Christopher Wemp Period 3 11/11/04

Film Review of Van Helsing

Van Helsing is a wonderf!l movie" #etween the intrig!ing plot$ asto!nding spe%ial and so!nd effe%ts$ and e&%ellent a%ting$ Van Helsing is a film that sho!ld not 'e missed" ( 'elieve the theme of Van Helsing is$ )ood will alwa*s van+!ish evil " (n the movie$ Van Helsing$ the main protagonist$ 'attled against Co!nt ,ra%!la in an effort to save the world from his evil plans" ,ra%!la was attempting to hat%h the tho!sands of vampire offspring he had$ and if he was s!%%essf!l$ the entire h!man pop!lation wo!ld 'e -illed in a short matter of time" .fter an intense advent!re$ Van Helsing s!%%eeded in destro*ing Co!nt ,ra%!la and 'anishing evil from the land" ( was ver* entertained '* the s%reenpla* of Van Helsing " /ever did ( hear a repetitive word$ monotono!s senten%e$ or a m!ndane %omment thro!gho!t the length of the movie" 0a%h spo-en line had a p!rpose and did well in s!%%essf!ll* moving the film forward" .nother e&%ellent aspe%t of the spo-en senten%es was the h!mor that was in%orporated with them" . dar- sit!ation in Van Helsing was often lightened '* an appropriate$ h!moro!s senten%e$ adding to the en1o*ment of the film" (n Van Helsing $ several of the main %hara%ters2 personalities !nderwent a %hange d!ring the %o!rse of the movie" Van Helsing was an advent!ro!s hero who wor-ed for 3he 4rder $ whi%h was a se%ret organi5ation powered '* the %h!r%h" 0a%h mem'er of 3he 4rder was$ in the attempt to -eep the world safe$ defeating all forms of

evil" Van Hesling was the man that %arried o!t the d!ties of 3he 4rder " He did so '* 'attling the minions of evil himself" .s powerf!l and frightening as the %reat!res that Van Hesling fa%ed were$ the* gave him no fear" He had e&%eptional s-ill$ powerf!l weapons$ and a smart mind$ whi%h gave him %onfiden%e !pon entering the 'attlefield" When 3he 4rder gave Van Helsing the tas- of destro*ing Co!nt ,ra%!la$ Van Helsing too- the tas- ver* lightl*" .ltho!gh warned several times of Co!nt ,ra%!la2s immense power$ Van Helsing regarded him as another monster 1!st waiting to 'e slain" His views were %hanged$ however$ when he fa%ed Co!nt ,ra%!la for the first time and e&perien%ed the awesome power he had" #* the end of the movie$ Van Hesling learned to not ta-e an* assignment lightl*$ for ea%h one was ver* %hallenging in its own wa*" Carl$ Van Hesling2s tr!sted partner$ was a tr!e friend" /ot onl* was did he have a 'rilliant mind$ '!t had a -ind heart and %ompassionate attri'!tes" #eing the inventor of man* %reative inventions$ Carl 'ravel* aided Van Helsing in his advent!res and helped him destro* the evil Co!nt ,ra%!la" .nna was another important %hara%ter in the movie" H!ndreds of *ears ago$ her an%estor swore that his famil* wo!ld not rest in pea%e !ntil Co!nt ,ra%!la was -illed" .nna and her 'rother were the last of the famil*" (f the* were -illed 'efore Co!nt ,ra%!la$ man* generations of famil* wo!ld slip into p!rgator*" .nna was a sad$ angr* woman" Her anger was dire%ted at ,ra%!la$ and she was 'ent on destro*ing him" When Van Hesling arrived to help her eliminate Co!nt ,ra%!la$ she was !ngratef!l and 'oasted of how she didn2t need an* help" .s the movie progressed$ .nna reali5ed how dangero!s Co!nt ,ra%!la and his minions were and t!rned to the help of Van Hesling not onl* 'e%a!se he %o!ld prote%t her '!t 'e%a!se she grew to admire him"

