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HOME PAGE  Eagle Eye Righteous Kill Tropic Thunder Traitor Death Race Star Wars: Clone Wars The Dark Knight Journey to the Center of the Earth Hancock  Weekend Results: 1. Beverly Hills Chihuahua($29,300,465) 2. Eagle Eye($17,709,817) 3. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist($11,311,751) 4. Nights in Rodanthe($7,368,259) 5. Appaloosa($5,050,310) |
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It's the late 19th century, and Dracula (Roxburgh) wants to use the Wolf Man (Will Kemp) and
Frankenstein's Monster (Shuler Hensley) for some dastardly vampire plans. Van Helsing (Jackman),
the infamous monster hunter, is recruited by the church to venture to Transylvania and rid the world
of the pony-tailed vampire leader. Van Helsing teams up with Anna (Beckinsale), who's seeking revenge
for her family, thus making him the luckiest man in the world. Monster mayhem and a fine-looking
Kate Beckinsale ensue.
I'm going to warn you right now: what you get out of "Van Helsing" completely depends on what you're
expecting. I enjoyed the movie, but I really wish it had been a little bit more serious than it was.
I was hoping for something along the lines of "Underworld" with more special effects, but "Van Helsing"
is somewhere between "The League of Extraordinary Gentleman" and "The Mummy Returns." Let me clarify:
it's better than LXG, but it has sort of the same cartoonish feel.
But the movie has so much going for it that it's hard not to be entertained. You've got a good-looking
cast, good-looking scenery, good-looking effects, and a GREAT atmosphere. Women will love Hugh Jackman
(I know Stephanie did) and his shirtless self, and the guys (unless you're Richard Simmons) will love
Kate Beckinsale (I know I did). Kate and her tight pants presence automatically add two marks to
my rating.
Some of the CGI is great. Mr. Hyde looks much better than LXG's version. He's the best bad guy in the
movie, showing lots of personality. And I liked the werewolf transformations. But some of the CGI doesn't
work so well. For example, there's one scene where a team of horses jumps a broken bridge ... ouch. The
only way they could've made it look faker is if Joan Rivers were driving the team.
If you think the trailer looks cool, then you should enjoy "Van Helsing." Just don't expect the movie to take
itself seriously. If you think the trailer looks stupid, then I doubt there's much about the movie that
would make you think otherwise. Do us all a favor and don't see the movie if you're only purpose is to
complain afterwards about how much money you wasted to see it.
"Van Helsing" isn't all I was hoping it would be, but I quickly accepted that and enjoyed it for what it
is - an adrenaline-fueled, CGI monster ride with lots and lots of eye candy. Critics will hate it, and if
you're looking for a serious exposition regarding the complex vampire/werewolf world (ala "Underworld") then
guess what, you ain't gettin' it. But if you like your summer blockbuster to be a roller coaster ride
with lots of unbelievable, in-your-face action and you can laugh off the silly stuff, then you can have fun
with "Van Helsing." I did.|
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