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Actors: Hugh Jackman, Kate Bekinsale, Richard Roxburgh
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Van Helsing |
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This movie attempts to pull together movie characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, assorted scantily dressed vampire Brides of Dracula and/or Frankenstein, Werewolves and a mob of quite literally revolting peasants, with Van Helsing, a legendary monster hunter, Anna, the sole survivor of a family dedicated to eradicating Dracula and his ilk, and Carl, a bumbling priest.
The action (and there's lots of it) takes place in a muddy and downtrodden village in Eastern Europe, where the flying female vampires suck dry the occasional villager while trying to kill Anna. And Dracula, hidden in his secret castle, tries to track down Frankenstein's monster, who holds the key of life for Dracula's many offspring. Then Dracula can take over the world, one artery at a time. Anna, dressed in a tight bodice and stilletto heeled boots, is all that stands between him and total power, until a new hero arrives on the scene.
Van Helsing, with the backing of a secret Vatican society dedicated to wiping out evil worldwide, sets off with his trusty sidekick Carl and a bunch of Carl's clever weapons, to rid the world of yet another monster, Dracula. But does Anna want his help, can they find Dracula's castle, is Frankenstein's monster a goodie or a baddie, do Werewolves get fleas, and can anyone hear the dialogue, such as it is, over the noise of the special effects? The movie, which is well over 2 hours in length, is one long series of very noisy special effects from start to finish.
--Maggie, Resident Scholar
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After killing Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, famed monster killer Van Helsing is sent to save and protect the remaining member of an important family from vampires and werewolves.
On their mission to destroy the monsters they meet Frankenstein, who was created by the vampire. Frankenstein eventually helps with the killing of the monsters.
The werewolves are dispatched first. Van Helsing becomes a werewolf, defeats the vampire, and is given the cure and turned back into a human.
--Brandon Swenson, Resident Scholar
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The title character Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman), a monster slayer with no memories of his past, is sent out by an ancient organization to find and destroy infamous movie monsters including Frankenstein, Mr. Hyde, Wolfman, and the most challenging villain of them all – Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh). When Van Helsing arrives in Transylvania after completing successful missions in Paris and Rome, he is armed and ready to kill, though Anna (Kate Beckinsale) – the last remaining member of a multi-generation royal family entrusted with ridding the city of the famous Count – is reluctant to accept his help. But her mind begins to change after an attack of flying female vampires.
--Fay Rose, Resident Scholar
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Van Helsing is a man who hunts evil for a living. He lost all of his memory and gets direction from a mysterious group called "The Order." He gets sent to Transylvania to kill Count Dracula. While he is there he joins up with Anna Valerious, the last person in the Valerious family, and they fight Dracula together.
--Dashaun Montanez, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Van Helsing |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 50%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 25%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 25%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- fantasy story on another world/distant past
Horror film?
Yes
Kind of Horror Story
- hungry vampires
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- killer
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium wavy
- (man) longhair/girliemon
Body type
- muscular (man)
Unclothed?
- Chest
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- Very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) long curly
Body type
- average (female)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Eastern European
Main Adversary
Identity:
- magical being, male
Age:
- long-lived adults
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- is very quick
- can change shapes
- super strength
- can fly
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity
- Eastern European
Intelligence
- Average Intelligence
Physical condition
- very athletic
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Earth setting:
- 19th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Big cities?
Yes
Misc settings
- fort/castle
Small town?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Kinds of F/X
- Things that change shape/morph
- nasty human transformations
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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