Dracula 3D (2012) Reviews

• Argento's cheesiest feature film

  Viva_Chiba2012-07-01

  The Italian master of horror, Dario Argento, delivers his cheesiest movie...in 3D. Looking at the trailers, i already knew that Dracula 3D would have been a fun and trashy cheesefest (and i gotta be honest, i have seen better CGI effects in movies made by The Asylum). Sure, the film is a fun and trashy cheesefest, but it manages to get pretty boring in many moments, plus, Rutger Hauer only appears after a big chunk of the first half of the feature. The CGI effects are cringe-worthy, they remind me of old computer games, i wouldn't be surprised if the (already) hilarious mantis scene will become an internet meme. If it wasn't for the gore scenes (which they are good enough to keep the gorehounds entertained), the sexy Miriam Giovanelli, Rutger Hauer and the soundtrack (provided by Claudio Simonetti), the film would be just forgettable, but Dracula 3D is actually a forgettable cheesefest, if it was made in the 70's or 80's, it would have been considered as a cult classic. I actually like Argento's most modern films (such as: Sleepless, Il Cartaio and Mother of tears), but if you thought that his last three films were bad, then you should take a look at Dracula 3D.

• Colorful though uneven version about the immortal personage by the great Dario Argento

  ma-cortes2013-10-25

  Dario Argento's retelling of the Bram Stoker classic has Count Dracula as a mature count who grows younger whenever he dines on the blood of gorgeous maidens . Bram Stoker's ¨Dracula" 3D turns out to be an entertaining picture directed by Dario Argento with a good cast , brilliant cinematography and atmospheric soundtrack . As this last version ¨Dracula¨ 3D (2012) by Dario Argento with Rutger Hauer as Abraham Van Helsing , Asia Argento as Lucy , Unax Ugalde as Johnathan Harker and Thomas Kretschmann as Dracula . The tale begins with Jonathan Harker (Unax Ugalde) , he goes to an eerie castle in the fogs of eastern Europe . Harker is journeying by train and carriage from England to Count Dracula's far castle situated in the Carpathian Mountains on the frontier of Transylvania . The purpose of his assignment is to catalogue the wide library of Dracula (Thomas Kretschmann). At first enticed by Dracula's gracious manner , Harker soon discovers that he has become a prisoner in the crumbling castle . One night while searching for an exit of the castle , and against Dracula's strict admonition not to venture outside his room at night , Harker falls under the spell of his bloodsucker girlfriends . Harker is captured and imprisoned by a strange vampire who is accompanied by wanton female vampires (Miriam Giovanelli) , the Brides of Dracula . At the ending Dracula to face off Van Helsing (Rutger Hauer is Van Helsing in this, he previously played Dracula in Dracula III: Legacy). Meanwhile , Mina (Marta Gastini) looks for his lover Jonathan Harker . Italian/Spanish co-production about known characters , Dracula and his nemesis Van Helsing . This thrilling as well as terrifying film contains horrifying scenes , chills , lots of gore and a liquid similar to red tomato was used for the blood along with a lot of C.G. effects . This recounting of Dracula is freely based on Bram Stoker's 1897 classic novel of the same title and one of the biggest differences with Bram Stoker's original novel is that this version's plot takes place entirely in Transylvania , as Stoker's work moves the action to England . This isn't a faithful adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel , the film ultimately made numerous significant changes to the story . Passable version about the famous personage with an European all-star cast , colorful cinematography by Luciano Tovoli , holding a photography similarly to Hammer Films , glamorous gowns and regular production design , including evocative sights from villages , woods and remote castle from Candelo , Biella , Piedmont, Italy . Thomas Kretchsmann , who plays an acceptable Dracula, and the Dutch Rutger Hauer , who plays stunningly Dr. Van Helsing , being the first time Van Helsing , a Dutchman in the novel, has actually been played by someone from the Netherlands . Well produced and written by Enrique Cerezo , a nice producer who financed several successes such as ¨Juana La Loca¨ , ¨The long kill¨, "The Final Inquiry" , ¨Witching & Bitching" , among others . Being a Spanish/Italian production , here appears some Spanish actors such as Unax Ugalde as Harker and the Spanish/Italian busty girl Miriam Giovanelli who is in charge of the nude scenes along with Asia Argento . Special mention to rousing and powerful musical score composed and conducted by Claudio Simonetti , ex-Globin, and he formerly composed a lot of Argento classic films . The motion picture was regularly directed by Dario Argento , being the first time Dario Argento has worked in 3D . Considered the Godfather of Giallo, Argento has been the creative force behind numerous influential Italian films including : The Bird with the Crystal Plumage , Suspiria , Inferno , Tenebre , Deep Red , Phenomena , and Opera , among others . Rating : 5,5/10 ; acceptable and passable , though middlingly realized . Other films retelling the known legend based as originally conceived on this Bram Stoker novel are the followings : ¨ Dracula¨ (1974) by Dan Curtis with Jack Palance , Simon Ward , Nigel Davenport , ¨Bram's Stoker Dracula¨ with David Suchet as Abraham Van Helsing , Marc Warren as Count Dracula and Sophia Myles as Lucy ; of course , splendid versions from Hammer Production mostly starred by Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing ; and Jesus Franco retelling titled ¨Count Dracula¨ with Christopher Lee , Herbert Lom , Soledad Miranda , Klaus Kinski ; the best results to be ¨Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula¨ with Gary Oldman , Winona Ryder , Gary Elwes , Keanu Reeves and Anthony Hopkins .

