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Bram Stoker's Dracula (Superbit Collection) Customer Reviews (37 - 39 of 82 Reviews)

New-Age Dracula
Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of those movies I simply must recommend. The film is different in many respects to former iterations of the novel. Instead of sticking with the horror formula, director Francis Coppola has intertwined the recipe with that of a tragic love story. This new direction adds much needed life to the overused story and reinvigorates it.
From the beginning of the film the tone is dark and foreboding, relying on shadows, and dark colors. The art direction is spectacular, with mouth dropping sets, lighting, and backdrops. One of the first scenes which Dracula (Gary Oldman) is introduced to Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves), the foreshadowing of Dracula's true intent and personality come to life with his shadow, seeming to defy any natural law, leaves his body to commit horrific acts in the background.
The story is superbly told through narration and the eyes of several main characters: Dracula (Gary Oldman), Dr. Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins), and Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves). This is also one of the only letdowns of the movie. The acting throughout the film is almost laughable. Keanu Reeves plays one of the most uninspired and ill-rehearsed characters I have ever seen. Winona Ryder as Mina Murray does not help out either. In her attempt to display affection for Jonathan Harker, she comes off as prudish. Gary Oldman's attempt as Dracula is admirable although long winded; the only person seeming to be a real actor and strong character in the film is Anthony Hopkins, as Dr. Van Helsing.
Although for the acting, which is dismissible due to everything else shining of creativity and originality, the film is fantastic. Bram Stock's Dracula takes views of previous versions and adds to them brilliantly. I consider this film a must see for anyone remotely interested in the genre.



Permissable Use of Romantic Force
This movie has such a great opening sequence, and the rest of it does not quite live up to it, but there are many wonderful elements that add up to a great viewing experience, especially on a big screen.
The actors are, by turns, really over the top or really wooden. The struggle of Christianity against invading hordes, and conflicts of the heart and blood are just as intense as Keanu Reeves' struggle with his English accent. Magnificent Gary Oldman overacts and goes into pure camp territory, and Anthony Hopkins as his nemisis is not far behind. But if you are a romantic soul, you may allow yourself to be swayed by the ancient love story, great sets and glorious costumes (Oscar winning, incidently) plus soundtrack that is likely the best music ever written for a horror movie, not to mention heavy breathing, sexy vampire brides (watch out for a young Monica Belucci!) and general air of Victorian decadence. Lucy and her good doctor are rolling in opium haze, and Dracula is an absinthe junkie, and a total dandy, whose idea of a first date is to take Mina to "cinematograph" to see one of the first nudie films in the history of the cinema. (He says "What a progress of science!", Mina quips "Would Madame Currie call this a science?!") There are many wonderful elements of well constructed period piece, purposely archaic special effects, and a nice dose of dark humour, with a hillarious cameo by Tom Waits as Renfield. Tom has fun eating bugs and freaking decent people out.
This movie is really over the top, but it somehow works. It's not really scary, it's not very logical and takes many liberties with the original novel, but as a feast for the eyes and the romantic hearts, it's great. This is an old DVD edition, and it has not been updated or equiped with any extras, but the transfer was done well and that's all that matters for this gorgeous piece of vampire history.

Excessive Use of Romantic Force
The actors are more than wooden, most of them. Gary Oldman overacts and goes into pure camp territory. But if you are a romantic soul, you may be swayed by the ancient love story, glorious sets and costumes and great music, not to mention heavy breathing, sexy vampire brides (watch out for a young Monica Belucci!) and general air of Victorian decadence. And nice dose of dark humour, with a cameo by Tom Waits as Renfield. Tom has fun eating bugs and freaking decent people out.
This movie is really over the top, but it somehow works. It's not scary, it's not very logical and takes many liberties with the original novel, but as a feast for the eyes and the romantic hearts, it's great.

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