Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6765 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-10-11
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English, Latin
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 126 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Like a roller coaster ready to fly off its rails, Van Helsing rockets to maximum velocity and never slows down. Having earned blockbuster clout with The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, writer-director Stephen Sommers once again plunders Universal's monster vault and pulls out all the stops for this mammoth $148-million action-adventure-horror-comedy, which opens (sans credits) with a terrific black-and-white prologue that pays homage to the Universal horror classics that inspired it. The plot pits legendary vampire hunter Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) against Dracula (the deliciously campy Richard Roxburgh), his deadly blood-sucking brides, and the Wolfman (Will Kemp) in a two-hour parade of outstanding special effects (980 in all) that turn Sommers' juvenile plot into a triple-overtime bonus for CGI animators. In alliance with a Transylvanian princess (Kate Beckinsale) and the Frankenstein monster (Shuler Hensley), Van Helsing must prevent Dracula from hatching his bat-winged progeny, and there's so much good-humored action that you're guaranteed to be thrilled and exhausted by the time the 10-minute end-credits roll. It's loud, obnoxious, filled with revisionist horror folklore, and aimed at addicted gamers and eight-year-olds, but this colossal monster mash (including Mr. Hyde, just for kicks) will never, ever bore you. A sequel is virtually guaranteed. --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
All varieties of otherworldly creatures come out to play in Stephen Sommers' gothic carnival. Frankenstein's monster, ferocious werewolves, vampire bat babies, a maniacal scientist named Igor, and a CGI Dr. Jekyll are just a few. When they come together, a thrilling fantasy adventure results, making VAN HELSING a visual feast. Destined to fight the world's evil, Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is a warrior in a cowboy hat and a trench coat, heavily armed with a rapid-fire multi-arrow crossbow, among other gadgetry. A legion of monks in Rome send Van Helsing to Transylvania to hunt the immortal Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), who terrorizes the local people with the help of his three vampire brides. Especially threatened is the vixen Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), whose family also strives to kill the Count. Van Helsing and Anna Valerious work together, searching for the secret door to Dracula's lair. But it is only after massive battles involving impossible stunts, races on horse-pulled carriages, and the desecration of enchanting medieval castles (all done with dizzying computer graphics) that they succeed. Not only does the eye candy keep on coming, the tongue-in-cheek writing and deep Transylvanian accents perfect the film with a dose of dark humour.

Customer Reviews

it's just a bit of fun
Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman - X-Men 1-3 Box Set (6 Disc) [DVD] [2000]) turned up on the steps of the Vatican half dead and unable to remember his past, aside from the odd dream and nightmare. Since then he has become a hunter of abnormal and supernatural beings. He does this on behalf of the "Knights of the Holy Order", a secret organisation run by the Vatican.

After "dealing" with Mr Hyde he returns to Rome and is told that his next mission will be to go to Transylvania to assist the Valerious family in conquering Count Vladislaus Dracula (Richard Roxburgh - The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen - 2 disc Special Edition [DVD] [2003]). If they fail to destroy Dracula they will be cursed to never enter the gates of heaven.

Van Helsing takes with him a Friar called Carl (David Wenham - The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Extended Edition Box Set) [DVD]) who is the Order's version of Q, coming up with all of Van Helsing's gadgets, and the films comic relief.

Arriving in Transylvania they meet and team up with Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale - Underworld Trilogy [DVD] [2003]) and go in search of the way to beat Dracula.

The start of the film recreates the old black and white Frankenstein movies. Simon West's "It's alive" line was sublime for me (I am a fan of the old black and white horror films that I watched as a child). The Frankenstein monster is played by Shuler Hensley and Igor (Kevin J O'Connor - The Mummy [DVD] [1999]).

This is the usual fun film from Stephen Sommers, in the same vein as the The Mummy 1, 2 & 3 Steelbook Box Set [DVD] [1998], etc. It does not take itself too seriously. And there is Kate Beckinsale is there in tight pants for those who like her, and Hugh Jackman and David Wenham for the rest of us.

All in all it's a great family film - fun with scary bits.

This film is absolutely bonkers!!!
This film is mad!!! It contains the famous faces from the 30's and 40's classic horror films such as Dracula and the three brides, werewolves, frankenstein and Mr.Hyde all in one film!!!

Even with all of the monsters the story still fits together:

Van Helsing is a demon hunter. He hunts demons in hope God will forgive him for past sins and give Van Helsing his memory back. He is the most wanted man in Europe. The story starts with him hunting down Mr. Hyde, and having a good long fight.
Later on he is sent on a mission to go to transylvania and help a family defeat Dracula, or they will go to hell. But in Transylvania there are many dangerous creatures are around such as werewolves and vampires.

This film has tonnes of action and some comedy. Although there is a tonne of monsters this is not a horror film with loads of guts and gore, it isn't scary at all. This is more of a action and adventure film, for adults and children. The graphics are excellent, they have made the best werewolves I have ever seen. This film is full of suprises and laughs.

What is wrong with the film is that the dialogue sounds like it could have been written by a ten year old. Also it the different events of the film happen far to fast, as soon as he gets to transylvania vampires are attacking.

The beggining of the film is good where it starts as telling what happened a year ago in black and white.(The birth of Frankenstein , and him bieng hunted down and supposedly getting killed.

Starring Hugh Jackson and Kate Beckinsale.

Graphics: 10/10
Acting: 7/10
Story: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

It's not Anne Rice material but it's decent fun
This movie starts off very interestingly looking like a cross between James Bond, Indiana Jones and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen but soon loses it's way amongst the dirge of bats and crossbow bolts.

Overall it's predictable, exhausting, and annoying the way that every time a good character falls or swings they end up landing in exactly the spot that will stop another character getting annhialated.

BUT... if all you're after is an enthralling blockbuster action romp that rarely lets up with the adrenalin rushes, a movie with excellent special effects, and some pretty cool monsters, this movie will not let you down, just leave behind any expectations of decent plot and great acting.