# Van Helsing: What Do You Guys Think? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2004, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142 "2004-02-02T04:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/21 "2004-02-02T17:07:18Z")
Monster Squad did indeed rule. “I hear he killed his dad!” I’ll go see Van Helsing. I’ll also probably be sorely disappointed, especially if theyre using the same CGI artists as the Mummy films. I think it can only go two ways: suck, or rule. we’ll see. (heads off to see if Monster Squad is out on R2 DVD) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/22 "2004-02-02T19:08:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Plus, did anyone else notice he is resurrecting the actual old Universal horror movie monsters (using “The Wolf Man” instead of a generic “werewolf”)? Yes! Since it’s a Universal picture, they can not only call their werewolf the Wolf Man, they can use the copyrighted makeup for Frankenstein’s monster (the look familiar from the 1930’s Universal movies). Now, why won’t somebody do a Solomon Kane movie? ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/23 "2004-02-02T19:33:50Z")
> [@Anonymous Coward](#): > > I thought for sure it was a Castlevania movie. Simon Belmont would kick Van Helsing’s ass! 5 words – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Now THAT would be the ultimate Castlevania movie. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/24 "2004-02-02T19:55:43Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > Not “Frankenstein”; “Frankenstein’s **monster** ”. “Frankenstein” was the doctor who made the creature that everyone ends up calling “Frankenstein”. Argh. Yes, but Adam sounds lame compared to Frankenstein. Observe: **Guy #1** : Frankenstein is coming! **Villagers** : ARRRGGHH!!! Get the torches! vs. **Guy#1** : Adam is coming! **Villager#1** : Adam who? **Villager#2** : Adam Ant? **Villager#3** :Ooo, i’d like that… **Villager#4** : Maybe it’s Adam West! **Villager#2** : What would Batman be doing here? **Villager#4** : What would Adam Ant be doing here? **Villager#5** : Maybe he meant Adam Peterson, who works in the bank? **Villager#3** : No, I’m Adam Peterson… **Villager#8** : I Know, It’s John Adams! **Villager#1** : What? **Villager#2** : What? **Villager#3** : What? **Villager#4** : What? **Frankenstein** : What? **Villagers** : AARRRGGGHHH!!! If only we’d known! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/25 "2004-02-02T19:57:36Z")
I didn’t see the ad and know nothing more about it that what I skimmed here but I’m going out a limb and say that it sucks, it’s going to be crap, the special effects look bad, and they copied that off the Matrix. (with a tip o’ the hat to ObviousGuy) ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/26 "2004-02-02T21:15:24Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Stephen Sommers has already proven he can make crowd-pleasing action-adventure-fantasy movies with The Mummy 1 and 2 and The Scorpion King **Lou** , with that sentence, you’ve single-handedly destroyed my desire to see this movie. I’ll probably thank you for that later. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/27 "2004-02-02T22:50:15Z")
> [@peasea](#): > > **Lou** , with that sentence, you’ve single-handedly destroyed my desire to see this movie. I’ll probably thank you for that later. Oh well, diff’rent strokes. I liked the Mummy movies for the same reason I love the Indiana Jones trilogy, The Princess Bride, Army of Darkness, and Pirates of the Caribbean… plenty of action, with humor to balance them out, and great old-fashioned adventure heroes in the lead roles. Moreso than action films in modern settings, I just love the timeless qualities of all these movies, like comic books and classic adventure serials. I don’t feel like they insult my intelligence while they entertain me. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/28 "2004-02-03T00:58:26Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > First of all, Monster Squad is one of my top three favorite childhood fantasy films–forming the ultimate Triple Feature along with The Goonies and Explorers (who remembers that one?) Was _Explorers_ the one where the kid has these dreams about circuitry, and end up building his own spacecraft out of garbage cans and the car from an old rollercoaster? Because that movie was _totally_ rad. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/29 "2004-02-03T04:22:16Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > Not “Frankenstein”; “Frankenstein’s **monster** ”. “Frankenstein” was the doctor who made the creature that everyone ends up calling “Frankenstein”. Argh. Mind searing, indeed. Glad I’m not the only one who notices… ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/30 "2004-02-03T04:27:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Was _Explorers_ the one where the kid has these dreams about circuitry, and end up building his own spacecraft out of garbage cans and the car from an old rollercoaster? > > Because that movie was _totally_ rad. It is and it is. Even my _mum_ likes it. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/31 "2004-02-03T04:32:04Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > I kept thinking “this is going to be this year’s _League of Extraordinary Gentlemen_” - a movie by a bunch of dimwits who ignore the source material they’re exploiting and substitute special effects for characterization or a coherent plot. Amen brother. Every time one of these movies comes out, I think of that eposide of The Simpsons where they’re at some movie about Zorro, the Scarlett Pimpernel a bunch of Ninjas and they declare Zorro the King of England. Still, it does have Kate Beckinsale in it. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/32 "2004-02-03T04:46:08Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > With the nitpick that Sommers only produced _Scorpion King_ and didn’t direct it (that job was done by Chuck Russell), I’d tend to agree. I’m not the biggest fan of Sommers’s _Mummy_ movies, but his monster-on-a-salvage-boat flick _Deep Rising_ is stupid in exactly the correct way and is thus huge fun. The guy knows how to organize and deliver a film, and as long as _Van Helsing_ doesn’t take itself too seriously it should be large-scale, knowingly dopey summer fun. You said it! I went into _Deep Rising_ expecting nothing and came out with it being one of my favorite movies. Usually with big-budget monster flicks you’re not quite sure if you’re laughing at the movie or with it, but _Deep Rising_ just says, “You know what? It doesn’t matter.” And the ending is just brilliant. (I’m still waiting for the sequel.) I didn’t have any idea Stephen Sommers was directing _Van Helsing_. I was going to see it anyway – it’s a big summer blockbuster, which I’m obligated to see, and plus Hugh Jackman has so much cool credit with me from playing Wolverine that he’s going to have to be in a lot of sucky movies before I stop going. But now, I’m actually looking forward to seeing it… ---
