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Posted By: cheluvshorror at 5:23pm, November 15, 2009
This is a highly stylized period piece film on one of the most popular horror characters in history. Gary Oldman, who portrays this incredibly seductive presence, who is incredible at manipulating Winona Ryders character. I loved this film and so much so that it was my inspiration for a paper I had to write for a film appreciation class I had way back when.
This film is not for everyone for the story takes its time to develop, as most great stories do. It has the right amount of gratuitous nudity and the plot held my attention. Anthony Hopkins is always fantastic as an ally with Keanu Reeves, who is great to look at, but quite dull as usual. So I would actually want to be with Mr. Stoker, who is way more fun to "hang out with".
Posted By: Verbal Kint at 9:12pm, November 4, 2009
I read the book and i still freakin love the movie. The love story is actually really pertinent and makes the movie interesting.
Coppola did a wonderful job...
I'm sorry but I hated EVERYTHING to do with this movie. If you've ever read the book this movie is no where NEAR close. This was nothing but sex and romance with a hint of blood. When I read the book I got a very dark sinister creepy vibe from it but this film was so bright and colorful. NOTHING like it should have been.
Also, since when were Lucy and Mina skanks? And where in the book does Lucy screw a gorilla/wolf/vampire thing? Everything in this film was so mistreated. I always thought Hopkins would make a great Van Helsing, I was dead wrong.
This film is just another reason for me to hate Coppola.
Posted By: frightenstein at 3:28pm, October 10, 2009
Gary Oldman is my favorite screen Dracula by far.Loved his portrayal of thew Count. Beautifully shot movie. Enjoyed it.
Even the movie is nearly 20 years old it is one of the best vampire movies. Gary Oldman simply personifies Dracula in all stages of his "life". The acting of Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins is a league of its own.
Francis Ford Coppola draws a dark picture of dracula and the world he is caught in parallel to the world of humans. From Vlad Dracul being strong and victorious at the beginning, then hurt and emotionally destroyed about the loss of his wife, turning undead and growing "weak" and becoming a creature invisible to the eyes of humans at daytime to seeing his eternal love in Mina - Jonathan Harker's wife, where he grows strong again and using people to achieve his goal to enter the world of the living again ...
Especially exciting is the change of scenery and places of acting throughout the movie. The two main places London and the castle of Vlad Dracul in the carpathian mountains and various places in between - this recalls memories of the way the old Indiana Jones movies were made.
Several story lines running in parallel and making the movie a manifold series of events. The story of Mina and Jonathan Harker's private lifes and the interaction with Jonathan's work along with Mina's best friend Lucy and her way of living reflects the story in London. On the other hand Prof. Abraham van Helsing's studies and interest of nocturne creatures, his hunt for Dracula and the beginning of the movie with Vlad Dracul's life, sketch a fragile net of events and lead up to the rising of Dracula.
Definitely one of the best Dracula movies and rightly called a classic.
Watching Bram Stoker's dracula repeatedly can still surprise you due to the vast amount of details put into this movie.
Posted By: unkordinated at 1:14am, September 22, 2009
I know its been said on here but honestly if they had gotten rid of the love story this would have been the PERFECT adaptation of Bram Stokers Dracula. The actors were amazing...the cinematography was lush and beautiful...just an amazing movie and perfectly captured one of my favorite horror novels to film. The fucking love story just kills it though =[
Posted By: caseynight88 at 11:50pm, September 21, 2009
Excellent performances, even from the annoying-as-f@ck Winona Ryder. Romantic and dark, and just beautiful.
Posted By: CountOrlok at 11:57pm, September 11, 2009
A movie with great style, cast, production and visuals (all practical effects). Really plays up the gothic horror and eroticism of the Dracula tale. Definitely the most entertaining Dracula movie.
Only thing is the love story which bogs down this movie and deviates from the book. Dracula is not a tragic romantic figure, he's the bastard son of Satan.
I did like the link they added to Prince Vlad the Impaler, though.
Track down a fanedit that removes the love story and you have possibly the greatest Dracula movie ever.
Well, if you love the book...here it is.
Unfortunately they've also ripped off "Dark Shadows" and added a love story subplot that changes the classic character of Dracula himself, so you get a sort-of love/hate feeling about it all.
No doubt, the most beautiful vampire movie ever made, it's just as good as it was nearly 20 years ago and thanks to DVD you can skip the romance shit!
i no from a techincal standpoint the movie is superb, and i know this is gonna sound really bad but i just found the movie to be boring. and no its not because i have the attention span of a 3 year old, its just nothing much happens to really grab you that you havent seen a thousand times before in more intresting takes on vampires then this original i just think this original story has been improved upon in too many other vampire movies to make this orignal story intresting anymore. this wasnt for me give it a miss
im not going to lie i did not like this movie that much...i love the way Dracula is depicted in this movie, but more of a drama type movie than a horror!!
One of the best adaptations of the story, elevated by the always fantastic performances of Gary Oldman & Anthony Hopkins, but also brought down by the almost laughable performances by Winona Ryder & Keanu Reeves.
Bought this to watch it again after having not seen it for a good few years. I forgot how good it was, though who thought it was a good idea to cast Mr Reeves and Miss Ryder in the lead roles was beyond me.
Everyone else however is amazing. Beautiful film and amazing story, not the most scary of vampire films, but that's not what you're suppose to get out of it. It's a very enjoyable story to watch and experience.
