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Click above to purchase "Dracula 2000" at amazon.com
Dracula 2000
review by Ren C.
Rated R
Studio: Disney
Running Time: 99 minutes
Starring Christopher Plummer, Gerard Butler, Justine
Waddell
Written by Joel Soisson and Patrick Lussier
Directed by Patrick Lussier
Retail Price: $29.99
Features: Commentary, Behind the Scenes Featurette,
Deleted Scenes, Storyboards, Trailers
Specs: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, English Dolby
Digital 5.1, French Dolby Surround, English Closed Cpations,
English Captions, Spanish Subtitles, Chapter Search
There is nothing that I enjoy more than a good bad horror
movie. This can be defined as one of those movies that is
out-and-out bad, but understands this, and almost goes over
the top with it. Sadly, Dracula 2000 is not a good bad
horror movie, or the rarer breed, an overall good horror
movie. Dracula 2000 is a very bad horror movie.
While the idea of updating Dracula in and of itself is a
fairly good one, the way that the filmmakers went about it
in this movie was just mind-numbingly awful. The plot, such
as it is, opens in Europe, in the office of Van Helsing
(Christopher Plummer), and his associate Simon (Jonny Lee
Miller), antiques dealers. This opening scene is really
only introduced in order to establish Van Helsing's intrigue
with vampire related items. From here, we go into the lower
levels of the same building, where a massive vault is
infiltrated by a band of thieves. I should mention that
included in these thieves are several recognizable actors
including Omar Epps (Love & Basketball), Lochlyn Munro
(Dead Man On Campus), Sean Patrick Thomas (Save The Last
Dance), and Danny Masterston (That 70's Show). The movie
further annoys me by having these talented actors in the
movie and then completely wasting them. Cutting to the
chase, the thieves find nothing of monetary interest in the
vault, so they decide that their best bet is to steal the
silver coffin inside and see what it contains. If you can't
figure out what happens from here, don't worry, the movie
beats you over the head with it soon enough.
We then cut to New Orleans, where Mary (Justine Waddell),
is being tortured with nightmares of a man that she can't
quite see. Mary, who works at Virgin Records (subtle
symbolism at its finest), discusses this with her roommate
Lisa (Colleen Fitzpatrick, better known to music fans as
Vitamin C), who tells her that she just needs a man.
However, unbeknownst to Mary, her life is going to take
unexpected turns that involve the man in her dreams, Van
Helsing and more than a few vampires.
If this description of the plot sounds a little airy and
full of holes, then I think I've captured the spirit of the
movie perfectly. It is very hard to believe that Wes Craven
would allow his name to be put on this, as it misses all of
the suspense that Craven is known for. Even at its highest
points, the movie doesn't stay with any one scene long
enough to allow suspense to build. It is disappointing to
see such a talented group of actors assembled, and then
essentially allowed to drift through a B-level horror movie
gone wrong. The movie desperately attempts to attain that
type of clever in-joke filled cleverness that was the
hallmark of the initial Scream, but at its best, this movie
doesn't reach up to the level attained by any of the other
films in this genre.
While the film was nothing to remember, the transfer
definitely was. The film was released only last year, so a
decent transfer should be expected, but the movie looks
fantastic. Being a horror movie, there are lots of reds and
flesh tones, and they all look realistic, bright and
vibrant. Again, because it is a horror movie, there is a
lot of darkness throughout the movie as well, which tends to
be deep and rich.
The disc also shines in this area, using the Dolby
Digital soundtrack to its fullest extent. Effects sound
like they are coming from every corner of the room, and the
soundtrack, which plays a fairly influential part of the
film, is present without ever being overwhelming. The
dialogue, for those who actually would want to hear it, is
never overshadowed by the other action taking place on the
screen.
While not labeled a "Special Edition", this disc has more
than enough features to qualify is one. We start with the
commentary by director Patrick Lussier and screenwriter Joel
Soisson. This is a surprisingly entertaining commentary
with both men being very talkative and willing to discuss
details of what was shot where, the actors, how the script
progressed and a number of other things. I would even go so
far as to say that watching the movie with the commentary
was more entertaining than watching it without. I also
found it interesting that the commentary and each of the
deleted and extended scenes was prefaced with a disclaimer
that basically said "Don't blame Buena Vista for anything
you're about to hear." Bizarre.
Next is a series of three extended scenes, with optional
commentary by Lussier. These scenes, which last for around
seven minutes, really wouldn't have added anything to the
movie, except for furthering the already shaky plot. Also
included are four deleted scenes with optional commentary by
Lussier and Soisson. Again, none of these scenes were
particularly memorable, except for the original opening,
which would have given the viewer a little more insight into
the plot from the very beginning.
An approximately eight minute behind-the-scenes
featurette is next, and is promotional, promotional,
promotional. This taught me absolutely nothing new about
the movie, and had I seen it beforehand, probably wouldn't
have wanted to see the movie any more. Brief interviews
with cast and crew are interspersed with film clips in the
traditional "go see the movie" featurette.
Audition tapes are also included which is a nice touch,
even if they do look like the local high school audio-visual
club filmed them. Auditions by Gerard Butler (Dracula),
Justine Waddell (Mary), and Colleen Fitzpatrick (Lisa) are
included, and each looks like they were right from their
role from the very beginning. Take that statement however
you wish.
Eight sets of storyboards are next for scenes that were
either completed or not filmed for the movie. Traditional
storyboards here-press the arrow, see the pictures. It
takes a particularly enthralling set of storyboards to keep
me interested, and these, suffice to say, or not that.
We wrap up the disc with the theatrical trailer that made
me wonder why I wanted to see this movie in the first place,
because it is not particularly impressive. Also included
are "sneak peeks" for other things that coincidentally
happen to be available. Included in this section are
previews of: The Crow DVD Box Set, Scream Collection DVD Box
Set, From Dusk Till Dawn DVD Box Set, Reindeer Games, The
Faculty, Immortality, Double Take and the Dracula 2000 CD
Soundtrack. Okay, deep breath. While some people might
dismiss these as useless commercials, I always think that it
is nice to have them included.
I'm split on this one. If the movie had been anywhere
near decent, I would have no problem giving this a high
recommendation. As it is, despite the stellar video, audio,
and the fact that the disc is loaded with special features,
my recommendation is as follows: Do not see this ever, for
any reason, unless you have some particularly masochistic
need to torture yourself.
 (1/5 - I'm being generous.
NOT included in final score)
 (4/5)
(4/5)
(4/5)
(4/5,
NOT an average and keep in mind that the actual film is not
reflected in this grade. )
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