Dracula 2000

	Review by Howard Anderson © 2001 Howard Anderson

Story

"Dracula 2000" begins with a team of techno-savvy thieves who break into a high-security vault, hoping to steal priceless artworks. To their utter disbelief, the vault instead hides a well-protected crypt, a crypt that has not been opened in 100 years, a crypt that will unleash Dracula's ancient terror upon the modem world - and all who come into contact with him.

Dracula, freed at last from a century in confinement, finds himself in a 21st century of chaos and temptation, of Virgin record stores and subterranean nightclubs, where he fits right in. His first destination is the United States - the ultimate location for his charismatic seductions of beautiful young women and his unceasing quest for power - but there is another reason he has come here. Somewhere in New Orleans is a young woman Dracula must find ... the only person on earth with whom he truly shares his dark legacy.

Review

The vampire myth has been told and retold in so many incarnations that I think by now even Rainman would have lost count, and Dracula - the most famous fanged foe of them all - has been depicted on-screen more times than any other literary character in history, even ranking above the likes of Tarzan and Sherlock Holmes. Some would say that both Dracula and the vampire myth in general has been done to death, and they may very well have a point there. "Dracula 2000" doesn't really bring anything new to the table and it's not the greatest film you're ever likely to see, but what it is, however, is a fun and exciting fang flick that actually manages to entertain the viewer for most of its duration.

There are several things that I do wish the filmmakers had done differently, like with the moving of the story from London to New Orleans. In term of vampires, that city has been more or less claimed in the name of Anne Rice, so you just know that is bound to trigger a whole lot of less than favorable comparisons. I can't help but think the story would have been much better severed if they had kept the action firmly set in London, as they could have then used that cityscape to better reflect the powerful clash of cultures that Dracula is experiencing from a visual point of view. But on a positive note, I love the fact that "Dracula 2000" is a lot more vague and open as far as the ending goes, as opposed other Dracula films that I've seen. And there were also several other elements that I though worked really well within the framework of the story, like the spin on the origin of the vampire and the mystery of Dracula's identity. The various visions and flashbacks that we're treated to throughout the film were also most effective, and for a first time director, Patrick Lussier had a very firm grip on those sequences. Of course, the cinematography by Peter Pau is also very helpful, as he has captured some simply astonishing images for our enjoyment, full of rich colors and beautiful backdrops. The score by Marco Beltrami is also well worth mentioning, as it is the perfect sinister companion for this movie in terms of creating atmosphere.

Gerard Butler's interpretation of Dracula is actually not that bad. It may not be up there with the likes of Christopher Lee or Gary Oldman, but he is still able to make the character his own and to display that irresistible darkness that lurks so alluring just beneath the surface. Mary Heller, the daughter of Abraham Van Helsing, is played by Justine Waddell, and like the original story's Mina, the character of Mary is here the one that finds herself torn between light and darkness. She is the one that has to deal with the attraction that she's feeling, and at the same time the undeniable fear for this dark figure that up until now has just been a figment in her dreams. Justine Waddell handles the duality of the part beautifully, from the unknowing innocence to the nocturnal ferociousness, and she is definitely one I hope we'll be seeing more to in the future. Jonny Lee Miller is the hero of the story, and in stories like this the traditional heroic character has a tendency of always being a boring stick in the mud, but Miller is able to inject more of an intensity and slightly humorous edge to the part, and along with a couple of nicely delivered one-liners that luckily goes a long way. Christopher Plummer as Abraham Van Helsing is just great to watch, and I wish the story could have dealt more with the triangle drama between him, his daughter and Dracula, as these three are really the heart and soul of the film. The brides of Dracula, presented here in the forms of Jennifer Esposito, Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick and Jeri Ryan, don't have that much screen time, but if nothing else, they at least look the part of these three blood thirsty mistresses of the night.

The make-up effects are always a key factor in films like this, and for the most part "Dracula 2000" has got those bases covered, as well. But there were still some things that I found to be less than adequate, mostly from a design point of view, and not so much in the quality of the work presented on-screen. I will say that Jennifer Esposito had my sympathies throughout the film. To be stuck with a pair of fangs as pathetic-looking as that has got be both demeaning and painful. Otherwise Gary J. Tunnicliffe and his crew did an excellent job, but for the true cinematic vampire I prefer the work done by Greg Cannom on "The Lost Boys" and "Bram Stoker's Dracula", and also KNB EFX Group's work on "John Carpenter's Vampires." I'm not saying that I wouldn't let the ladies of "Dracula 2000" have a nibble on my neck, however, if they absolutely wanted to.

Image

"Dracula 2000" is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and the anamorphic transfer looks beautiful. The colors are extremely vibrant and show no signs of smearing, the shadows and blacks are as solid as they come, something that the Mardi Gras sequences are able to show especially well, and also the flesh tones look perfectly balanced. As for edge enhancement, shimmering, grain and various other defects, I can't really say that I noticed any, other than some very slight specs a couple of times, but the bottom line here is that Disney/Buena Vista has once again given us an amazing-looking DVD.

Sound

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack takes full advantage of all channels from the very first moment of the movie. Marco Beltrami's opening score as we follow the Demeter's voyage to England sounds fantastic, packing a lot of punch and really filling up the room. Director Patrick Lussier mentioned on the Audio Commentary Track his intentions with the soundmix. He said that he wanted it to go from incredibly loud to really quiet, in order to show off a strong dynamic range and to take the audience on the rollercoaster ride that this film is meant to be. I think that sums it up pretty well. The surrounds are kept busy for most of the film, with everything from the musical score and discrete street noises, to the more in your face stuff that also gives the LFE channel a good workout. And it goes without saying that the dialogue is also completely distortion free throughout.

Features

Although "Dracula 2000" is not labeled as a Collector's Series release, it is still quite packed in the special features department. The Audio Commentary with Director Patrick Lussier and Screenwriter Joel Soisson is informative and insightful, and the two keep the conversation going from start to finish without any moments of dead air. There are 3 Extended Scenes that you can view with or without Commentary by Lussier and Soisson, and you also have the option of playing all three scenes at once. Presented in an identical manner are the 4 Deleted Scenes, and some of these scenes are really worth a closer look, like the "Mary and Lucy" sequence, for example.
And I should also mention that the scenes also look good, as they have actually been given the anamorphic treatment. The Behind-the-Scenes Featurette is actually an extensive look at the making of the film, and not just a five minute promotional piece of fluff. The documentary does contain some major spoilers, so I recommend to stay as far away from it as you can until after you've seen the film. You also have a choice of 8 Storyboard sequences that you can click your way through; the Auditions of Gerard Butler, Justine Waddell and Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick; and finally we have the Theatrical Trailer.

Overall Opinion

I love a good vampire flick, and although the best of the best are still "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "Interview with the Vampire" and "The Lost Boys", I still had a great time watching "Dracula 2000." The DVD was not released as a part of the Collector's Series, but it is more than worthy of carrying that label. The presentation is first rate in all areas, from picture and sound, to the special features.