Van Helsing

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale
Directed by: Stephen Sommers
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Horror
2004

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Abraham Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) battles not only Dracula, but also the Wolfman and Frankenstein's monster. Van Helsing must stop some plot of Dracula and his offspring.

Review:

Tim: Van Helsing takes on Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein's monster in this latest monster movie. That is a tall order for anyone to fill in one movie, even Abraham Van Helsing. I have to say I was pretty excited about seeing this film. It stars Hugh Jackman, who's had a string of great films lately, and was directed by Stephen Sommers, who did such a terrific job with The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. This has to be a great movie, right?

Wrong. I have heard Van Helsing called "the worst summer blockbuster since Battlefield Earth." I have to agree. Sommers directs a broken and pathetic film. It seems he was so intent on making the three main monsters look believable (and didn't necessarily succeed) that he forgot to include any of the elements that made The Mummy movies such a success (like humor....and plot).

Van Helsing is more a battle royale between Jackman and a slew of monsters than an actual attempt at a movie. The dialogue, to be quite blunt about it, sucks. Kate Beckinsale and Jackman have no chemistry, and at times don't even appear to be trying to act. The entire movie is just such a jumbled mess that its incomprehensible that so many people went to the movie theatre to see it (and I am one of the guilty). This is flat out a weak attempt at a summer blockbuster. I had such high hopes for this movie, and its wrong that I was left so utterly disappointed.

Van Helsing represents everything that is wrong with summer blockbusters- little thought went into the plot, little effort at acting by the performances, and the film relies totally on its special effects, hoping that will make up for the rest of the film being a mess. It is a shame that Sommers stooped to this level after making the incredible Mummy movies. I just pray he does a better job with his next film. Pass this bomb by.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 4



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, X-Men