Bram Stoker's
Dracula

	Review by Howard Anderson © 2002 Howard Anderson

Story

Vlad the Impaler (Gary Oldman), a count and fierce warrior, leaves his beloved wife, Elisabeta (Winona Ryder), to battle the invading Turkish empire. At their defeat, a letter from the Turks, falsely stating his death, sends Elisabeta to her premature death. Vlad returns home to find his wife in a pool of blood. In his rage, he renounces God and becomes Count Dracula, embracing Satan in exchange for immortality.

London: 1897. Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) leaves his fiancée, Mina, and journeys to Transylvania, where he is to meet Count Dracula to complete a real estate transaction. When Dracula finds a picture of Mina, he immediately sees his lost wife Elisabeta in her and decides to travel to London, leaving Jonathan a prisoner in his castle. After arriving in Britain, Dracula begins a reign of seduction and terror, as he is once again reunited with his one true love.

Review

The novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker was first published in late May of 1897, and since then it has never been out of print. But Stoker's story was not the first of its kind, as by the time of its release there had already been several other works of literature dealing with the vampire myth, from the poetry of Robert Southey and Lord Byron, to the numerous plays performed on stages in London and Paris. When writing the novel, Bram Stoker himself was actually working as acting manager of the Royal Lycenum Theater in London, and the influences from that exposure can be seen quite clearly in the story, as it lends itself with ease to theatrical adaptation.

Francis Ford Coppola and screenwriter James V. Hart incorporated that sense of the theatrical into this much more faithful interpretation of the novel, and was able to create a film that is unlike any of the countless others that came before it. The stunning and sometimes shocking visuals are used to enhance the story in a way that suits the film perfectly, and gives this classic tale of gothic romance a quality that is, at times, almost dreamlike. The cinematography of Michael Ballhaus, the Production Design of Thomas E. Sanders, and the music composed by Vojciech Kilar intoxicates the senses with their rich and extraordinary beauty, effectively creating a visual and aural seduction befitting the character of Dracula like a glove.

Eiko Ishioka was rewarded with an Academy Award for her incredible costumes designs, fashioning a wardrobe where each piece could be looked upon as a reflection of both the character and the film's mood, and reducing the Count's traditional cape to a garment that can only be looked upon as plain and boring. The spectacular make-up effects created by Greg Cannom were also honored with an Academy Award, and all though the make-up is never better than the actor underneath, the work done by Cannom and his crew is and will forever remain a true achievement in the field of special effects make-up.

The most notable actors to have played the part of Dracula to date are, of course, Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee, but Gary Oldman's portrayal of the Count is no less memorable, as he is able to create a character that is uniquely different from all previous incarnations. The Dracula that we meet this time around is a much more tormented figure, and one that is not so clearly defined as the villain of the piece, but rather as a victim of his own rage at the injustice that was perpetrated toward him. The sense of mystery and intrigue still remain very much intact, but in Oldman's guise there is simply much more hiding behind the creature's eyes than merely lust and hunger.

The other standout performance of the film is delivered by Sadie Frost in the part of Lucy Westenra. Her gradual descent into darkness is played out brilliantly, and is made all the more tragic by the vivacious nature that was so much a part of her character prior to Dracula's defilement. Winona Ryder delivers a solid and, at times, touching performance as Mina Harker, and Anthony Hopkins shows a sense of madness in the eccentric behavior of Abraham Van Helsing that feels very liberating in the Victorian confines of 19th Century London. Keanu Reeves does not fare as well, unfortunately. As Jonathan Harker he looks a bit out of place in certain scenes, and his english accent certainly may have benefited from a bit more coaching.

Before "Bram Stoker's Dracula" could be released theatrically, Francis Ford Coppola was forced by the MPAA to put together 38 different cuts. He was contractually obligated to provide the studio with an R rated film, and so scenes and sequences found by the ratings board as being too offensive for some reason or another had to be trimmed. Knowing this, I can't help but feel that I have yet to see the true version of "Bram Stoker's Dracula", and can only hope that one day Francis Ford Coppola will see to it that the film is released as he originally envisioned it.

Image

Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, the Superbit edition of "Bram Stoker's Dracula" comes with a bit rate that has been considerably increased from its first release, and all though the visual presentation of that disc holds up amazingly well even today, it still pales in comparison with this new transfer. The costumes and sets display an amount of detail that is simply incredible, the blood has never flowed with more vivid and breathtaking colors, and the black as pitch darkness is so perfectly rendered that you'll wish to become a part of it for all eternity. Step inside, and all you'll find here is a spellbinding feast for the eyes.

Sound

From the cobblestone streets of London, to the darkest corners of Transylvania, the Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 soundtracks included here will prey on you and toy with you like a helpless victim of their devilish playfulness. The soundstage is more aggressive than even Dracula himself in his most demonic form, and all restraints are removed as the various effects come charging at you like a beast from out of the shadows. At one point the music can be heard traveling in circles all around you, from one speaker to another, as it slowly builds more and more momentum. Angry growls, deranged laughter, the hammering sound of heartbeats, the rumbling of thunder - all these elements and more come together to form a most effective soundtrack that goes perfect together with the visuals. The Dolby Digital and DTS tracks both sound amazing, but the DTS mix comes off sounding a tad fuller, with some increased activity and a slightly more powerful low end. All speaker are given plenty to do on both tracks, including the LFE channel, so followers of both formats should be more than pleased in the end.

Features

As this is a Superbit release, there are no extra features, whatsoever.

Overall Opinion

"Bram Stoker's Dracula" is most definitely not for everyone. Some will say that the visuals drown out the story, and that there is just too much strangeness going on at any given time. I can understand that. I love the film, but if it is not your cup of tea, then so be it. The Superbit series of DVDs from Columbia/TriStar is first and foremost for the fans of whatever film they chose to release under that banner, and allthough I'm all in favor of the concept, I still wish that this film had instead gotten a full special edition treatment, and, in a perfect world, with a new director's cut included. But until that time, I am more than happy with this Superbit edition of "Bram Stoker's Dracula."