Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing"
courtesy of Universal Home Video
"The Fearless Vampire Hunter"

Hugh Jackman spent most of this year playing Peter Allen on Broadway in "The Boy From Oz." But before he started that adventure he starred in another adventure, one titled "Van Helsing." This movie, which is now out on DVD, is a rip-roaring and raging adventure film that will hold you breathless with its special effects and its dynamic story of man against vampire.

In the film Van Helsing is sent on assignment to Transylvania to battle Dracula (Richard Roxbury) and his band of vampires. He is accompanied by a friar (David Wenham) who is not the strongest of men. Once he reaches Transylvania he also joins up with Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale), a woman who hates vampires for reasons of her own.

The film is a constant movement of battles and amazing special effects sequences. It is all held together by the superb acting skills of Jackman, Beckinsale and Roxbury. Shuler Hensley is also good as Frankenstein's monster.

For Halloween you could not watch a more thrilling movie than "Van Helsing." Put it at the top of your list and get it home tonight!

If you are the least bit claustrophobic you might not want to watch "The Hole." This one is about a bunch of kids who decide to party in an underground bomb shelter and then get trapped inside. As time passes and days go back, desperation sets in and so does claustrophobia.

This is another horror movie for Halloween. This one stars Thora Birch of "American Beauty" fame, and Keira Knightley from "Love Actually" and "Arthur." These two young actresses make this a must see film if you can take the pressure and the theme of the film.

If you have had enough horror and want to see a love story of sorts then you might want to reach for "A Slipping Down Life." This movie is based on a novel by Anne Tyler and concerns a love affair between a shy young woman (Lilli Taylor) and a musician (Guy Pearce).

These two would seem to be the last people in the world to have a need for each other but one arises and a bond is formed. Now the question is can they make their relationship last. Watch the movie and find out.

Also watch the movie and catch a glimpse of Sara Rue, the star of the ABC sitcom "Less Than Perfect." She plays Taylor's best friend.

The love relationship in "The Mother" is one that causes controversy. In the film Anne Reid plays a woman whose husband has died. She leaves her home and moves to be closer to her children. Once there she is terribly lonely and finds herself responding to the friendship of a man (Daniel Massey) half her age.

The problem is this man has only recently been involved with her daughter. Now that situation can cause a quick family conflict. And it does. Does the "mother" give him up for the sake of her daughter or not? That is the question.

Another love story is "A Cinderella Story" which stars Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. In the film Duff plays an orphan being raised and mistreated by her stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) and two stepsisters (Adrea Avery and Madeline Zima).

Dreams come true when she meets her Prince Charming (Murray) at the school's masked dance. She runs off at the stroke of midnight and he has to find her. There is no glass slipper only a cell phone. Ah, the modern touch.

The movie is cute but not overly so, funny but not hilarious. Jennifer Coolidge gets all the best lines. The real plus is that it is clean and appropriate for all ages. Duff's movies always stay inside the lines of taste and for that we can be thankful.

If you want to go from the ridiculous to the more ridiculous then pick up "Ed Wood." The "special edition" DVD of this movie is now available and it is worth your time. First you get to see Johnny Depp's amazing performance as Ed Wood. Then you also get to see Martin Landau's Oscar winning turn as Bela Lugosi.

There are deleted scenes galore plus fantastic commentary from Tim Burton, the director, and the stars. It is a "special edition" which is truly a special edition.

For the children there is "Harold and the Purple Crayon." Harold is a young boy with a special purple crayon with which he can draw characters and places. This leads to all kinds of adventures in which your child can participate.

And lastly we have "Disney's Learning Adventures." These cartoons are aimed at children 2 to 5 and feature Winnie the Pooh and his friends. They set about teaching your child numbers and ABC's. These are great teaching tools because of the fun they incorporate.

 

 

 

 

 

©2004 Jackie K. Cooper

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