Film Reviews - Van Helsing
Now this was an enjoyable film.
We decided to go and see this film for two reasons really.
Currently in the UK the Orange mobile phone network do a 2 for 1
deal on cinema tickets every Wednesday.
So with that in mind we decided we wanted to go and watch a real
“no brainer” with regards a film – it was late and we really
didn’t want to have to think about a plot.
Now as it turns out there is a plot, however it isn’t too
complicated and the bottom line is – Humans Vs Vampires.
However it does get more involved than that once we throw in
werewolves, a visit from Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde and an
appearance from Dr. Frankenstein and his monster.
It’s the 18th century and Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is working
for the church to destroy evil creatures from around the world.
He is sent to Romania with a monk Carl (David Wenham) to do
battle with Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), his three brides, the
Wolf Man (Will Kemp) and Frankenstein’s Monster (Shuler
Hensley).
On the way he picks up his only other alley in this battle Anna
Valerious (Kate Beckinsale).
The plot does get sillier as the film goes on, but you really
don’t have to think about it – the plot is not what this film is
all about, it’s just a by-product, you are there to see the
action and the CGI.
We see Dr. Frankenstein creating his monster for Dracula and
then being killed, apparently along with the monster.
A year later Van Helsing is sent to destroy Dracula and his
three brides who are feeding from a town in Romania.
He also finds a werewolf running around and also that
Frankenstein’s Monster is still very much alive.
Dracula wants Frankenstein’s Monster so that he can “give life”
to his offspring that are all born dead.
Van Helsing find that he cannot kill Dracula and the ancient
scriptures indicate that only a werewolf with the “will” to kill
his master could do it…
The film does have plenty of action, which is occasionally cut
up with dialogue.
This dialogue only really succeeds in slowing the action down
and providing a break between fight scenes – the dialogue is
certainly not worth listening to in great detail, there are no
hidden meanings or deep and meaningful things being said.
The action scenes can be intense, especially those where the
vampire is fighting a werewolf.
Also Van Helsing Vs Mr. Hyde is worth seeing too.
The CGI is well wrapped into the film; although it is obvious
where these computer generated special effects start and finish
they do integrate well into the overall film.
This is not the greatest film ever made – far from it.
Hugh Jackman is great; David Wenham is good but is playing a
more comic role and doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself.
Kate Beckinsale is OK but certainly not her finest performance.
Shuler Hensley is also very good – I’d always thought that the
role of Frankenstein’s Monster must be a difficult one to play
and I think he does the job very well.
It is worth going to see this film, the effect and CGI are very
well done and the film is fun.
Just don’t try and get too involved with the plot – although it
starts off well enough it does get sillier and we are also
introduced to the world’s slowest “chiming midnight” clock ever!
The film is a couple of hours of vampire/werewolf action set in
the “classic era” and I don’t think anybody would be bored
seeing it.
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