Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

...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 ...

knight_of_the_soundtable 07.10.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

...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, ...

tlws 09.03.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

...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 ...

dave27 02.10.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

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. ...

Nolly 06.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

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 ...

dadmancat 22.01.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

...claiming to be based on Bram Stoker’s book. Unlike previous versions of Dracula, largely based on the Hamilton Dean stage play, this is almost entirely Stoker, apart from one thing, which is the film’s only downfall. I’m sure most people know the story of Dracula, so I won’t bore you by repeating it, but instead will go one to describe why the film is such a joy to watch. As so often, it’s the little touches that do ...
...the horrific glee with which Dracula licks the blood from Harker’s razor, the animalistic scuttling as the Count clambers down the castle walls and the darkly erotic scenes as Harker explores the castle are masterpieces of cinema. Especially brilliant is the use of shadow, a trick borrowed from Nosferatu - the scene where the shadow strangles Harker as the Count talks genially to him is chilling. Gary Oldman makes a wonderful Dracula, managing ...

Spongly 02.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

What first strikes you about this movie is it incredible level of style. The whole film takes on an eerie, seductive feeling that can only be likened to that of Dracula himself. You know that this is sticking closely to the original premise set out in the novel even if like myself you've never read it. The most notable chilling moments are those when the count's shadow appears to be following Dracula. The effect is done with such subtlety that you ...

michaelcrook 26.11.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

This is the best vampire/Dracula film that I have watched. Gary Oldman plays an excellent Dracula and Winona Ryder is, as always, brilliant. I did also notice that the costumes were really good in this film, but that maybe a typical woman's point of view! Although it is quite a long film I can't think of any bits that are boring. The storyline is steady all the way through. Even Keanu Reeves, who usually really annoys me, is good. This film is ...

annette_tr9 02.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

Bram Stoker would have been amazed if he knew that the stories his mother told him while he was sick in bed, would grow into one of the biggest myths and moneyspinners of the 20th century. Coppola's film is a gothic, sumptuous and rather overblown version of the novel. As for 'faithful' - I don't remember a bit where Lucy runs through the garden wearing a red curtain only to be shagged senseless by a bison. Or the bit at the beginning where Vlad ...
...- faithful to the book my arse! Never mind. Gary Oldman is fabulous as Dracula - sexy, anguished, and with an accent you can't place but somehow it sounds ancient, steeped in grandeur and blood. He's quite stunning in the role and you do feel for him. (Not like the book at all really where the Count doesn't actually appear that much and when he does, he's a red-eyed stinky breathed monster). Dracula comes back to England because he sees a picture ...

Janeyboo 07.05.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

I agree with Incoginito(check his review) when he say this is the best vampire film ever made. That is to say I think the first half is the best ever. I've been watching horror movies since I was around 7 (and I'm 32 now!) and this is the closest I have found to capturing the romantic/gothic/horror element that makes vampirism the most fascinating of the horror genres. Even Nosferatu doesn't quite capture the sprirt of Dracula like this gothic opera(even ...
...still erortically charged). I do feel however that it loses something in the second half when the romance/chase element comes in, and also Keannu Reeves is totally miscast as Harker (he can't do an Englishman) but it still remains the best so far. I think the pre-title scene where he turns against God and the writhing bed with hapless/lucky Keannu being sexually harrassed by the brides both rank as simply the best pieces of vampire film making I've ...

JSpencer 23.07.2000 · Read full review
Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

This is THE greatest vampire film of all time, after Nosferatu and Blade, for one good reason. All vampire fils fall into three types: slayfests, like Blade and the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer film, vampire sexfests (being em I ain't seen any of them) and very rare explorations of the vampire legend. BS Dracula is one of the latter films. BS Dracula gives a whole new light, or darkness. This film gives vampirism a new rich and deep style, a ...
...undead Count Dracula (Gary Oldman), who comes to England to begin his siring of Londons population from his abse at Fairfax Abbey, hired for him by the young laywer Jonathon Harker (Keano Reeves). Whilst at Castle Dracula, Harker is exposed to some wierd stuff- gravity defyign liquids, a non- reflective Dracula, Draculs female vampire cohorts- but doesn't peg on as to Draculas true nature. When Dracula visits London, he becomes involved with Harkers ...

Incognito 02.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

Dracula, most feared of all vampires, recreated for your viewing pleasure. He renounces his god on the death of his wife Elizabetha, and becomes the undead, searching eternity for his lost love. Dracula, (Gary Oldman) a seductive killer, finding his Elizabetha reincarnated as Mina, (Winona Rider), determined she will love him again. Dracula, the eccentric count who employs Mina's intended husband Jonathan (Keanu Reeves),to buy him property in England. ...
...blood to keep him alive, yet too weak to run away. Now leaving Mina alone Dracula takes his opportunity and travels to reclaim her. He feeds on her best friend in order to become strong, the slowly seduces his beloved. Meanwhile Doctor Van Helsing has seen the signs and knows the vampire is there, Helsing sets out to destroy him. Jonathan returns to claim his bride, Dracula is cast aside once again. Helsing burns Dracula's home in England with a ...

singingsnail 27.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

This 1992 version of the Bram Stoker novel is different from the previous Dracula movies that were made in 1931, 1958 and 1979. The visual style is stunning and I just love they way they handled the characters. Without a doubt the best thing about this movie is Gary Oldman in his role as the blood sucking count from Transylvannia. His Dracula is like a mix of the scary looking Nosferatu from "Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens" and the gentleman ...
...in the earlier versions. The result is a Dracula that we can both fear and feel for. Yes, Gary Oldman really is my favorite Dracula (although not the best). The sequences between Oldman and Winona Ryder are really steamy, that was quite some passion on screen! The movie handles all of the characters very well. All of the classic characters are present (Van Helsing, Mina, Harker, Renfield etc.). All of the characters are really deepen out, something ...

srsenman 01.02.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

I saw this movie three times. I still want to see it. It's magnificant. You'll be caught in action. Dracula was put on movie in many many variants. I think this is the best. It's more interesting for me beacause I'm from Romania (even from Transilvania). This is a good fiction about Vlad Tepes, a transilvanian leader who LIVED. He put bad people in spikes. Was a terror. Noone dared to do something bad. The movie is about lord Dracula who leaves in ...

XMiKe 11.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)

Mistitled but gorgeous movie. Gary Oldman is excellent Dracula (now true-life 15th century prince Vlad Tepesh, who, quite frankly, was the filthy sadist and does not deserve the honour) who finds the reincarnation of his true love in 1897 London. He falls for gorgeously dressed and strikingly beautiful Mina Murray (ideally cast Winona Ryder) and vampirizes her equally stunning friend Lucy (ideally cast Sadie Frost), an English rose with a nymphomaniac heart. (Very Stokerian Lucy, eh?) Sets, costumes, colours and score are glorious and evocative backdrop to this story of rich ruby red "blood", passion and undying love, with the Victorian fascination to East shown in costumes and harem fantasies. ...

scarletpurity 30.07.2008
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Review of Bram Stoker's Dracula (DVD)