Co!nt ,ra%!la$ the main villain of the movie$ was an evil$ rotten hearted %reat!re" He wanted to ta-e over the world$ and hat%hed a horrifi% plan of 'ringing tho!sands of his offspring into the world" With them at his side$ no one wo!ld 'e a'le to stop him" #e%a!se ,ra%!la was the first vampire 'ro!ght to live$ items s!%h as silver sta-es$ garli%$ and s!nlight had no effe%t on him" He li-ed to mo%- his pre*$ for man* of them had no idea of his imm!nities" .n e&ample of this was in the ver* 'eginning of the movie" ,o%tor Fran-enstein wor-ed for ,ra%!la %ompletel* o'livio!s to his vampire attri'!tes" 6pon the %reation of the Fran-enstein monster$ ,ra%!la de%ided to dispose of the do%tor$ who was now !seless to him" 3he do%tor$ in a pani%$ sei5ed a sword with a silver 'lade and pointed it at the vampire" ,ra%!la pretended to 'e afraid of it and 'a%-ed off a little$ giving ,o%tor Fran-enstein some %onfiden%e" ,ra%!la shattered the 'rief moment of tri!mph '* impaling himself with the sword$ demonstrating that he %o!ld not 'e harmed '* it" 7oments after$ he en1o*ed the 'lood of ,o%tor Fran-enstein" .nother e&ample was when Van Helsing s!rprised ,ra%!la and drove a silver sta-e into his heart" ,ra%!la grima%ed$ groaned$ and writhed as the s!pposedl* deadl* sta-e was driven deeper into his heart" Van Helsing$ thin-ing he had won$ left ,ra%!la for dead$ '!t was soon regretting his over%onfiden%e when ,ra%!la tried to engage him in 'attle" ,ra%!la2s %hara%ter didn2t %hange at all d!ring the movie" #eing the %r!el$ monstro!s %reat!re he was$ it was important that he remained that wa* for an effe%t of %hara%ter %ontrast" 3he Fran-enstein monster was another main %hara%ter" While not having as large a role as the other %hara%ters$ he still pla*ed a 'ig part in the movie" Fran-enstein was %reated '* ,o%tor Fran-enstein o!t of 'od* parts from vario!s dead persons" When 'ro!ght to life$ his appearan%e was far from ordinar*$ giving him a s%ar* rep!tation"

6pon meeting him$ Van Helsing deemed Fran-enstein as a hideo!s$ evil 'east" 4n%e Fran-enstein spo-e to him$ Van Helsing reali5ed how Fran-enstein was a -ind 'eing" Fran-enstein %hanged in the movie" (n his first appearan%e$ he as-ed Van Helsing to -ill him" He was tired of 'eing re1e%ted '* man-ind$ and wanted to 'e%ome pea%ef!l in heaven" Van Helsing ref!sed to -ill him$ however$ and Fran-enstein 'e%ame a val!a'le all*" #* the end of the film$ Fran-enstein fo!nd how m!%h life had to offer and de%ided to live it to its f!llest e&tent" 3here were several relationships in Van Helsing " 3he first was 'etween Van Helsing and Co!nt ,ra%!la" 3he* were sworn enemies that wo!ld have li-ed nothing more than to -ill ea%h other" ,ra%!la did ever*thing in his power to prevent Van Helsing from ma-ing progress in his +!est$ whi%h fr!strated Van Helsing greatl*" .n e&ample of this was when Van Helsing was tr*ing to transport Fran-enstein to Rome where he wo!ld 'e safe" ,!ring the 1o!rne* there$ ,ra%!la sent his 8 vampire 'rides and a werewolf after Van Helsing in hopes to dela* his progress" He had partial s!%%ess in whi%h Van Helsing$ Carl$ and Fran-enstein es%aped" His vi%tor* was that .nna was -idnapped '* the vampire 'rides" . %hanging relationship that stood o!t to me was that of Van Helsing and .nna" When the* first met$ the* had personalit* iss!es 'e%a!se the* %o!ldn2t agree on the 'est wa* to destro* ,ra%!la" .s events !nfolded$ the* were for%ed to %om'ine their talents and wor- together" #* the end of the movie$ 'oth .nna and Van Helsing grew to li-e ea%h other and share a spe%ial relationship$ whi%h was a giganti% improvement from their first meeting"

