Van Helsing - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ewan's My Man · 05-05-2004, 08:22 PM

Anybody gonna see it? I'm gonna see it on Friday with my boyfriend so I just wanted to know if anybody else were planning on seeing it.

TJL · 05-08-2004, 07:54 PM

I saw it this afternoon, and it was not good.

I really wanted to like this movie too.
I loved director Steven Somers "Mummy" movies and Hugh Jackman is cool, but this movie was an overblown mess.

Great special effects and action sequences, but not much else.

Sadly, I give "Van Helsing" the

Janice · 05-08-2004, 08:05 PM

You're not alone, Rottentomatoes rated it 23%. It's frustrating going to the theater when the movie ends up a stinker.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/VanHelsing-1132255/

Darkweaver · 05-08-2004, 09:45 PM

It was okay. The characters were really flat and dull and a lot of the action sequences got very repetitve. I recommend seeing a matinee with a few friends if you have the chance but it's nothing special.

Ewan's My Man · 05-09-2004, 01:28 AM

Oh man, are my boyfriend and I the only two people on the Earth that actually LIKED it? I REALLY liked it...hmm...

TJL · 05-09-2004, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ewan's My Man
Oh man, are my boyfriend and I the only two people on the Earth that actually LIKED it? I REALLY liked it...hmm...

I really, really, really wanted to like it, I swear!

I loved the CG effects! I loved the rapid fire crossbow!

I loved the black and white opening!

It just didn't work for me!

Rickenbacker · 05-10-2004, 07:54 AM

So this closet dice-rollin', D&D-playin', Sinbad movie watchin', Ray Harryhausen meetin', semi geek had been psyched for weeks waiting for this film's release. The trailers looked like a ton-o-fun....a let down. Not a total crushing disappointment, but a let down.
On the good side, this is a fun, often thrilling adventure. The dark & cold looking scenery was well done. Also, I always love seeing new & different interpretations of vampires & Dracula. They pulled that off very well. There certainly was no shortage of great, fast-paced action & if you have kids into this sort of imagery, definitely take em. A good Saturday evening movie for sure.

Which brings me to the down side...

Waaaaaaaayyy too much of a reliance on CGIs. Not to say they shouldn't've used them at all, but just too much. I got worried during the 1st 10 minutes when I saw Mr. Hyde. It's a plain fact that at this point of the game, our eyes are 'trained' to spot even the smallest use of CGI. In this movie, there was nothing subtle about it & in my mind, I'm thinking "Oh. Computer monster. Yawn."

As far as the 2 main heroes go, the stunts & feats they manage that we're expected to suspend our disbelief for are just over-the-top. I mean way over. They take about a thousand deadly falls without breaking a single bone. Compare that to the much more "real" & believable Van Helsing from Coppola's 1992 "Dracula".
All that & the CGI effects leave you feeling you're watching something closer to a cartoon or reading a comic book. Also, a bit too much comic relief for me here. I guess I was expecting a darker, more serious movie. This is more akin to 'Indiana Jones'. For a better vampire/werewolf flick, I'll take the more heavy-handed "Underworld" over this. Oh yeah- Very corny ending...

TJL · 05-10-2004, 08:04 AM

Good points Rickenbacker.

According to the IMDB, this film was originally intended to be a sequel to the 1992 Dracula film, with Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as Van Helsing. But the project was apparently shelved, rewritten, reimagined, and the result was the big budgeted monstrosity that opened over the weekend.

Ah, to think of what could have been...

Cactus Jack · 05-10-2004, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
Godd points Rickenbacker.

According to the IMDB, this film was originally intended to be a sequel to the 1992 Dracula film, with Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as Van Helsing. But the project was apparently shelved, rewritten, reimagined, and the result was the big budgeted monstrosity that opened over the weekend.

Ah, to think of what could have been...

LOL!

, BTW thats cool that it was gonna be a sequel

you-suc)< · 05-11-2004, 01:09 PM

i liked it,there was some boring scenes but it was a overall

GabbyFang · 05-12-2004, 01:59 AM

I wanna see it.

Silver Bullet · 05-12-2004, 10:49 AM

I have second thoughts about seeing this in the theater because someone I know saw it and said that it was horrible. Some other message boards that I belong to, said it was bad too. I guess I'll wait for video. This way, I won't be out $10.00. I had HIGH hopes for this film. Oh well, what can you do.

Ewan's My Man · 05-12-2004, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Silver Bullet
I have second thoughts about seeing this in the theater because someone I know saw it and said that it was horrible. Some other message boards that I belong to, said it was bad too. I guess I'll wait for video. This way, I won't be out $10.00. I had HIGH hopes for this film. Oh well, what can you do.

Yea, better off waiting and renting it if you're not sure. I mean, I loved it, but that's not the impression I'm gettng from a lot of people.

Sterling Holobyte · 05-16-2004, 01:14 AM

I just saw this movie tonight. I wish I would have waited for it to come out on video. Or at least went to a matinee.
For the first half(maybe more) I was watching and thinking, this movie is lacking something. Like ...substance?!
The rest of it got a wee bit better, but not by much.
I really didn't like this Count Dracula. I think if you're going to have Dracula in a movie the person playing him should have at least a little bit of a sinister aura to him. This guy just seemed ...bland.

But yeah, if you want to go see a movie with a lot of action and effects and not very much else, you might enjoy this movie.

