Bram Stoker's DRACULA (1992)

Well. This film is definitely a show stopper. For me, it was amusing to say the least! I'm going to dig right in.

The story of Dracula has many versions, but this one is probably the best written, and the most referenced. Dracula loses his love in his time, 13th century. Devastated, he promises to arise from his death and bring darkness with him. He survives 4 centuries when Jonathan Harker visits him about real estate. Harker ends up a prisoner in Dracula's castle. After seeing a photo of Mina, Harker's fiancee, Dracula pursues her believing it is his love. After he finds Lucy first, Mina's close friend, he feeds on her to preserve himself. Fallen ill, Lucy is looked after by Dr. Van Helsing who discovers what she has turned into. Eventually Dracula romances Mina, and she remembers her past life. Either she chooses immortality, or Johnathan rescues her.

Keanu Reeves is Harker, who has a terrible English accent, and amatuer acting qualities. He has certainly come a long way! Lucy is Sadie Frost, who was excellent! Winona Ryder is Mina, who didn't explore her character until the very end. It was only in the enthrallment of Dracula's love that she became convincing. Dr. Van Helsing is played by Sir Anthony Hopkins, who always performs well. In a college acting class, my instructor read a quote by Sir Anthony. It said he reads his scripts 150 times, to fully understand the circumstances, the characters, and himself. I assume Gary Oldman follows the same method, because his part playing Dracula himself, was outstanding! When you first watch the film, you'll find it difficult to keep watching, until we are acquainted with Dracula. Once we've met him, we can't help but watch the film for him. We want to know more about him. Gary Oldman plays great characters. He stole the film, and made it worth watching.

The director and producer of this film was Francis Ford Coppola. This was shocking to me! The amatuer special effects, transitions, and cinamtagraphy is something I wouldn't expect from the director of The Godfather. I was surprised the effects weren't better presented. Star Wars was released only 2 decades prior, and the special effects were much smoother. Star Wars proved that very little can do so much more, when filmed right.

This film has many problems. I will probably never watch it again! However I think it is worth watching at least once. It will motivate you to read the book! I plan to read the book soon and compare notes.

I am an aspiring makeup artist with only a few credits to my name, and the makeup artist for Gary Oldman in this film is a former student of the school I want to go to. The makeup in this film was just amazing, scary, detailed, and definitely hard work!
www.joeblasco.com/blascoschools/index.htm

The surprise about this film, Cary Elwes. He is a fantastic actor, who probably doesn't receive much credit because of his famous "fun" roles in The Princess Bride and Mel Brooks films. I really enjoy Cary in more serious/complex roles. I found it really funny, the degrees of separation between this Dracula film and Mel Brooks' Dracula, Dead and Loving It. If Cary had played Harker in the spoof, it would've been a perfect match!