3he final relationship ( noted was 'etween Van Helsing and Carl" 3he* were 'est friends and shared man* tho!ghts 'etween them" Carl and Van Helsing were a great mat%h 'e%a!se while 'oth had a good head on their sho!lders$ Van Helsing flo!rished with his in%redi'le strength and good 'attle ta%ti%s" Carl$ on the other hand$ la%-ed strong m!s%les '!t made !p for it '* inventing n!mero!s %reative o'1e%ts that aided to his s!rvival d!ring the dangero!s advent!re" ,espite their differen%es$ Carl and Van Helsing made a great pair" Van Helsing had a smooth stor* evol!tion and plot" 9omething ( highl* en1o*ed was the +!i%- pa%e of the movie" (n other words$ Van Helsing %o!ld never seem to get himself o!t of tro!'le" For e&ample$ Van Helsing had his first dangero!s en%o!nter with ,ra%!la" .fter narrowl* es%aping$ he fo!nd himself swinging on a rope tr*ing to es%ape a %olossal werewolf whi%h was at his heels" Van Helsing %o!ld never +!ite seem to get himself o!t of tro!'le$ whi%h alwa*s left me on edge and wondering what was going to happen ne&t" ( fo!nd ( %o!ld easil* follow the plot witho!t %o!ntering %onf!sion or 'attling 'oredom" 3he main %onfli%t in the movie was 'etween Van Helsing and Co!nt ,ra%!la" Co!nt ,ra%!la had an am'itio!s plan of ta-ing over the world" ,!ring his h!ndreds of *ears of living as a vampire$ ,ra%!la had %reated three vampire 'rides for him to live with" 3he* mated and prod!%ed tho!sands of offspring" 6nfort!natel*$ 'eing that the vampires were not a%t!all* alive$ the offspring was 'orn dead" ,ra%!la was not satisfied with dead 'a'ies$ so he hat%hed a s%heme of !sing a h!man as a life so!r%e to his 'a'ies" (t t!rned o!t that Fran-enstein$ 'eing a %reation from dead 'odies$ was the onl* person that %o!ld 'e !sed as a %!rrent to 'ring the vampire 'a'ies to life" Hen%eforth$ ,ra%!la

tried to -idnap Fran-enstein for his own$ evil !se" Van Helsing didn2t want that to happen$ of %o!rse$ so he went on an epi% +!est to rid the world of Co!nt ,ra%!la forever" 3he %onfli%t res!lted in man* intense 'attles 'etween Van Helsing and the minions of Co!nt ,ra%!la in a str!ggle to a%%omplish what seemed impossi'le" ( felt the %lima& of the movie was when Van Helsing fo!ght Co!nt ,ra%!la in a final 'attle" .fter all the str!ggles Van Helsing end!red to rea%h ,ra%!la$ ( %o!ldn2t help '!t feel e&%itement when the* de!%ed it o!t" 3he res!lt of the 'attle was well tho!ght o!t and %o!ldn2t have satisfied me more" 3he time depi%ted was the late 1:th %ent!r*" 3he t*pes of transportation o'1e%ts s!%h as 'oats and %arriages as well as the %lothing and weapons made me feel li-e the movie was a%t!all* filmed d!ring the late 1:th %ent!r*" 3he %ost!mes in the movie were ideal and portra*ed a ver* realisti% pi%t!re of the late 1:th %ent!r*" From Van Helsing2s leather tren%h %oat to Co!nt ,ra%!la2s ro'es$ ever*thing 'alan%ed 'ea!tif!ll*" 3he props were e+!all* e&%eptional" ( %o!ldn2t tell that a handg!n was merel* a well %onstr!%ted pie%e of plasti%" 3he spinning '!55 saws Van Helsing had loo-ed as tho!gh the* had %ome straight from the 'la%-smith" 0ven tho!gh an invention s!%h as that was !nheard of in the late 1:th %ent!r*$ the movie did a good 1o' of in%orporating it" 3he inventors of this movie sho!ld 'e awarded for their efforts in realism" 3he main lo%ation of the movie was in 3rans*lvania" 3he lo%ation held signifi%an%e 'e%a!se it was where Co!nt ,ra%!la$ the main villain of the movie$ lived" 3he whole film was 'ased aro!nd destro*ing ,ra%!la$ so nat!rall*$ his home wo!ld 'e a pla%e of great importan%e"

