Dr. DVD

Okay, I'm not going for the stars system, merely one in which you select the words that you think best describe your experience. The last one is a variation on a capsule review an audience member apparently gave Van Helsing (2004) at an advance screening.

jrsl76

I have almost no interest in seeing this.

Matthew Chmiel

As mentioned in the original Wolfman thread, I saw a test screening of this months ago and got a little bit more in depth with what I saw.

Words can't describe how pissed off I was after watching this movie. It's a boring, muddled, clusterfuck of a mess that only gets it's R rating from the ten minutes of carnage that appears on screen. The other 90 minutes you'll be bored to tears or angry that Universal went with Mummy Returns-esque CGI over Rick Baker's practical make-up and effects work.

RagingBull80

I'm going with my dad to see this on Saturday. He's been a big fan of the wolfman since he was a kid so he's pretty excited. I'm mildly interested in seeing the film.

maingon

I am hoping its good, for the first time probably, they seem to have the look of the wolfman right. He looks amazing from what I have seen. Plus from the ads it looks scary instead of going the action/comedy route.

Orbi-Wan Techno

If I can find the time this weekend, I may go see this.

iggystar

But it's rated-R instead of PG-13 doesn't that make it awesome?

Jam Master Jay

It's over 2 hours long too, so just by that alone it should be greatest film of all time.

Bluelitespecial

I saw it last night, it was good but not great, and it was kind of dull between the wolfman carnage.

iggystar

There's a reason the movie companies love to have movies edited so they can slap that PG-13 rating on them.

I'm thinking if this movie is not well-received it would benefit from more parents letting their kids see it.

Dr. DVD

FWIW, it seems that often a rated R movie cut to be PG-13 is just as bad in the unrated/R version as it would be in the PG-13. If this movie is truly horrendous, then I have the feeling we would be seeing it as PG-13. If it's R, then they must have some confidence in it, or they're just hoping to make a buck or two from the hardcore horror fans as they know the movie won't play to anyone but them.

Seantn

Actually, despite what several movie websites state, this movie is 96 minutes in length.

AmityBoatTours

Saw it tuesday night at the Arclight cinemas in Hollywood.
It pains me to say that its not good, cause Joe Johnston is my favorite movie director.
check it out if you are able to get the movie cash on the bluray just be prepared for a major let down. It sucks that with such a talented director and great cast that this movie ended up not being good. It tries hard to pay homage to the original wolfman and other classic universal monsters but is plagued by a bad script and obvious studio interference(as in its really obvious executives kept sticking there noses in, hampering Johnstons directing of the film.)

again pains me to say cause Joe Johnston is my favorite movie director, and it was so awesome getting to meet him last night but the movie is bad.

AmityBoatTours

Actually its 1 hour 42 mins

JumpCutz

Just curious, what other directors do you hold in high esteem?

Dr Mabuse

Ebert gave this film a decent review.

I was surprised.

iggystar

Oh, the studios don't care about the cinema experience as long as they make the money. I think in this case, if the studio wanted to make more money on this particular movie it might have been wise to do a "PG-13" cut because the hardcore audience is panning this one already.

Besides that same crowd of teeny-boppers, etc., don't give a crap about the quality of a movie and will fill the seats. I rarely go to theater anymore unless it's an "even" movie, as I have a nice television.

Plus, I was just making a light-hearted jab at the "a movie is automatically better when it's R" debate. I think there are some "R" rated movies that would do just fine as "PG-13", although less likely in the horror genre for sure.

DonnachaOne

THE WOLFMAN

● ● ● ● ● ●

The Wolfman is much like its protagonist. It changes from good to bad and vice versa, always all too quickly and never with much credibility. The film looks great, beautifully shot and beautifully designed; it could have easily been a home for a great Dracula story. However, the first half feels edited to within an inch of its life, with events happening and characters introduced with setup so minimal that there's nothing to relate to later. If Del Toro's and Blunt's characters fall in love, it only seems to be because of proximity.

Nevertheless all the actors are up for putting on a show, no matter how silly it is, and Anthony Hopkins is great fun to watch. Geraldine Chaplin is lovely to see in a supporting role, but please, "I have to see Geraldine Chaplin in a supporting role" is not the best reason to see any film. The makeup is pretty damn cool, which sadly makes the CG look even worse (it's symbolic, maybe, that Rick Baker cameos as an early victim, felled by an all-too-quick CGI blur probably meant to be a werewolf). The dimly-lit moors and shadows pulled me in, but the Disco-shimmer fx and shots of the EVIL MOON EVIL EVIL had me stifling giggles.

Oh, and this is Danny Elfman's best score in ages (still nothing as good as his peak but much better than the standard blandness he's been churning out), reminding me very much of Bram Stoker's Dracula. In fact, a lot of what's good here has been proven so by being used to better effect before in other films. Andrew Kevin Walker reuses mom/dad issues pretty wholesale from Sleepy Hollow.


There's plenty of good parts to the film, what a pity it ended up like this.

Solid Snake

Fuck, I'm going to see this. I have to see this for myself. Too much conflict on the basis of the film. I want to understand and see what was cut and etc. Anyone have any pics of what Baker actually made for the film?

Matthew Chmiel

DonnachaOne, since you've seen the final product. Is the ending the same to the one I saw in a test screening months ago? I ask because a test screening after mine was mentioned to having a different ending.

notkevinbacon

I wanted to ask the same question.







And, I going to catch this... but my expectations are in check. It's a shame good werewolf movies are so hard to come by.

DonnachaOne

Dr. DVD

I have some movie money (i.e. a gift card for a theater), so I will use it for this one. I will keep my expectations low, which disappoints me, as this had so much going for it. We finally get an R-rated balls to the wall werewolf movie in theaters and it winds up sucking. Tragic.

pjflyer

I hope you are a blood relation to Joe Johnston, or that you've only seen a handful of movies in your life.

Dr. DVD

Harry Knowles liked it.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43954

I would give his review cred if it weren't for the fact that he also gave glowing notices to both Daredevil and Van Helsing. I honestly believe this guy's opinion can be bought.