Van Helsing

Ah, yes, with Van Helsing the summer blockbuster season has begun. And what a season it looks to be. Van Helsing basically recounts the story of Gabriel Van Helsing as he fights evil for the Catholic church. After dispatching Mr. Hyde, he's sent to help a gypsy family in the hunt to kill Dracula. Along the way they run into some Wolfmen, and Frankenstein's monster.
Van Helsing himself is played by Hugh Jackman, who is rapidly becoming one of sci-fi's go-to guys, and he plays it pretty straight. The character is slightly different than the original Van Helsing, who was named Abraham, but it was still pretty good. He's a tortured soul, who has no memory of his past life (shades of Wolverine, I'm afraid, and Dracula is the key to that life.
The gypsy princess, Anna, is played by Kate (sigh) Beckinsale. She's doing a generic action movie heroine, but just the fact that its her, is great. After Underworld, her stock has risen immensly in my mind. She's beautiful, talented, and looks good in leather. She and Jackman have pretty good chemistry, but watching her is a joy.
Playing the chief villian, Dracula, is Richard Roxburg, from Moulin Rouge Mission Impossible 2, and LXG. He's great, and has such a good time doing this role. Just over-the-top enough to make the film fun. And Kevin J. O'Connor, director Stephen Sommer's faithful sidekick, shows up as stalwart Igor.
Anyway, this is an enjoyable piece of fluff, and it moves at a pretty good pace. Its a little too dependant on cgi as a stroyteller, nearly as much as the Star Wars prequels. But the performances are better here. So, the first true blockbuster of 2004 gets a 7. Here's to Van Helsing 2, when he goes after the Phantom of the Opera.

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