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the audience applauded

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I had such anticipation for this film, having heard it was going to be directed by the guy who gave us The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. More of the classic Universal monsters in one film. Frankenstein, the werewolves, and Dracula. And Hugh Jackman as the monster slayer. Plus lots of Eastern European sets. It may not be an Oscar contender but it did its job as a popcorn film that could entertain those who don't want to think hard. It's also good for those of you who didn't care for the Mummy due to the casting of Brendan Fraser as the main character. Even though I did enjoy Van Helsing, I hoped that there'd be a better plot. But it's good as a popcorn film, as previously stated. If you liked the classic Universal monsters and want action, or if you're following Stephen Sommers, give this a go. If you expected something deep or intellectual, no deal.

Movie Review: "Van Helsing" (2004)Even though this picture has almost everything to be the ultimate event movie; the monsters, the pace, the action, the stars and a gripping soundtrack by Alan Silvestri plus state of the art special effects by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM); director and original writer Stephen Sommers, given an 160 Million Dollar Budget and creative freedom from Universal Pictures, after directing two consecutive hit movies "The Mummy" (1999) and "The Mummy Returns" (2001) for the Hollywood Studio, which wanted to create a new comic book kind of hero with "Van Helsing", performed by matching all the looks and beating skills actor Hugh Jackman, in his first stand-alone leading role since breakthrough as supporting character "Wolverine" in "X-Men" directed by Bryan Singer in season 1999/2000.The dialogues are shallow. The background story denies the audience mystical imaginations. So that the picture accelerates like an hyper-tuned sports car from action scene to action scene, encountering nearly all Universal Classic Monsters from 1930s, starting out with Dracula, here performed by disappointed, unimpressed as to say false-directed actor Richard Roxburgh, who does not share one scary fright night moment as the Count of all Vampires. When "Frankenstein's Creature" is on the loose to get hunted by "Dracula", while "Van Helsing" speeds through Paris, France to finish off "Mr. Hyde" in an unnecessary, meaningless character establishing scene, before we finally meet supporting cast members actress Kate Beckinsale as character of tough-and-sword-skilled Anna Valerious, who loses her brother to the "Wolfsman" curse on a Eastern Europe gypsy village location under attack of "Dracula's Brides"; when Gabriel, believed to be an fallen angel, "Van Helsing", a fact completely missed-out in the main character's mythology, gets further indulged by researches of side-kicking monk esquire Carl, sharing some moments of smiling due to actor David Wenham's respectable slapstick performance.Nevertheless all the features in the production value designed by Allen Cameron and further unsolid, insufficient directions and less cinematographic blocking maps within the image system by Lighting Cameraman Allen Daviau, who under Director Stephen Sommers stays behind capabilities without convincing any of total three editors surrounding lead editor Bob Ducsay to cut into ranges of extreme-close-up to extreme-wide-shots in order to at least maintain visually some scene dynamics, which then in total arrives at a running time of 122 Minutes (exlcuding the end credits), when nowadays a final cut of "Van Helsing" creates wishes to be an R-rated 90 minutes running Horror-Action, slight comedian, powerhouse of Universal's Classic Monsters.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

When I first saw this film in a theater, I wouldn't have given it more than a 7 - but I liked it enough to buy the video, and on third viewing, 13 years later, I was blown away by its overall excellence: the photography is gorgeous, the plot original, the script first rate, the acting first-rate, the music rich and strong without ever overpowering the movie itself, and the combination of camp humor, action, and an unexpected ending (spoiler alert) make it for me one of my all-time favorite movies. If you like a mixture of humor and action, with spectacular photography and a rich score, this is for you. While The Mummy is okay, Van Helsing is far more original and well-done in every aspect - a camp action masterpiece. Much better than 90 percent of the movies I have seen in the last decade.

If you want to learn how to walk on walls and ceilings, this movie is for you. Also, if you don't like your body that you have, seeing this film, you can learn how to transform yourself in werewolves or other monsters, snatching your own internal organs and tearing your skin from your face and from all over your body. It is very healthy and instructive too. I know all this because I'm a budding werewolf myself, I'm just waiting for the first full moon to become a complete one. The film has some merit. For example, the sets, the costumes and especially the music, all these are exceptional. It is indeed a pot-mix of Dracula and Frankenstein(not the first one...)but, overall, is entertaining. And it has some very beautiful women: Kate Beckinsale, Elena Anaya, Silvia Colloca, Josie Maran.