One of the best vampire films made. This sticks closely to the original novel, give or take a few tweaks and Francis Ford Coppala does a fantastic job of bringing this classic story to life. The use of old style FX and great old fashioned make up effects give it a more natural feel and the cast are pretty good as well. Gary Oldman really inhabits his role as Count Dracula as does Winona Ryder as Mina. Anthony Hopkins tends to go a bit OTT at times with Van Helsing and Keanu Reeves just can't act at all. The mood throughout is sombre and there is enough blood and gore to keep Horror fans more than satisfied. Great set and costume designs also give things a grand feel. Bram Stokers Dracula is a bit schlocky at times but what wonderful schlock it is.
Utter rubbish that bears little resemblence to the original novel. That whole Dracula and Mina loving each other was a fucking sin. Only the start with the scenes set in Castle Dracula were any good.
Posted By: mikethademon at 10:11am, January 10, 2009
Great movie, with a strong cast. The best Dracula movie ever made!
Great movie. Gary Oldman played an amazing Count Dracula. Coppola did a great job, and in my opinion, this is one of the best vampire films of all time.
Really enjoyed this film, even though I haven't revisited it in a few years, I can still imagine more than half of the movie perfectly in my head. This was a beatifully shot film, with tons of graphic and controversial symbols of what Count Dracula represents. This was a masterpiece.
Posted By: gorehound62 at 11:08am, November 15, 2008
having read the original novel, i must say that this film bears the most resemblance to it. gary oldman is great as the undying count. all great actors in the film. and theres keanu reeves. every time he came on the screen i started cracking up. its ted from bill and ted, not johnathan harker. what was coppolla thinking hireing the guy who played johnny utah as harker. anyhony hopkins is outstanding as van helsing. my only complaint: the whole giant bat deal is old
Posted By: KingOfHorror at 6:09pm, October 5, 2008
Winner 1992 Academy Awards! Best Costume Design! Best Make-Up! Best Sound Effects! Just Picked Up 2 Disc Collectors Edition Love IT! 30 minutes of deleted scenes! 4 Documentaries! Audio Commentary! This Movie Rocks!
"The most famous vampire in the history of literature and film is brought graphically to life in `Bram Stoker's Dracula,' directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Gary Oldman as the Count from Transylvania. Working from a screenplay (by James Victor Hart) that is a faithful adaptation of the novel, Coppola takes an artistic approach to the material and creates some startling and effective images-- some quite intense and erotic-- to tell the story of Count Dracula and his world of the undead. Unsettling at times, and often shocking, the film is mesmerizing and thoroughly engrossing, delivered with a full palette of colors and shadows that form a backdrop against which the characters so vividly emerge to play out the drama. It's a visual and emotional feast that is satisfying in every respect, beginning with a brief history of Dracula and the circumstances of his life that ultimately allied him with the forces of darkness and evil. Initially, the casting of Gary Oldman as Dracula seemed inauspicious and ill advised; in retrospect, the choice of Oldman was inspired. Though many actors have done the role before and since (Schreck, Lugosi and Lee, just to name a few), Oldman manages to make the character uniquely his own, with a nuanced performance infused with depth and acuity. Even when delivering famous, oft quoted lines from previously filmed versions of the story (Lugosi's `Children of the night, what music they make,' for instance), Oldman makes them spontaneous and fresh, with a conversational tone that makes you feel as if you're hearing them for the first time. His presence is self-assured and menacing, which makes the character strong and intimidating, and you sense his longevity and the dark wisdom afforded him by his many years of existence. There is a fastidiousness about Oldman's methods of inhabiting a character that makes you wonder if there is anything as an actor that is beyond his grasp. At this point, I would think not. As Van Helsing, Anthony Hopkins puts his personal stamp on a well known character as well. His portrayal of the famous professor is zealous and lively, and touched with an eccentricity that makes him an interesting and welcome presence in the film. Winona Ryder, too, gives a believable performance as Mina, a somewhat emotionally challenging role she addresses with the restraint demanded of her by the character. With her dark, winsome looks and natural intensity she is perfect for the part, and displays a femininity that contrasts well with the overt sexuality of Dracula's three `brides.' And Tom Waits gives a memorable performance as the mad, insect-eater, Renfield, as does Sadie Frost, as Lucy, Mina's young and nubile best friend who unwittingly falls prey to Dracula's dark powers. The single member of the cast who seems to struggle a bit with characterization is Keanu Reeves, as Jonathan Harker; he gives a passable performance, but fails to ever get a firm grasp of the character. Still, he has an engaging presence and, though lacking depth, his portrayal is at least credible enough to maintain the continuity of the film. The supporting cast includes Richard E. Grant (Dr. Seward), Cary Elwes (Lord Holmwood) and Bill Campbell (Quincey). Exacting in detail and imaginatively rendered, Coppola's `Bram Stoker's Dracula,' is an impressive, memorable film. By boldly juxtaposing images and shadows, embracing the innate sensuality of the vampire, and blending it all together so seamlessly, Coppola has taken his film, not only to the zenith of the horror genre, but beyond. It's a journey into the regions beyond the known, wherein the forces of darkness thrive and survive; a cinematic experience you'll not soon forget, courtesy of Coppola, a superlative cast, and the magic of the movies..." -- jhclues, imdb.com
