Bram Stoker's Dracula. (1992). Cert 18. Director - Francis Ford Coppola. Write - Bram Stoker. Starring - Keanu Reeves, Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins & Cary Elwes.

Premise - Based on Bram Stoker's classic book, Francis Ford Coppola's take on the tale of the Dark Prince adds a little romance to the melting pot. Being a bit of a vampire movie fan I had to purge the awful 'Dracula 2001' from my system. The antidote? One of modern cinema's finest Vampire flicks. Bram Stoker's Dracula is a visual feast. Utilising all kinds of photography manipulation Coppola makes watching Dracula like reading the book. Not a drop of CGI in sight as Coppola fleshes out Transylvania and Carthax with a sly nod to the old Hammer style horror films. He masterfully compose shots from various sources, Dracula's face seen in background, rear projection to make Dracula's shadow come alive. It's quality stuff from Mr Coppola. Kudos should also be going to Gary Oldman; his take on Dracula is excellent. Whether he is old guy Drac, young guy Drac or bat guy Drac, his performance is mesmerising. As it should be from someone playing the Dark Prince. You should be glued to the screen every time he is on it, Oldman accomplished this. Anthony Hopkins (whom has three parts) is again on top form; his take on Van Hesling is perfect. His matter-of-factness is sometimes very funny and adds something special to the film. Elsewhere however things are a little gloomier. Reeves is terrible. There is no way around it, his accent is an abomination and he can't act for toffee. Ryder isn't far behind either, I really quite like her, but she overacts so wildly in this film to make her time on screen intolerable. The soundtrack is also worthy of a mention, very creepy and some good use of musical cues to heighten tension. It's visually however that this film comes alive. As I have mentioned Ford Coppola's direction is excellent, however special note should be given to the costume and make up departments. I see they won Oscar's in both categories, finally the academy gets something right. Coppola's film sticks very close to the book only really adding some stuff around the relationship between Drac and Mina. Is it better than the old Universal or Hammer Dracula films? Well they're different really, Coppola's film is very serious in tone whilst the older films are a little campy (well they are now). Give me this version every time.

7/10 for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Poster Quote - Dracula, dead and loving it.