# Van Helsing?! WTF?!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 26, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037 "2004-04-26T04:56:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/1 "2004-04-26T04:56:19Z")
Can anyone tell me why they’re dicking up the Dracula story again?
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/2 "2004-04-26T04:57:13Z")
Because it’ll probably make a shitload of money?
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### Author:  [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/3 "2004-04-26T05:00:16Z")
Good point. Silly question.
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### Author:  [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/4 "2004-04-26T05:10:44Z")
Also, because Hugh Jackman’s hot and he does hot things while looking hot. I must support him in his very hot efforts, even if they involve spitting on Stoker’s grave (in a hot fashion, of course).
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### Author:  [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/5 "2004-04-26T05:16:00Z")
I love Lilek’s alt-name for Hugh Jackman - _HUGE ACTION_!
🙂
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### Author:  [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/6 "2004-04-26T05:17:01Z")
Sorry, I mean “Lileks’s.”
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### Author:  [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/7 "2004-04-26T06:07:45Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Also, because Hugh Jackman’s hot and he does hot things while looking hot. I must support him in his very hot efforts, even if they involve spitting on Stoker’s grave (in a hot fashion, of course).
I was going to point out how big a part hotness plays in the whole affair, but I see I’ve been beaten to it.
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### Author:  [@schplebordnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schplebordnik)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/8 "2004-04-26T06:13:19Z")
> [@shy guy](#):
>
> I was going to point out how big a part hotness plays in the whole affair, but I see I’ve been beaten to it.
Kate Beckinsale is hot too.
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### Author:  [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/9 "2004-04-26T06:17:58Z")
The trailers (and the weaponry shown therein) look more like [_Sluggy Freelance_](http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=981004) than _Dracula_…
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/10 "2004-04-26T06:41:32Z")
Haven’t seen it- not gonna- but I must say, it was _awfully_ considerate of the werewolf and Frankenstein’s monster to live in Dracula’s neighborhood so that they could shoot all three fight scenes at the same time…
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### Author:  [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/11 "2004-04-26T07:12:16Z")
I took it as a modern version of those old Universal Pictures horror movies, especially the constant crossovers between the “big three monsters” who seem to take center stage in this one. And I think Universal agrees with me, considering how they’re [rereleasing thirteen of 'em on DVD](http://homevideo.universalstudios.com/boxset.php?boxSetId=34588).
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### Author:  [@Tobio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tobio)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/12 "2004-04-26T07:28:09Z")
> [@Leaper](#):
>
> I took it as a modern version of those old Universal Pictures horror movies.
I think it looks to be more specifically ripped off from [Vampire Hunter D](http://www.animecelgallery.com/images/gallery/500PIXSCANS/vhdcel2.jpg). [Look at this](http://aimeemajor.com/images/screenshots/vhd/vhd-silhouette.jpg).
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### Author:  [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/13 "2004-04-26T07:48:13Z")
> [@Tobio](#):
>
> I think it looks to be more specifically ripped off from [Vampire Hunter D](http://www.animecelgallery.com/images/gallery/500PIXSCANS/vhdcel2.jpg). [Look at this](http://aimeemajor.com/images/screenshots/vhd/vhd-silhouette.jpg).
You REALLY can’t be a stylish vampire hunter without a big floppy hat.
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### Author:  [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/14 "2004-04-26T09:41:29Z")
I’ll be seeing it for what it is - a big-budget, B-movie “monster mash” featuring Universal Studios’ three most famous creatures. If it does well, maybe we’ll see a sequel with The Invisible Man, The Creature From The Black Lagoon and The Mummy (sans Brendan Fraser 😉 ).
That said, I’m annoyed with the title of the film. Unless it bombs to the extent that people consciously and/or subconsciously forget its existence, its title handicaps the possibility of a live-action _Hellsing_ film actually being called _Hellsing_.
