Van Helsing
The greatest monster hunter of them all has his work cut out for him as he tracks down three deadly foes in this action-adventure saga. Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is a man who has dedicated his life to battling evil forces who exist outside the bounds of nature; Van Helsing's work has not always made him friends, and a false accusation of murder still trails him. But when he's summoned to Transylvania at the behest of Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), whose family has been fighting supernatural beings for generations, Van Helsing wastes no time answering her call. There, Van Helsing discovers that the undying vampire Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) has put a misshapen creature named Igor (Kevin J. O'Connor) under his spell, and, in turn, has forged an alliance with a hideous monster (Shuler Hensley) who was created by the misguided Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Samuel West). Adding to Anna's burden is her brother, Velkan (Will Kemp), a lycanthrope who becomes a bloodthirsty wolf under the light of the full moon. Van Helsing also co-stars Elena Anaya, Silvia Colloca, and Josie Maran as Dracula's vampire brides. more..
Director: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale,Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham, Shuler Hensley
This creature feature is exhilarating fun, a richly designed and often quite funny re-exploration of the movie past.
Silly and spectacular, and fun.
A movie that's underwritten, overdirected, overproduced and almost constantly over-the-top. But it's also, at its best, a big tongue-in-cheek extravaganza.
Kind of like a basketball team of all-stars -- no names, please -- that has difficulty jelling into one smooth and efficient unit.
The dashing Jackman plays his part well enough, but the script doesn't provide sufficient "Indiana Jones"-style bons mots to win us over.
Top Box Office Films
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (2005)
Best Music
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (2005)
Worst Film
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards (2005)
Best Costume Design (Migliori Costumi)
Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (2005)
Choice Movie - Drama/Action Adventure
Teen Choice Awards (2004)
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