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From Amazon.co.uk
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
Product Description
Hunted as a murderer by those who do not understand his calling, Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) travels the globe as a fugitive. Accompanied only by Carl, (David Wenham), a friar entrusted with providing Van Helsing's safety and a weapons arsenal to rival James Bond, Van Helsing is despatched to the shadowy world of Transylvania.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Most people who buy this blu-ray will do so as an upgrade to the dvd especially as it has been on the television recently and if you like the movie it's a worthwhile upgrade. Picture quality is excellent and is presented full screen and the DTS-HD Master audio soundtrack fills your room with sound and music. Extras are very much the same as the dvd release with the addition of a 20 minute feature on the masked ball scene which is well worth watching. Most of the story is set in the dark and this benefits from the blu-ray transfer as everything is so much clearer.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Connor Haigh
Format:Blu-ray
I don't realise why this film got so many negative reviews; it's not an awful movie. Story was okay, along with the acting, but it wasn't horrible. Picture and audio quality was superb for a 2003 film, and buying it on Blu-ray was worth it.
Would recommend!
Would recommend!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This is a great movie with excellent animation. On Blu-ray it looks stunning in detail and this is helped by the format being 16:9 so it fills all of your HD TV screen with no wasted black bars on top and bottom. The extra bits on how they handled the animation etc. are fascinating to watch as well. Hugh Jackman acts really dramatically as Van Helsing and good part played by Kate Beckinsale too as the Transylvanian princess. My favourite animation scene was the aerial attack in the village by the flying brides of Dracula...truly powerful.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By F. Patel
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Blu-ray
Ok the story line isn't going to tax anybody with just the single brain cell. But lets not forget its not there to be cerebrally challenging . Its pop corn for the brain and you know what it does it very well. However Im not here to discuss the script but rather the Blue Ray version.
Well, as Blue Ray releases go, I have to admit this is one of the better ones. Colours, clarity are spot on. In fact having watched this on TV the other week the Blue Ray version is much better. Watching the title character riding across the snow capped mountains near the start of the film is something else, but the scene in the Romanian town centre halfway through the female vampire attack when the sun comes out really differentiates Blue Ray from normal DVD. Somebody else has already mentioned the Ball scene, but its worth just seeing that for how all the different colours are allowed to explode into view. . The rest of the film displays just as much as the few samples I mentioned above. Its also good to see that the same amount of attention has been paid to the sound.
While I'm not one for extras there is a picture in picture mode which brings up a small screen showing the same as the main picture but from the view of the camera man and a few other snippets.(As i said I'm not one for extras)
As I said one of the better Blue Ray releases
System
Panasonic TX-32LZD80 - 32" Widescreen
Sony BDPS350 Blu-Ray Disc Player
Yamaha HTY750 Digital Sound Projector
Yamaha YSTFSW100-BLACK 75 Watt Slimline Active Subwoofer
Well, as Blue Ray releases go, I have to admit this is one of the better ones. Colours, clarity are spot on. In fact having watched this on TV the other week the Blue Ray version is much better. Watching the title character riding across the snow capped mountains near the start of the film is something else, but the scene in the Romanian town centre halfway through the female vampire attack when the sun comes out really differentiates Blue Ray from normal DVD. Somebody else has already mentioned the Ball scene, but its worth just seeing that for how all the different colours are allowed to explode into view. . The rest of the film displays just as much as the few samples I mentioned above. Its also good to see that the same amount of attention has been paid to the sound.
While I'm not one for extras there is a picture in picture mode which brings up a small screen showing the same as the main picture but from the view of the camera man and a few other snippets.(As i said I'm not one for extras)
As I said one of the better Blue Ray releases
System
Panasonic TX-32LZD80 - 32" Widescreen
Sony BDPS350 Blu-Ray Disc Player
Yamaha HTY750 Digital Sound Projector
Yamaha YSTFSW100-BLACK 75 Watt Slimline Active Subwoofer
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Theo
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
With the exception of very brief and perfunctory moments of exposition, this film is little more than one long action sequence. It's entertaining enough in a frothy sort of way, but that's about as much as you can say of it. Some might consider it horror, but for myself I would rather say that it's more of a pure action film that just happens to be set in a horror-themed landscape.
Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale both deliver the goods in their respective roles. While hardly performing Shakespeare, they do what's required to make their characters work. My only real complaint on the acting front is that Richard Roxburgh wasn't really up to the task of portraying Count Dracula. This is a role that positively demands that magnetism and presence be oozing from every pore. What we instead get is a rather wishy-washy sort of chap.
