Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dracula - Prince of Silence, 20 Mar 2002
This is a competent third entry in Hammer's Dracula Saga, but it has a few drawbacks. First, there is no dialogue for Christopher Lee, which is just a darn shame. Second, it takes an awful long time for Dracula to make his entrance. Where "The Horror of Dracula" was fast-paced, DpoD is slow in building up the climax (I can't comment on its relation to preceding "Brides of Dracula"). Some stunning visuals and good acting, most notable Van Helsing-representant Andrew Keir, later to star in the excellent "Quatermass and the Pit".The DVD edition, however, is an utter disappointment. The screen quality is on a par with the VHS version, and the only addition is a scene selection. Absolutely no use has been made of the DVD possibilities. This is a shame, for the same Hammer titles are also issued on Region 1 and 0 discs, which contain commentaries, trailers, interviews, and 'World of Hammer' episodes. I see absolutely no reason why we can't see these versions on Region 2 discs. Hammer Horror is a part of our European cinema legacy, and thus it is not only a shame, but a plain crime that the Europeans have to go without restored and updated DVD editions. I give "Dracula - Prince of Darkness" three stars, the DVD edition only one. I hope someone gets the message and starts rectifiying this shoddy business.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
'But there isn't a castle on the map...', 3 Nov 2001
Hammer's first 'proper' sequel to 'Horror of Dracula' is great fun and suitably atmospheric -Beautifully shot in a wide aspect ratio, the colour photography is excellently preserved on this DVD, telling the tale of four hapless English tourists who ignore warnings not to go to THAT castle, and end up straying far from their Victorian sensibilities. Christopher Lee is, despite having no dialogue at all, probably at his most menacing and predatory in this one. There are fine performances from all: Gentlemanly heroic Francis Matthews, quite rationally accepting the notion of vampires from barking mad priest Andrew (Quatermass) Kier; Philip Latham as murderous manservant Klove; and Barbara Shelley transforming from prudish Victorian to wanton vamp seductress. The pacing is taut, James Bernard's score is as literal as always ('Drac - Ul - Ahh!'), and the whole thing is a joy to behold. One of Hammer's very best offerings, and nicely presented on this disc (although the original trailer would have been nice).
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
5 star film, shame about the presentation, 20 Dec 2001
I for one greeted the news of region 2 Hammer dvds with some excitement, but I have to say that I'm a wee bit disapponted with this release.Presented in widescreen (but not anamorphic), with nothing in the way of extras save chapter access, the film is one of Hammer's best, though as usual Christopher Lee has little to do save the usual lurking around, hissing and biting. Andrew Keir makes a decent Van Helsing substitute, and Barbara Shelly makes a fantastic transformation from buttoned-up, repressed, Victorian madam to sensual nightie-clad vamp. Her staking by a group of monks is probably the film's great set piece, along with the resurection of Dracula himself. Fantastic film (and it looks good too), but surely Warners could've put some more extras (trailers, commentaries etc.) on this disc? Hopefully the next batch of releases will remedy this...
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