**Author:** ![lachesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@lachesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lachesis)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/33 "2004-02-03T14:19:38Z")
nitpicking the nitpicks. > [@](#): > > Yes, but Adam sounds lame compared to Frankenstein. Observe: > Guy #1: Frankenstein is coming! > Villagers: ARRRGGHH!!! Get the torches! sorry, **Tars** – i’m pretty sure the villagers never said “Frankenstein’s coming!” the standard scream was “The monster’s coming!” ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/34 "2004-02-03T16:52:06Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > Not “Frankenstein”; “Frankenstein’s **monster** ”. “Frankenstein” was the doctor who made the creature that everyone ends up calling “Frankenstein”. Argh. When you see a ford, would you say “there goes one of Henry fords automobiles” or do you say “there goes a ford”? ---
**Author:** ![peasea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc79bd/32.png) [@peasea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peasea)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/35 "2004-02-03T17:23:37Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > When you see a ford, would you say “there goes one of Henry fords automobiles” or do you say “there goes a ford”? Ah, so then, the villagers should shout, “Here comes _the_ Frankenstein.” Or, maybe, “Here comes a 1937 Frankenstein convertible with rumble seat and suicide doors.” ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/36 "2004-02-03T21:06:16Z")
> [@peasea](#): > > Ah, so then, the villagers should shout, “Here comes _the_ Frankenstein.” > > Or, maybe, “Here comes a 1937 Frankenstein convertible with rumble seat and suicide doors.” Merely pointing out how calling the monster Frankenstein is perfectly acceptable. Lots of creations take on the names of their creators. When Rembrandt got up in the morning, he didn’t say “I think I’ll paint a me today”, yet we all call his paintings rembrandts. On the other hand, if we’re going to be pedantic about it all, Doctor Frankenstein DID NOT create the monster. Mary Shelley did. We should be saying Shelley’s Frankenstein’s monster. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/37 "2004-02-03T21:34:59Z")
As far as I can recall, nobody in any of the Universal Frankenstein movies ever mistakenly referred to the Monster by the name of his creator. That pop culture misconception must have come from a generation of not overly-bright juvenile moviegoers. (Although somebody’s probably done a Master’s thesis on the subject, and how the Monster is Frankenstein’s Other Self, etc.) I’m kinda tired of movies that are “knowingly dopey”. How about a _smart,_ fun movie? If a cheap-ass direct-to-cable movie wants to be just dopey fun, that’s fine. But not a $100 million blockbuster, because it’s a waste of resources. We keep getting B-movie scripts with A-movie productions. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/38 "2004-02-03T21:41:59Z")
I loved **The Mummy** movies, but there does seem to be a big difference in the style of the movies and especially in the hero. One’s Indiana Jones, the other’s Batman. I find lots of the gadgets really silly (the extendable cross-arrang, for example). It’s going to be an interesting guilty pleasure movie…not good, not really bad, but I’m pretty sure it will be enjoyable assuming you go in thinking that. I’m going to go see it, because I like to punish myself with crappy movies. I’m sure I’ll be pleasantly suprised. I don’t like the extendable jaws, though. I like the idea, but the look of them just doesn’t work. And it looks like they show him killing the Wolf Man in the trailer. I mean, we all know it’s going to happen, but still…leave a _little_ bit of suspence for the audience. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/39 "2004-02-03T21:47:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Merely pointing out how calling the monster Frankenstein is perfectly acceptable. Lots of creations take on the names of their creators. When Rembrandt got up in the morning, he didn’t say “I think I’ll paint a me today”, yet we all call his paintings rembrandts. No. As has already been pointed out, people don’t refer to the Monster as “_a_ Frankenstein” or “_the_ Frankenstein”, but simply as “Frankenstein”, as if that were the Monster’s proper name. It’s not excessively pedantic to point out that people are mistakenly using the wrong name for a character. > [@](#): > > On the other hand, if we’re going to be pedantic about it all, Doctor Frankenstein DID NOT create the monster. > > Mary Shelley did. We should be saying Shelley’s Frankenstein’s monster. No. You’re being disingenuous. Mary Shelley wrote a story. Within that story, the character Frankenstein created a creature, which some people call a monster. You might call this character Frankenstein’s Monster. Obviously, Mary Shelley created both characters **as characters** , but when people refer to Frankenstein creating the Monster, they are not (as you well know) talking about Mary Shelley’s creative process, but about the fictional events that take place within the novel (in which, as you’ll recall, Victor Frankenstein creates a living, manlike creature through unspecified means). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/40 "2004-02-03T23:36:12Z")
We’re getting way off track here, but if Victor Frankenstein created the monster, then wouldn’t he essentially be the monster’s father figure? So unless you argue the monster had no surname, he probably was named Frankenstein as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142.md?page=3)