Van Helsing (2004)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Stephen Sommers

Writer (WGA):

Stephen Sommers (written by)

Release Date:

7 May 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Horror | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

The One Name They All Fear

Plot:

The notorious monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula who is using Dr. Frankenstein's research and a werewolf for some sinister purpose.

Plot Keywords:

Dracula | Monster | Vampire | Transylvania | Frankenstein

Awards:

2 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Hugh Jackman	...	Van Helsing
Kate Beckinsale	...	Anna Valerious
Richard Roxburgh	...	Count Vladislaus Dracula
David Wenham	...	Carl
Shuler Hensley	...	Frankenstein's Monster
Elena Anaya	...	Aleera
Will Kemp	...	Velkan
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Igor
Alun Armstrong	...	Cardinal Jinette
Silvia Colloca	...	Verona
Josie Maran	...	Marishka
Tom Fisher	...	Top Hat
Samuel West	...	Dr. Victor Frankenstein
Robbie Coltrane	...	Mr. Hyde
Stephen Fisher	...	Dr. Jekyll (as Stephen H. Fisher)

Also Known As:

Van Helsing (Czech Republic)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for nonstop creature action violence and frightening images, and for sensuality.

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

USA | Czech Republic

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

France:U | Malaysia:18PL | Italy:T | Iceland:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 (re-rating) | Finland:K-15 (original rating) | Germany:12 | Ireland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Dr. Frankenstein's lab was equipped with antique medical equipment purchased on eBay.

Goofs:

Plot holes: When Anna and Velkan are fighting the werewolf at the beginning of the movie, there are about a dozen people helping them. Who exactly are these people, and where do they disappear to for the rest of the movie, when Anna could have used more of their help?

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Victor Frankenstein: It's alive. It's alive. It's alive!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: Join the Club (#6.2)" (2006)

Silly but Fun

Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. Were it not for these two gifted performers, this movie would be beyond silly. As it is, the plot is almost pretextual for the special effects.

The Eye Candy factor is high, though. Hugh Jackman as the tortured hero, filmed in the dark all of the time, makes us weak in the knees. Kate Beckinsale does magnificent physical feats while squeezed into a corset.

The story: Van Helsing (Jackman) is essentially a bounty hunter of supernatural monsters, a job he took on at the request of the church as apparent penitence for sins he cannot even remember. As a reward for his centuries of service, he hopes to make his way to Heaven instead of Hell.

Anna (Kate Beckinsale) is the last survivor of a family of Transylvanian vampire hunters. Her brother has become a werewolf and she is conflicted about whether he should live or die.

Naturally Anna and Van Helsing team up to rid Transylvania of the evil vampire overlord. Van Helsing has a tool kit Batman would envy, and Anna maintains an arsenal of monster-killing weapons that would make a survivalist proud. Between the two of them, the monsters don't stand a chance.

Put your mind on hold, suspend disbelief and intolerance for the occasional leap of reason, enjoy a slightly randy friar (Van Helsing's sidekick), and go along for the ride. Van Helsing is a great Sunday afternoon video.