Blyss's Movie Review for:
Main Cast of Characters:
Jonny Lee Miller.........Simon Sheppard
Justine Waddell..........Mary Van Helsing
Gerard Butler.........Dracula
Omar Epps..........Marcus
Danny Masterson...........Nightshade
Jeri Ryan..........Valerie Sharpe
Jennifer Esposito...........Solina
Colleen Fitzpatrick...........Lucy Westerman
Sean Patrick Thomas...........Trick
Christopher Plummer...........Matthew Van Helsing
Shane West...........JT
Nathan Fillion...........Father David
2000. Rated: R; Genre: Horror/Suspense; 99 minutes
The ageless evil unleashed!
After a brief scene, the movie begins in the year 2000 in London, England. Dr. Van Helsing, a collector of relic weapons used in vampire legend, has his assistant Simon obtain another for him. His grandfather was supposedly a vampire hunter so he uses that explanation as to why he enjoys collecting so much. Solina, another of Van Helsing's assistants, gets asked out by Simon and she turns him down. A gang of thieves then break into the Van Helsing safe looking for treasure. Solina, who is part of the mastermind of the theft operation, comes down to help. They find furniture, candlesticks, and other non-valuables. They then find a coffin in the main safe and attempt to open and find out if they have any treasure inside of them. Marcus, the second mastermind and Solina's boyfriend, decides its time to leave so he takes Solina, the coffin, and what is left of his crew and leaves. Simon wants to alert the police for Mr. Van Helsing but he won't allow it. The thieves, meanwhile, are flying to the Caymen Islands and trying to open the coffin. Finally, the do open the coffin and find leeches all over a body that still appears to be very young. They remove the leeches and Dracula is awakened and ready to feed! His own mission involves Van Helsing's daughter Mary who dreams of Dracula all of the time. What is their connection? Why is he so obsessed with killing Van Helsing and getting to his daughter specifically?
I really enjoyed this movie because of the special effects. For instance, there is a scene where Mary walks down the hall and sees Solina and her friend, Lucy who have already been turned into vampires. They are on the sides of the walls and it is eerie the way the curtains are blowing. I also liked it when the coffin is first opened on the plane and the plane flies into a red storm. My favorite characters in this movie were Marcus and Mary. Marcus did not last long enough but Omar Epps did an excellent job playing vampire Marcus. Mary was a scared little girl at first and then when she realizes why Drac is obsessed with her, the fear is gone. I liked that whole idea.
THE NEXT PARAGRAPH CONTAINS ENDING SPOILERS. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS MOVIE ENDS, SKIP DOWN TO THE BOTTOM AND READ MY RATING!
Overall, this is a mild horror movie with lots of thrills and chills. The most interesting part of the whole movie is how it is ended and I have never considered this kind of explantation for who Dracula is and why. It was presented that Dracula was originally Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ. When Judas tried to kill himself, God would not let him die. He was placed with the curse of being a vampire because of his betrayal. I was totally in awe at the end when I saw this at the theater. I left that movie with my family and we talked about the ending all evening afterwards. The writer had a good grasp on how he wanted this to go and I would think that the suggested effect was presented as intended.
The only downfall in this movie is that I would have expected Simon to be a stronger character because he seemed a little weak to me. But the ending was so awesome that it made the unworthy parts of the movie very worthwhile.
I rate this movie: 10
Blyss