) tearfully implores Dracula, "Take me away from all this...death!", I have to stop the videotape while I laugh until my sides hurt. No better way to avoid death than hang out with a vampire, eh, Mina? That line is a howler. Worse yet is the climactic scene, when a dying Dracula looks heavenward and proclaims, "It is finished." Such a grisly comparison to the words of the New Testament is glaringly inappropriate and callous. And yet, these writing brain cramps do not diminish the entertainment component of this well-made film.
Rating:
Summary: Spooky, eriee, dark, enveloping, rich.....
Review: Good movie. Keeps interested and is visually rich. I have the vhs version and the picture is very good with a sharp and colorful image. The sound is good also but the voices and mids sound somewhat muddy. Overall: VERY GOOD.
Rating: 
Summary: Bram Stoker's Dracula
Review: So often I find myself with an uncontrollable urge, an urge only silenced by the viewing of Francis Ford Coppola's gothic masterpiece, originally conceived in 1897 by Bram Stoker. I would like to point out that both these names scream artist and I'm filled with envy due to my rather plain name. I recently purchased this copy of Dracula so that the urge may be quelled more easily. The DVD features no special features and a pathetic excuse for a menu, but the widescreen presentation was worth the purchase. I must mention Dangerous Liaisons as Keanu Reeves (Jonathan Harker) plays almost the same character with the same character story line. Simply replace Gary Oldman (Dracula) with John Malkovich and Winona Ryder (Mina Murray) with Uma Thurman; once again John Malkovich will take Keanu's coveted bride and then, just like in Dangerous Liaisons, taste Keanu's fiery blade of vengeance. John Malkovich (who was in Shadow of the Vampire) I think would have made a great Dracula, although it would be hard to surpass Gary Oldman's stunning portrayal of the famous Count. I suppose they picked Keanu for this role because of Dangerous Liaisons and I also suppose they picked Winona Ryder for her role in The Age of Innocence because of her role in Dracula. Having mentioned The Age of Innocence, I must note that Winona is not the only actor the two movies share as Richard E. Grant (Dr. Seward) is in both as well. Perfection is what Francis Ford Coppola has accomplished here. 1992 must have been a real batty year with the theatre release of Dracula and Batman Returns. My favorite scene is near the end when the chariot is racing into the castle courtyard as the sun goes down, the music is so suspenseful and when Keanu steps up to that wooden crate and BLAM, now that is what movies are all about.
Rating:
Summary: I loved once and I will love again
Review: This is a gothic love story of sorts, but is different in that it spans an amazing four hundred years.
In the beginning we encounter Prince Vlad who is leaving to battle the invading Turkish army. Leaving behind his beautiful, if somewhat emotionally fragile bride Elisabeta. When she receives a forged note telling her that her husband is dead, she flings herself into the river. Prince Vlad vows to avenge her death, by selling his soul to the Devil.
Forward four hundred years, Prince Vlad is still alive and kicking. He has hired a lawyer by the name of Jonathan Harker, who has left behind his fiancee Mina Murray. Prince Dracula sees her picture, realising that his beloved wife has returned, he imprisons Jonathan in his castle and travels to London to meet and woo Mina/Elisabeta.
Gary Oldman shone in the role of the tormented lovesick Count Dracula, he was dark, dangerous, mysterious and [...] on legs. Which made me wonder why Mina went through with her marriage to the bland and unromantic Jonathan even after she had met the Count. Winona Ryder was spectacular as the woman torn between the man she died loving four hundred years ago, and the man she's stuck with in this life. Anthony Hopkins gave some much needed wit and humour in the role of Dr. Van Helsing.
But don't be surprised if you find yourself barracking for the Count to woo Mina away from Jonathan, or for the Count to defeat Van Helsing, or praying that Mina will come to her senses and realise that she belongs with the Count.
Love comes but once in your life, but I guess it depends which life you can remember!
Rating: 
Summary: "Bram Stoker's" Dracula?
Review: While the story does follow the major events of Stoker's novel, it has been rewritten to the point that it is almost unrecognizable. I will admit that visually this film is impressive. The scenery and cinematography are quite good. As for the cast, Anthony Hopkins is a very enjoyable van Helsing, and Gary Oldman does very well as Count Dracula- but not Bram Stoker's vision of the vampire. The other performances are forgettable.