In the end, I can only say that the title I gave this review - "Little More Than One Long Action Sequence" - sums up my take on this movie. At times I almost felt as if I were just watching a video game, albeit one with really cool graphics.
It's light entertainment with a High Gothic aesthetic. But it's nothing more than that.
Theo.
Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale both deliver the goods in their respective roles. While hardly performing Shakespeare, they do what's required to make their characters work. My only real complaint on the acting front is that Richard Roxburgh wasn't really up to the task of portraying Count Dracula. This is a role that positively demands that magnetism and presence be oozing from every pore. What we instead get is a rather wishy-washy sort of chap.
In the end, I can only say that the title I gave this review - "Little More Than One Long Action Sequence" - sums up my take on this movie. At times I almost felt as if I were just watching a video game, albeit one with really cool graphics.
It's light entertainment with a High Gothic aesthetic. But it's nothing more than that.
Theo.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There's a lot to like in this CGI action fest and I lapped it up. It's highly derivative stuff and even mirrors James Bond for a while but it's fun all the way with set pieces galore, great music and setting. I used to watch the old black and white "horror" films and this is just a modern day equivalent with a much better looking cast!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
Format:DVD
This movie is one of the best i have ever seen. Forget what the negative reviewers say this is a blast from beginning to end.
The director of the Mummy and The Mummy Returns delivers a top notch action adventure that makes you want to be Van Helsing and battle vampires and werewolves. Hugh Jackman is perfect as Van Helsing and Kate Beckinsale equally as perfect as Anna, other performances such as Richard Roxborough's Dracula and David Wenham as Carl.
The story is interesting and the action scenes are amazing, some of the stunts are brilliant and the special effects are very cool. If you like vampire, werewolf, frankenstein films then this is definitely one to consider buying.
Please do NOT listen to those who slate this film because it is action packed, funny, exciting, thrilling, amazing, awesome, cool (i can't think of any more adjectives) just buy it and enjoy.
The director of the Mummy and The Mummy Returns delivers a top notch action adventure that makes you want to be Van Helsing and battle vampires and werewolves. Hugh Jackman is perfect as Van Helsing and Kate Beckinsale equally as perfect as Anna, other performances such as Richard Roxborough's Dracula and David Wenham as Carl.
The story is interesting and the action scenes are amazing, some of the stunts are brilliant and the special effects are very cool. If you like vampire, werewolf, frankenstein films then this is definitely one to consider buying.
Please do NOT listen to those who slate this film because it is action packed, funny, exciting, thrilling, amazing, awesome, cool (i can't think of any more adjectives) just buy it and enjoy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
van Helsing
Vampire movies - love them. This is an all time great. A definate recomendation. Can watch many times and still find it a great movie
Published 22 days ago by Marilyn Cambridge
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wrong running time
Caution: if you trust the info about the running-time, you'll be disapointed just like me; because it's just the ordinary 126min, not 132 as stated!! (singleEdition DVD)
Published 1 month ago by pascal t
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jackman
A brilliant action packed vampire film and from the start to the finish an absolute great DVD to watch again and again, enjoy!
Published 1 month ago by Toni Adams
3.0 out of 5 stars
Mindless action movie...in the right way
If you're are looking for a good old fashioned monster horror, you've come to the wrong place. If you watch this film, leave any nostalgia of the likes of Nosferatu and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Patricia
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gothic Horror 101
Bought for children in school to study Gothic horror genre. Works great for that. Not my kind of film otherwise.
Published 1 month ago by Miss A L Knapik
1.0 out of 5 stars
faulty
Hi
Unfortunately i tried watching this film recently and found that it did not play. The blu ray player rejected the disc and on closer inspection i found that it had a... Read more
Unfortunately i tried watching this film recently and found that it did not play. The blu ray player rejected the disc and on closer inspection i found that it had a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Abdul waheed Shahid
5.0 out of 5 stars
Van Helsing
Another movie that I used to own on dvd but it looks even better in blu ray.
Many thanks for the service
Many thanks for the service
Published 1 month ago by Gareth Lankshear
5.0 out of 5 stars
Van Helsing
As it has Hugh Jackman in it, there isn't really any more to say! I would recommend this film to all my friends.
Published 2 months ago by Anne B
3.0 out of 5 stars
strange freezing
may not happen to every copy-mine freezes in the middle and have to skip a chapter to pass it... films still good tho
Published 2 months ago by CAL EL
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 stars
van helsing is a good film I have seen it loads of times .. I received my order on time on 28th this month , the 2 discs are in good condition but the corners of the 2 cases are... Read more
Published 2 months ago by zeus
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