-*Forever*- · 05-22-2004, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
I really didn't like this Count Dracula. I think if you're going to have Dracula in a movie the person playing him should have at least a little bit of a sinister aura to him. This guy just seemed ...bland.

*rips out hair* How can you SAY that?!?! He was AMAZING. I loved it when he started dancing with himself

I've seen it twice now and I'm going again tomorrow. I ADORED it. Or maybe I just adored Dracula...

By the way, Lauren, did you know that Dracula was the same guy who played the Duke in Moulin Rouge?

05-05-2004, 08:22 PM	#1
Ewan's My Man I'll Cover You Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 29, 2001 Location: Beneath the opera house... Posts: 5,682	Van Helsing Anybody gonna see it? I'm gonna see it on Friday with my boyfriend so I just wanted to know if anybody else were planning on seeing it.
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05-08-2004, 07:54 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I saw it this afternoon, and it was not good. I really wanted to like this movie too. I loved director Steven Somers "Mummy" movies and Hugh Jackman is cool, but this movie was an overblown mess. Great special effects and action sequences, but not much else. Sadly, I give "Van Helsing" the
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

05-08-2004, 09:45 PM	#4
Darkweaver Tenebrous Shambler Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 13, 2003 Location: In the mental ward with Becca Posts: 128	It was okay. The characters were really flat and dull and a lot of the action sequences got very repetitve. I recommend seeing a matinee with a few friends if you have the chance but it's nothing special.
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05-10-2004, 08:04 AM	#8
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Good points Rickenbacker. According to the IMDB, this film was originally intended to be a sequel to the 1992 Dracula film, with Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as Van Helsing. But the project was apparently shelved, rewritten, reimagined, and the result was the big budgeted monstrosity that opened over the weekend. Ah, to think of what could have been...
	Last edited by TJL; 05-10-2004 at 08:21 AM.

05-11-2004, 01:09 PM	#10
you-suc)< Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 11, 2004 Location: new joisey Posts: 6	i liked it,there was some boring scenes but it was a overall
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05-08-2004, 08:05 PM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	You're not alone, Rottentomatoes rated it 23%. It's frustrating going to the theater when the movie ends up a stinker. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/VanHelsing-1132255/

05-09-2004, 01:28 AM	#5
Ewan's My Man I'll Cover You Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 29, 2001 Location: Beneath the opera house... Posts: 5,682	Oh man, are my boyfriend and I the only two people on the Earth that actually LIKED it? I REALLY liked it...hmm...

05-10-2004, 07:54 AM	#7
Rickenbacker Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 15, 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 507	So this closet dice-rollin', D&D-playin', Sinbad movie watchin', Ray Harryhausen meetin', semi geek had been psyched for weeks waiting for this film's release. The trailers looked like a ton-o-fun....a let down. Not a total crushing disappointment, but a let down. On the good side, this is a fun, often thrilling adventure. The dark & cold looking scenery was well done. Also, I always love seeing new & different interpretations of vampires & Dracula. They pulled that off very well. There certainly was no shortage of great, fast-paced action & if you have kids into this sort of imagery, definitely take em. A good Saturday evening movie for sure. Which brings me to the down side... Waaaaaaaayyy too much of a reliance on CGIs. Not to say they shouldn't've used them at all, but just too much. I got worried during the 1st 10 minutes when I saw Mr. Hyde. It's a plain fact that at this point of the game, our eyes are 'trained' to spot even the smallest use of CGI. In this movie, there was nothing subtle about it & in my mind, I'm thinking "Oh. Computer monster. Yawn." As far as the 2 main heroes go, the stunts & feats they manage that we're expected to suspend our disbelief for are just over-the-top. I mean way over. They take about a thousand deadly falls without breaking a single bone. Compare that to the much more "real" & believable Van Helsing from Coppola's 1992 "Dracula". All that & the CGI effects leave you feeling you're watching something closer to a cartoon or reading a comic book. Also, a bit too much comic relief for me here. I guess I was expecting a darker, more serious movie. This is more akin to 'Indiana Jones'. For a better vampire/werewolf flick, I'll take the more heavy-handed "Underworld" over this. Oh yeah- Very corny ending...

05-12-2004, 01:59 AM	#11
GabbyFang Vote Vader Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 21, 2003 Location: Candy Land Posts: 566	I wanna see it.
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05-12-2004, 10:49 AM	#12
Silver Bullet RIP Johnny Ramone Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 06, 2004 Location: A Violent World Posts: 66	I have second thoughts about seeing this in the theater because someone I know saw it and said that it was horrible. Some other message boards that I belong to, said it was bad too. I guess I'll wait for video. This way, I won't be out $10.00. I had HIGH hopes for this film. Oh well, what can you do.
	__________________ Unpleasant Street

05-16-2004, 01:14 AM	#14
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	I just saw this movie tonight. I wish I would have waited for it to come out on video. Or at least went to a matinee. For the first half(maybe more) I was watching and thinking, this movie is lacking something. Like ...substance?! The rest of it got a wee bit better, but not by much. I really didn't like this Count Dracula. I think if you're going to have Dracula in a movie the person playing him should have at least a little bit of a sinister aura to him. This guy just seemed ...bland. But yeah, if you want to go see a movie with a lot of action and effects and not very much else, you might enjoy this movie.