... although it's going to sound rubbish, it really is worth a watch!)
"Dracula: Dead and loving it" was shown on Channel 4 Tuesday (11th Dec.) night, seen as there was absolutely nothing else on to watch I thought i'd give it a go.
Why?
Well because I had two choices:
(a) Revise for ... Read review
Amazon.com In 1995, it was promising to hear that Mel Brooks was creating "the companion ... more
piece to Young Frankenstein." He had also brought in the heavyweight of deadpan--Leslie Nielsen. As Lt. Frank Drebin in the Police Squad movies, Nielsen has no peer for silly stuff--just the player Brooks would seem to need for a strong movie, as any fan of Brooks perpetually hopes a new film may rekindle his madcap magic. Alas, the end results in Dracula: Dead and Loving It include a sprinkling of amusements and one big belly laugh. Brooks and his writers use a very tight adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, but the spoofs can be spelled out as we go, as if they are paint-by-number. Some are jabs at Coppola's version of Dracula, but most are attached to classic Dracula films. If any real pleasure comes from the movie it's thanks to the efforts of the cast. Peter MacNicol plays the crazed Renfield to the letter, Steven Weber has a good time as the tight British Harkin, and Lysette Anthony charms as the doomed Lucy. Brooks and Nielsen ham it up just fine. There's even a surprisingly controlled performance by Harvey Korman (a character spoofing Anthony Hopkins's role in the misfire The Road to Wellville). As with Brooks's period comedies, the film looks better than it needs to and includes a few tricky special effects for good measure. This has nothing to do with the audience laughing--we need bigger jokes. And when you double over laughing in one scene--involving a stake through the heart and a bucket of blood--you want the movie to achieve Brooks's days of glory, when hearty laughter was the norm, not an isolated moment. --Doug Thomas
Postage & Packaging:£1.24 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Production Year: 1956 - Comedy - Director: Joshua Logan - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Betty Field, Hope Lange, Eileen Heckart, Arthur O'Connell, Casey Adams, Hans Conried, Robert Bray
Production Year: 1992 - Comedy - Director: Luis Mandoki - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson, John Goodman
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: Can be quite funny at times, Leslie Nielsen - he'd make EastEnders look funny!, Disadvantages: A bit daft, but thats what comedies are for!
Well I have to hand it to this film....
considering i'm neither a fan of films starring vampires, nor a fan of Buffy the vampire slayer, this film is pretty good!
(Believe me on this one.... although it's going to sound rubbish, it really is worth a watch!)
"Dracula: Dead and loving it" was shown on Channel 4 Tuesday (11th Dec.) night, seen as there was absolutely nothing else on to watch I thought ... ...Well because I had two choices:
(a) Revise for my January chemistry and biology exams
or
(b) watch this film....
obviously (b) won!
Also the fact that this film stars Leslie Nielsen (the star of the "Naked Gun" films... of which I loved!).
~ In brief ~
Starring:
Count Dracula - Leslie Nielsen
Renfield - Peter MacNicol
Jonathon ... more
Well I have to hand it to this film.... considering i'm neither a fan of films starring vampires, nor a fan of Buffy the vampire slayer, this film is pretty good!
(Believe me on this one.... although it's going to sound rubbish, it really is worth a watch!)
"Dracula: Dead and loving it" was shown on Channel 4 Tuesday (11th Dec.) night, seen as there was absolutely nothing else on to watch I thought i'd give it a go. Why? Well because I had two choices: (a) Revise for my January chemistry and biology exams or (b) watch this film.... obviously (b) won!
Also the fact that this film stars Leslie Nielsen (the star of the "Naked Gun" films... of which I loved!).
~ In brief ~
Starring: Count Dracula - Leslie Nielsen Renfield - Peter MacNicol Jonathon Harker - Steven Weber Mina - Amy Yasbeck Lucy - Lysette Anthony Dr. Seward - Harvey Corman Professor Van Helsing - Mel Brooks
Directed by - Mel Brooks
Style of film: Comedy Duration of the film: 90 mins Rating: I'm not sure about this but i'd assume it would be a PG.
~ Whats it about? ~
Well, in a word, Count Dracula. (Ok, ok, so all mathematicians out there.... I do know that, that is two words!)
In brief (please look away now if you'd rather not know what its all about....) Count Dracula moves into a castle in Transylvania (it's set in 1893).