( reall* li-ed the wa* Van Helsing was filmed" /ever did ( feel di55* from fre+!ent %amera movement or %la!stropho'i% from e&treme %lose;!p shots" .nother thing ( en1o*ed was how the %amera implied %ertain things" For e&ample$ when ,r" <e-*ll was %harging at Van Helsing$ Van Helsing p!lled o!t his spinning '!55 saws" .s the snarling ,r" <e-*ll drew %loser$ the %amera 5oomed in on Van Helsing2s determined loo-$ showing that he was read* for the assa!lt" ( also li-ed the wa* the filming was done d!ring the final 'attle 'etween Co!nt ,ra%!la and Van Helsing" .ltho!gh the* were leaping and fighting aro!nd the whole perimeter of ,ra%!la2s %astle$ the %amera managed to sta* on them thro!gho!t the d!ration of the intense fight" 3he lighting and %olor of the film were 1!st as good as the %amera wor-" /ever was a s%ene washed o!t '* the s!n or too dar- 'e%a!se of la%- of light" 3here were points of e&%ellent %ontrast in %olor and lighting also" ( never missed a 'eat of the movie$ and the e&%ellent !se of lighting and %olor enhan%ed m* e&perien%e" 3he so!nd effe%ts in Van Helsing were 'rilliant" 0ver* time a sword was drawn$ a %lear$ %lean so!nd of metal was heard$ emphasi5ing how sharp the 'lade was" (n a s%ene where hol* water pla*ed a signifi%ant role$ the dripping of the water was %learl* heard$ appropriatel* giving it more attention" 3he so!nds were enri%hing and added to the overall e&%itement of the movie" 3he m!si% was ver* good" (ts variations a%%!ratel* followed the pa%e of the movie" 3he m!si% mimi%-ed the so!nd effe%ts in e&%ellen%e and %ontri'!ted to the greatness of the film" 3he spe%ial effe%ts in Van Helsing were nothing less than in%redi'le" 3he transformation ,ra%!la went thro!gh to 'e%ome his 'at fig!re loo-ed li-e it %o!ld reall*

happen" When %hara%ters t!rned into werewolves$ the* loo-ed so real that if ( hadn2t -nown 'eforehand how werewolves were fantas* %reat!res$ ( wo!ld have tho!ght the* e&isted !pon wat%hing the movie" 3he other effe%ts s!%h as e&plosions$ fire$ and lightening were e+!all* s!per'" 3he spe%ial effe%ts were top not%h and have raised m* e&pe%tations for the +!alit* of effe%ts in an* movie prod!%ed from now on" Film editing was not o'vio!s in Van Helsing " 9everal parts of the movie$ s!%h as horses 1!mping over a gap made '* a 'ro-en 'ridge$ re+!ired editing$ '!t even then$ the s%ene loo-ed in%redi'l* realisti%" 3he a%ting was phenomenal" 0a%h %hara%ter fit their part perfe%tl* and intera%ted well with ea%h other" 3he parts were pla*ed so well that ( %o!ldn2t thin- of an*one else that sho!ld the roles for an* of the a%tors" 3he great a%ting added to the e&%ellen%e of the movie" Van Helsing is intended for an a!dien%e who has a good level of mat!rit*" 3here are some violent %reat!re fighting s%enes that ma* 'e too intense for a *o!nger age$ and the plot wo!ld a little diffi%!lt to %omprehend if *o! didn2t pa* attention d!ring the d!ration of the movie" Van Helsing is a mi&t!re of a%tion$ %omed*$ drama$ and m*ster*" 3here were several f!nn* o%%!rren%es in the film$ dramati% pea-s$ m*ster* of the wherea'o!ts of ,ra%!la2s lair$ and intense a%tion" ( tho!ght the movie had a good 'lend and 'alan%e of ea%h of these %ategories" 3he dire%tor of Van Helsing was 9tephen 9ommers" #esides Van Helsing $ he also dire%ted Cat%h 7e (f =o! Can in 1:>:$ 3he .dvent!res of H!%- Finn in 1::3$ )!nmen in 1::4$ 3he <!ngle #oo- in 1::4$ 3om and H!%- in 1::?$ ,eep

Rising in 1::>$ 3he 7!mm* in 1:::$ 3he 7!mm* Ret!rns $ and 3he 9%orpion @ing in 8008" 3he release date of Van Helsing was 8004" ( wo!ld re%ommend Van Helsing to an*one who loves fantasti% advent!res" (f a person li-es a%tion and advent!re movies$ the* will love this one" 0ven if the* were not a'le to !nderstand the plot$ the vis!al effe%ts are so in%redi'le that ever* vis!al min!te is well spent" 0ver* s%ene in Van Helsing is a good one and therefore$ this is a movie that will 'e treas!red forever"