Rating:
Summary: Mix of legend and novel
Review: Francis Ford Copppola's adaption of Dracula is unique; Coppola combines legend and novel to create a visually striking tour de force. There are a number witty visual references to silent movies (particularly previous adaptions from 1929's Nosferatu to Hammer's Horror of Dracula)and the visual effects are quite stunning. The effects themselves borrow liberally from older film and stage techniques. They prove just as striking and effective as any CGI images that could have been used. The literate script is more faithful to Stoker's novel than previous adaptions but there's still a considerable amount of liberaties taken with it. Calling this Stoker's Dracula is being generous;Coppola transforms anything he adapts and this is very much Coppola's Dracula. The acting and casting is more problematic. The most glaring problem is Keanu Reeves as Harker. Yes, I realize that Reeves' wooden acting style is deliberate. It's a stylized reference to the acting of the 20's and 30's. Unfortunately, given the other performances, it doesn't work. Anthony Hopkins manages to chew just about every bit of scenery in sight. Still, he's an effective Van Helsing. He plays Van Helsing with as obsessed bordering on madness. It works within the context of the film and is a fine contrast to Gary Oldman's fine performance as Dracula. Cary Elwes and Bill Campbell round out a fine cast of performers (although I personally would have loved seeing the versatile Elwes play Campbell's role). Tom Waits makes the role of Renfield his own. Waits' take on Renfield is the strongest since Dwight Frye's in the 1931 Todd Browning version of Dracula. The romantic element of the film is completely screenwriter James Hart's invention. It's a surprise and makes this something more than a run of the mill vampire movie. His script breathes life into a moribound subject that's been done to death. Coppola and his collaborator Hart have invented a tragic gothic Dracula mixing gore with the sensibility of a romance novel. The film is well staged and the action sequences have a kinetic energy that only a thoughtful director like Copppola could create. The cinematography veers from beautiful to eerie within the same sequence. Coppola's Dracula takes the vestiage of Greek tragedy and grafts it to the horror film in a way that makes this a fresh and vital film. The Superbit DVD has no extras to speak of (and the extras on Columbia's DVD pale compared to the original Laserdisc version). The picture quality and sound are both outstanding. Columbia/Sony have done an outstanding job with this transfer. It's one of the sharpest and best looking DVDs around.
Rating:
Summary: A Perverted Lab Experiment
Review: ... You people that have rated this film 5 stars need your heads examined. Yes, I do agree with the fantastic color,the special effects, breathtaking costumes,the surround sound effects, but what else is there for peep sake!!. The story is twisted, girls are getting raped by Satan himself, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves acting is out of place. The only person that fits in this movie is anthony Hopkins, at least his british accent is authentic. This movie is so twisted that even Count Dracul looks like he belongs in one of the Star War films and not to mention Dracula's slave who craves insects and cats.
Not only is this film offensive, but a tremendous dissapointment to all Dracula film lovers.
Rating:
Summary: A Sleek Production
Review: This Dracula has Gary Oldman as the ageless Count, and the film has all the mood noir that you'd come to expect. Then there is Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing, and Winona Ryder as the love interest of the monster/undead. The scene where he seduces her is a little over the top, and it might have been worse given a different director. But it was to be expected, as was a few of the earlier scenes. This is not the original Dracula, but one brought up to speed. It is not for the kiddies!
Rating:
Summary: Better then the book
Review: Usually I wouldn't say that a movie is better then the book but in this case I will make the acception. The movie is by far more entertaining with a more exciting ending. Wonderful casting with the very talented Gary Oldham as Dracula and Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing. I was even able to forgive Keanu Revees lack of talent. He was an "okay" Johnathan Harker. The effects are wonderful too, they make it a great scary movie. You not only see but feel just how eerie Dracula and his castle are. You get a feel of how mysteriously evil he is but at the same time there is a bittersweet past that made him what he is. Unlike the book, he has trouble with human emotions instead of just being an almost invisible monster. One of my favorites. Very enjoyable to watch especially in the fall time.
| 