And, as **Tobio** pointed out, Hugh Jackman’s costume could handicap the success of a live-action _Vampire Hunter D_ film, in that American audiences will likely see _VHD_ as a knock-off of _Van Helsing_, instead of the other way around. (Not that Universal ripped off _VHD_’s look on purpose. 😉 )
Anyhoo…
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### Author:  [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/15 "2004-04-26T10:45:45Z")
I think there’s more than this movie standing in the way of a Hollywood, live-action version of _Hellsing_ or _Vampire Hunter D_. I only know _Hellsing_ by name, but _Vampire Hunter D_ is nearly 20 years old and was released on video in the US more than a decade ago. If Hollywood hasn’t jumped on it by now I wouldn’t expect them to do so anytime soon.
Has there ever even been a Hollywood live-action film version of any Japanese anime series/video/movie? If there has been, it wasn’t successful enough for me to have heard of it. Heck, I don’t even know of any Japanese live-action film versions of any Japanese anime (although there is, infamously, a live-action _Sailor Moon_ TV series).
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### Author:  [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/16 "2004-04-26T11:23:20Z")
> [@Juniper200](#):
>
> Also, because Hugh Jackman’s hot and he does hot things while looking hot.
It does amaze me, and I can’t help but admire, how he can maintain such a Bad-Ass rugged image on screen while prancing around like a limp-wristed nancy boy on Broadway.
(No sarcasm intended. I really think it displays great talent to acheive both. I myself enjoy being entertained by rugged bad-asses as well as limp-wristed nancy boys!)
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### Author:  [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/17 "2004-04-26T11:55:54Z")
Lamia has a point: The original _Vampire Hunter D_ came about in 1985. Sure, the character Van Hellsing is much, much older, but the name is pretty much all that is similar. Hugh Jackman plays a piss poor elderly German Professor.
Now what the movie is based on is the Magna _Hellsing_. Down to the secret organization protecting the Queen and all. That, I am afraid is only a few years old- (2000). Easily influenced by _Vampire Hunter D_. I would say that Kohta Hirano is a fan of ol boy D.
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### Author:  [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/18 "2004-04-26T11:59:18Z")
Oh, and to all those that might say “But Van Hellsing isn’t a Vampire cross breed like Vampire Hunter D,” I say this:
B.S! Not to spoil anybodies enjoyment of the movie, but in the preview itself they hint at the fact that (Gabriel) Van Hellsing’s past is somehow connected to Dracula. I would bet that has to do with ancestory, wouldn’t you? Perhaps a son, which somehow explains his skill at killing things supernatural? Nahhh. 😉
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### Author:  [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/19 "2004-04-26T12:38:01Z")
> [@Lamia](#):
>
> Has there ever even been a Hollywood live-action film version of any Japanese anime series/video/movie?
Not directly that I can think of. although they’re doing design/pre-prod for a live-action _Evangelion_.
> [@](#):
>
> If there has been, it wasn’t successful enough for me to have heard of it. Heck, I don’t even know of any Japanese live-action film versions of any Japanese anime (although there is, infamously, a live-action _Sailor Moon_ TV series).
Oh, but there are – live action _Sanctuary, Perfect Blue, GTO, You’re Under Arrest._ And even a live-action _La Blue Girl_, Bog have mercy on us all…
And not Japanese, but Hong-Kong, there are: a live-action _City Hunter_ with Jackie Chan as Ryo and a live-action _Dragonball_(believe it or not).
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### Author:  [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-helsing-wtf/242037/20 "2004-04-26T12:54:22Z")
> [@Leaper](#):
>
> I took it as a modern version of those old Universal Pictures horror movies, especially the constant crossovers between the “big three monsters” who seem to take center stage in this one. And I think Universal agrees with me, considering how they’re [rereleasing thirteen of 'em on DVD](http://homevideo.universalstudios.com/boxset.php?boxSetId=34588).
Oh coooooool! I am now gonna beg my wife to let me buy the whole set! All I need next is _The Monster Club_.
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