Bram Stoker's Dracula DVD

Advantages: strong symbolism mirroring Freudian psychoanalysis | screenplay | acting | camera | cutting
Disadvantages: Bill and Ted's not so excellent side-stepping adventure in falling down a castle wall land

...the Victorian era in which Bram Stoker wrote his famous novel, condensing centuries of various myths into a cultural icon which spawned legions of books, movies, musicals, yes - and trite t.v. series... Starting out from a somewhat cheesy opening scene that establishes the character of the bloodsucking count, this film soon gains both momentum and depht, slips the audience a couple of hints and foreboding scenes to enhance tension, sidesteps elegantly ...
...have already been part of Bram Stoker's original novel, others illustrate how well this matter has been understood and transformed by Coppola and his crew. One of the strongest dualisms is that between Mina Harker and her friend Lucy, here portrayed as a very sensuous woman and thus much more receptable towards the Counts demonic influence. Animal lust and the subsconscious, as well as their symbolic visual representation, play an important role ... Read review

Advantages: Hunky Gary Oldman in purple glasses Ozzy Osbourne shocker!!
Disadvantages: some cringy cliches, NOT a faithful adaptation to the book, although some bits are, bit of a chick flick -dare i say

...on a minute!.... love? In Bram Stoker's Dracula?!...surely this must be in reference to the Jonathan Harker/ Wilhemina Murray partnership that begins the tale? Dracula isn't capable of love?! He just wants to suck everyone's blood doesn't he? Apparently not......... ........................................................................................... = ALL STAR CAST ******* = ...
...century gothic book by Irishman Bram Stoker, I expected that the director would at least remain true to the original tale. Instead, there are unnecessary elaborations, self-indulgent references to other films of the vampire genre that just seem to be there for the hell of it, and a central storyline that simply is not there in the original novel. Oldman as Dracula nevertheless is superb in his portrayal of the doomed blood-thirsty king of terror, ... Read review

Advantages: Oldman
Disadvantages: We've seen a lot of it before

...on with the show. Bram Stoker's Dracula, dating back to 1992 and brought to the world by the masterly Francis Ford Coppola, is one of the more faithful depiction of the original book, oozing menace and genuine terror, with a nod to the Nosferatu of Klaus Kinski, though Oldman's Dark Lord is a more sympathetic and multi dimensional creature, a poor unfortunate to whom Fate has dealt a terrible hand. It's a dark and eerie tale and with the twin maestros ...
...extraordinary film maker and with Bram Stoker's Dracula he has created a memorable film, thoroughly blood curdling and gruesome, absorbing and seductive, capitalising on all the erotic delights and associations of the vampire legend. It's vivid and sensual, doomy and dark, just like we always wanted our Dracula to be, but at the same time you almost feel sorry for this despicable fiend, more hapless victim than criminal reaper of souls. Coppola ... Read review

Advantages: Good visuals and effects, brooding eroticism
Disadvantages: Some corny acting

Oh! How brave i must have felt, when in 1992 I went to see a horror film at the cinema for the first time. It was at the multiplex at Port Solent on the outskirts of Portsmouth. I shot along the M27 in my Austin Maestro (god, i was a real man about town, wasn't I?) and went to see Francis Ford Coppola's film 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'. as you might imagine from the title, the film purports to be a true and authentic representation of such a seminal ...
...this true, or is it a sign that in future film titles will all go along these lines? I can see it now..... 'A.A Milne's Winnie the Pooh' 'P.L Travers' Mary Poppins' 'Delia Smith's Cookery Course' So let us look at the film and the story. I will not give too much away, but I get the impression that a fair amount of people may have an inkling of the gist of the 'Dracula' story! The film starts in 1492, with the count and his beautiful wife, Elisabeta. ... Read review

Advantages: Faithful and Carefully Crafted
Disadvantages: Lacking cohesion and any real chills

Francis Ford Coppola's take on the Dracula tale never quite hits full speed, despite all the best intentions. Reasonably faithful to the original text, and with a careful eye on design and casting, it is hamstrung by a new element to the story, which will be familiar to fans of the Mummy genre, reincarnated love interests. Dispensing with retreads of the stage version of Dracula, which spiral way back to the 20's, James V Hart's screenplay looks ...
...something new. A faithful adaptation of Dracula is mouthwatering enough, but adding a lost love theme is simply an obstacle in this movie. Attempting to make Dracula a sympathetic character, driven to evil by the death of his only love, who we later discover has been reincarnated in the form of Mina Harker, strips the Count of any real menace. All the special effects and bloodletting in the world can't save the fact that you've been introduced to ... Read review