amazon.com
like a roller coaster ready to fly off its rails, van helsing rockets to maximum velocity and never slows down. having earned blockbuster clout with the mummy and the mummy returns, writer-director stephen sommers once again plunders universal's monster vault and pulls out all the stops for this mammoth $148-million action-adventure-horror-comedy, which opens (sans credits) with a terrific black-and-white prologue that pays homage to the universal horror classics that inspired it. the plot pits legendary vampire hunter van helsing (hugh jackman) against dracula (the deliciously campy richard roxburgh), his deadly blood-sucking brides, and the wolfman (will kemp) in a two-hour parade of outstanding special effects (980 in all) that turn sommers' juvenile plot into a triple-overtime bonus for cgi animators. in alliance with a transylvanian princess (kate beckinsale) and the frankenstein monster (shuler hensley), van helsing must prevent dracula from hatching his bat-winged progeny, and there's so much good-humored action that you're guaranteed to be thrilled and exhausted by the time the 10-minute end-credits roll. it's loud, obnoxious, filled with revisionist horror folklore, and aimed at addicted gamers and eight-year-olds, but this colossal monster mash (including mr. hyde, just for kicks) will never, ever bore you. a sequel is virtually guaranteed. --jeff shannon

product description
the director of the mummy and the mummy returns brings three of universal’s classic monsters back to life like never before in the action-packed van helsing! legendary monster hunter van helsing (hugh jackman, x-men) must rely on the help of the beautiful and mysterious anna valeris (kate beckinsale, underworld) as he engages in an epic battle with the ultimate forces of darkness – dracula, the wolf man and frankenstein’s monster! get ready for non-stop action and spectacular adventure in this pulse-pounding thrill ride loaded with eye-popping visual effects and exciting bonus features!