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Van Helsing (2004)
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Having re-invigorated the Mummy franchise, writer/director Stephen Sommers here turns his attention to the rest of Universal's classic monsters. Using the original films and character legends as a springboard, he delivers an exciting, effects-driven romp that combines the pulling power of Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein's Monster. Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is dispatched by a secret, Vatican-based organisation to 19th-century Transylvania where he comes to the aid of Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale) in her long-running battle against the vampire Count and his evil allies. Though Richard Roxburgh's Dracula lacks charisma next to the magnetic Jackman, his flying, harpy-like brides are superb, fuelling some of the movie's most thrilling set pieces. This is Indiana Jones meets Hammer Horror — the relentless action is blended with a knowing undercurrent and dramatic gothic styling. Ultimately the CGI could have been better — as could the dialogue — but viewed solely as escapism, this is an exhilarating ride. SF
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| Contains violence. |
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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126min
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Country of origin
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US
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Genre
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Action Fantasy Horror
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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Stephen Sommers
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Theatrical distributor
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UIP
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UK cinema certificate
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12A
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UK cinema release date
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May 2004
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Film certification logos reproduced by kind permission of BBFC |
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