• Argento's Dracula

  ksj8702013-12-26

  There's always room for a different interpretation of the Dracula story, and Dario Argento's take on the iconic vampire lord is nothing if not different. Reviewers have been almost universally unkind to this film, but I found the trailer intriguing and refused to let the naysayers dissuade me from watching it once it became available online. In fact, Argento has produced a very watchable vampire film that, while certainly not the next great horror masterpiece, isn't all bad, either. Thomas Kretschmann is outstanding in the lead role of Dracula, able to inspire real menace just by walking into a scene or even with a malevolently intoned word. The rest of the cast is somewhat uneven, with Argento's daughter Asia doing a nice turn as one of Dracula's victims though she isn't really given enough screen time. Rutger Hauer is on paper an inspired choice to play Dracula's nemesis, Van Helsing, but for whatever reason Hauer's performance is peculiarly tepid. It's almost as though he either doesn't know how to play the character or else simply isn't very interested. Marta Gastini, on the other hand, is marvelous as Mina, just as beautiful but more reserved than Asia Argento's character of Lucy and ultimately far wiser as well. Miriam Giovanelli is a delightful young beauty who steals more than one scene from her more experienced cast members, and it would be a treat to see more of her in future horror-themed films. The script takes considerable liberties with the original novel, but this should be no great obstacle to those who have seen other even less faithful adaptations of Dracula over the years. Moving the setting to Transylvania and keeping it there isn't the worst idea a Dracula director has ever had, and while the dialog is sometimes either overwritten or underwritten it generally keeps the plot moving. The music is eerie, atmospheric, and hypnotic, and the scenery is beautifully shot. Some reviewers have been very critical of the director's frequent use of day-for-night shots, but I for one was glad to actually be able to see what's happening in every scene. Special effects generally work, especially in the various transformation scenes, but the very copious blood that flows freely throughout the film is obviously fake and is a bit distracting at times. The film's biggest flaw is that, having set up what should be a moving and stirring climax, the conclusion is a major letdown that fails to deliver the big payoff such a movie demands. The final shot doesn't change the story that has gone before, but does leave room for a sequel. Argento seems to have based his film more upon the great Hammer films starring Christopher Lee than any other source, and while his Dracula film isn't as good as any of those classics, it's still worth a look by vampire fans of every stripe.

• Really not so bad...

  marebito2013-04-13

  Not so bad as expected this Dracula 3d. For sure the acting was rather wooden, the effects (specially the digital ones) looked cheap sometimes and the story was not mind blowing, but I very much liked the retro-look of this film. I had the opportunity to see this film on big screen, in 3D and I was kind of touched by its Hammerish-look. The photography, the use of colors, the set designs... it all reminded me of films that were made decades ago. Sweet memories. Might be a bit out of time for modern viewers, but if you can look through the bad acting and some cheesy effects, you actually find a film with a charming, nostalgically look.

• The Worst Movie by Dario Argento

  claudio_carvalho2014-06-07

  Dario Argento is one of my favorite contemporary directors in the horror genre. However "Dracula 3D" is certainly his worst movie, retelling Bram Stoker's Gothic novel with poor performances in cheesy scenario, CGI and art direction. Miriam Giovanelli seems to be a porn star the way she takes her clothes so easily. Drácula's transformation into owl, flies, wolf and even mantis (?) is sort of ridiculous. But as a friend of mine uses to say about this "Dracula 3D", the worst movie by Dario Argento is still better than most of the teen horror movies. My vote is five. Title (Brazil): "Drácula 3D"