Dracula hires a financial adviser, Renfield, who is warned off going to see Dracula because of course, he's a vampire. However he doesn't believe the hype and visits his new 'client' anyway. Needless to say he soon realises that he is infact a real vampire, not just dressed like one! While staying at the Count's castle, Renfield falls under Dracula's spell.
Together, the two of them travel to England, where Dracula begins his reign of terror by draining the blood of two women: Lucy and Mina. When Lucy's health fails, her guardian, Dr. Seward and his assistant, Jonathan Harker call in the Professor Van Helsing to unmask the problem. (After all, they won't really expect her sudden lack of energy, teeth marks in her neck, feeling weak, etc, to be related to a vampire would they!?
Lucy die's (after having a wooden stake slammed through her heart mind you!) and the rest of the story mainly revolves around the family trying to stop Dracula killing thier other daughter too, Mina.
~ Was it scary? ~
Well no, not really! Considering not many of us would really appreciate a run-in with Count Dracula in a dark alley, this film made Dracula look like someone i'd really want to get to know!!
~ Any special effects? ~
Well if you are looking for Star Wars style SFX then you'll be dissapointed! Although of course seen as Dracula is a fictional (lol, we hope!) character, with super-natural abilities there are inevitably a few.... namely:
flying, hanging upside-down, clinging to the ceiling, long-distance hypnosis, shadows with a mind of their own (lol, his shadow is funny!), and of course, morphing into a bat.
All of which, you've got to agree, would be really handy if we could have the ability to do!
~ How good is it? ~
Well i'm not going to say this film would beet Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings (although i've yet to see them both!), but, if you have revision to do and you really don't want to do it then this film is worth a try!
Leslie Nielsen the master of spoof and Mel Brooks the master producer combine in Dracular Dead and Loving it as one might expect to produce an hilarious remake of the Mary Shelly classic Dracular. The one liners come thick and fast, the over acting is just right and the characters are played to perfection. Leslie Nielsen is of course in great form as Dracular and Mel Brooks as Van Helsing is wonderful. The best scene has to be the dance sequence ...
BigCheese 28.06.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dracula: Dead And Loving It DVD
Advantages: Characters, plot, production values, score Disadvantages: Go to give money to the mental health charity after this!
Silly but hugely enjoyable parody/homage of the Dracula movies, with Bram Stokerīs classic characters, gorgeous production values and grand mock-serious score. Plot is basically a light, cheery, joke-filled Dracula adaptation with the Count (Leslie Nielsen) running after sumptuous redhead Mina (Amy Yasbeck) and equally lovely brunette Lucy ( Lysette Anthony). It is all great fun, enormously helped by the humorously "Gothic" and gorgeously fruitcake ... ...19th century sets (which look very much like sets!) and consciously fake matte paintings. This fairytale is too beautiful and fun to be true, so donīt take it too seriously. Even the offensive filth that mental illness is a serious crime needing torture and humiliation cannot be taken seriously. ...
scarletpurity 06.09.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Dracula: Dead And Loving It DVD
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Advantages: Very Funny Disadvantages: Not in the same league as Blazing Saddles
but I could have happily watched it without them without it affecting the picture overall.
Cary Elwes is a good Robin Hood, but there's not much he's not good in really. The rest of the cast are solid enough and handle the comedy (which is a mixture of physical, sight gags and slapstick) well. There are several good cameos in this including Patrick Stewart as King Richard and Tracey Ullman as castle cook, and part time witch, Latrine.
All in all, this movie does not really compare to something like 'Blazing Saddles', or any of Mel Brooks' earlier work, but it is still entertaining and full of things to spot. It is definitely better than the later 'Dracula: Dead & LovingIt', so not a total waste.
There are very few extras on the DVD, just a trailer and small 'making of' documentary, but it can be purchased from most retailers ...
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![Dracula: Dead and Loving It [DVD] [1996] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/81496077.jpg "Dracula: Dead and Loving It [DVD] [1996] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
![Dracula: Dead And Loving It [1996] by Leslie Nielsen, Peter MacNicol, Steven Weber, and Amy Yasbeck (DVD)](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/116066581.jpg "Dracula: Dead And Loving It [1996] by Leslie Nielsen, Peter MacNicol, Steven Weber, and Amy Yasbeck (DVD)")
