# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/41 "2004-02-04T00:26:21Z")
It’s funny, going into the Super Bowl I had seen a list of what trailers would be airing. Of the movies listed, the one I was most looking forward to was Van Helsing (the concept seemed very cool!) and the one I was least looking forward to was Troy (it seemed like a lame attempt at cashing in on Gladiator). After seeing the trailers, my view has been switched. Van Helsing appearred to be very “by-the-numbers” and the special effects looked weak. Troy, on the other hand, looks to be well done (it still may be a rip off but it looks like it would be a well made one). ---
**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 4, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/42 "2004-02-04T01:35:52Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > (Although somebody’s probably done a Master’s thesis on the subject, and how the Monster is Frankenstein’s Other Self, etc.) Just a term paper, but yeah, I wrote something like that. You know, until the very, very end of the novel, the only person who ever sees the monster and isn’t killed is Victor Frankenstein, and the monster has an uncanny ability to only kill those people Victor has some reason not to like? Including his bride on their wedding night. Very Freudian novel, especially when you consider that it was written a good thirty years before Freud’s birth. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/43 "2004-02-04T04:15:05Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > forgive my ignorance of the comic book source material, is this Van Helsing supposed to be the Abraham Van Helsing? As far as I can tell, there is no comic book source. It seems like the only source material is the original Bram Stoker book. Although I agree, it seems like a very comic book concept, like League of Extraordinary Gentleman. ---
**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 4, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/44 "2004-02-04T07:08:06Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Troy, on the other hand, looks to be well done (it still may be a rip off but it looks like it would be a well made one). Hopefully it is better than the poem: And Lelouous son of Moralofoloues, leader of the Swendalousiii, which herd the sheep of Califomobonius, who are the decendents of Flormorouisouscles the Hermaphrodomoarigatocles Empire, which was south of the Plains of Bomocavemandanceacles home of Perrycomolous, did pierce the vest of Cromulous the Bananadaquarious, son of Godzillavskingkongacles, who did slay the Great Lion of Gondor and did ride the Beast of Scleemeria, on which he did slay the Grapist of Dope, and SeeThruArtacles the Blind, father of JackDeanTylerous the Uncircomcised. And he did die. Multiply that by 200000 and you got the book. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/45 "2004-02-04T14:50:51Z")
I have to admit that everything I had seen/heard about **Van Helsing** had me interested in the flick…but the trailer just disappointed me. Maybe it’s goofy, but I was completely put off by the stretchy-mouthed vampires. I don’t think I’ll see it in the theaters or make a bee-line for it at the video store. ---
**Author:** ![HDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bb73d2/32.png) [@HDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HDS)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/46 "2004-02-05T13:33:42Z")
The stretchy mouthed vampires remind me of the snake sisters in Witches Abroad. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/47 "2004-02-05T14:35:57Z")
> [@Cargogal](#): > > I will go just to see Hugh Jackman rip his shirt off on a big screen with surround sound. I am fairly certain that the movie will suck. > > If Hugh Jackman isn’t the most loaded name since Dick Butkus, I dunno what is. Yup. That’s about it. I’d go to see Hugh Jackman in anything (or nothing, tee-hee). After all, I paid $100 to see him in THE BOY FROM OZ!!! This flick should at least be cheaper! ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/48 "2004-02-05T14:40:44Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > 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. Mr. Monster Frankenstein??? Yeah, that works for me. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/49 "2004-02-05T15:19:20Z")
I think the movie is deliberately set up to be funny. Things like the Cross-Arang have got to be inentionally silly, which is why it works so well when done with a straight face. Sure, the movie could be bad, but I think it will be a good comedy-horror/action flick. As to the distribution of monsters, I agree we’re likely to see the end of the Wolf Man soon, but I suspect Frankenstein (or Frankenstein’s monster, or Mr. Monster Frankenstein will be part of the final showdown. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/50 "2004-02-05T23:43:23Z")
\*\*\*[Mad Monster Party](http://imdb.com/title/tt0061931/) [Abbot and Costell Meet Frankenstein (and the wolf man and dracula)](http://imdb.com/title/tt0040068/) \*\* \* You can never have enough monsters in a movie. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/51 "2004-02-06T00:07:09Z")
There was a brief shot in the trailer of what appeared to be a ballroom full of vampires waltzing around. A later shot had Van Helsing fleeing with Attractive Woman #1 underneath his arm. I firmly believe that these are connected, and are a homage to Roman Polanski’s _Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Fangs Are In My Neck_, also known as the best damn vampire flick this side of the Pecos river. I’m going to see it on opening day, with a big tub of popcorn, and I will have no shame about throwing popcorn at the screen when the credits roll. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/52 "2004-02-06T00:21:04Z")
Doesn’t any horror monster do an old school Frankenstiener anymore: that’s when the monster just walks up to and chokes someone to death? I have a feeling that these monsters and Van will do lucha lubre hurricaranas and karate moves )inappropriate in Transylvania, mind you!) to spice up the movie. ---
**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 6, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/53 "2004-02-06T01:39:00Z")
> [@capacitor](#): > > Doesn’t any horror monster do an old school Frankenstiener anymore: that’s when the monster just walks up to and chokes someone to death? I have a feeling that these monsters and Van will do lucha lubre hurricaranas and karate moves )inappropriate in Transylvania, mind you!) to spice up the movie. No such thing as inappropriate huricanranas and lucha libre moves! 🙂 ---
**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 6, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142/54 "2004-02-06T03:53:07Z")
It’s been about thirty years since I read _Dracula_, but I just had a memory of what an annoying, semi-coherent windbag I thought van Helsing was. So this movie is probably an improvement, at least as far as the character goes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-what-do-you-guys-think/227142.md?page=2)