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@MediaKnights Guys, hello. How about watching some French movies? Like: "Vidocq" aka "Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidocq"(mystery\detective film), "District 13"(Parkour\Action film written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by Pierre Morel) or "Taxi" - small phenomenon back in time it was released (action comedy film written by Luc Besson and directed by Gerard Pires) for example
Van helsing being Gabriel in human form is one of the best plots twist that went over so many people heads when it first came out. Gabriel committed a sin by killing Dracula before he was a vampire. He asked God to wiped his memory because of that so Gabriel can atone for that sin. Gabriel redeemed himself by ridding the world of vampire Dracula and helping Anna family into heaven. Movie is highly underrated
@refurbishedtechpriest9076 If he knew he had to atone for a sin, he would be doing it for a selfish reason, self-preservation. With his memory wiped he had a chance to prove him self as a new person.
I don’t think VH is an underrated hidden gem, though. Maybe for younger viewers, but it was pretty well known in 2004 and afterward. I guess, most cinemagoers at the time probably thought it was a bit cheesy, maybe a bit trashy, and overall kind of forgettable. Like something on the level of Resident Evil: Apocalypse. I felt the same way initially, but after rewatching it several times over the years, I grew to like it. Nice little treat for Halloween, especially.
@@koyapol you're right! I'm sure I'll hear from haters but that's exactly why I don't like Avengers Endgame. They should've just called it a cartoon. It would've been more palatable.
It's from "The good, the bad and the ugly" when Tuco is taking a bath and a man that Tuco shot previously comes into the room. The man then starts monologue about how he lost the arm and had to learn to shoot with the other arm and that he is about to kill Tuco (who is in a bath with bubbles everywhere). Then Tuco just shoots him through the bubbles and tells him: "If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
I’ve watched this movie over 100 times and never realized that’s why Dracula died. He could’ve killed Gabriel while he was in his human form in that moment (when the moon was obscured by the clouds) but he chose to stand there and talk about killing him, playing with his food. He wasted all that time, allowing Gabriel to gain the upper hand.
I love Van Helsing's moral code that he only kills evil . example Dr Frankenstein's monster "evil may have made it but evil does not rule it so I cannot kill it"
Word.. one of those films that I genuinely cant believe never got a sequel - but as the years have gone by, I'm really happy that it didnt, it's exactly what it should be as a standalone.
What I appreciate about this movie is that this is one of THE best depictions of Frankenstein's Monster. The original creature from the book that Mary Shelly wrote was capable of having his own thoughts and feelings and was distraught from the sheer loneliness he felt in being a perceived abomination. Tragically he had no one willing to connect with him but at least in this movie he was seen as the man he could be by Van Helsing.
It took me a long time before I realise that the mirror that show only Anna in the ballroom also reveals that everyone else is a vampire and not showing
@@OfficialMediaKnights I know I missed it on my first watch. It seems so obvious once you know, but I was wondering if you would notice. They teased just enough by zooming out the shot while still pointing at the mirror to remind you that they're in a full ballroom before cutting away entirely. Just enough so that some people might notice and be like "Wait a sec...!" But they also set your brain up to only be thinking about her by deliberately showcasing just the two of them in front of it, first.
Two elements conspire for that reveal to be more interesting, one in universe and one in hindsight: in universe, we get so focused on Dracula's speech that we don't think much about it; in hindsight this film is not that well appreciated we think it's a mistake (maybe it was cheaper to just make Dracula the only one transparent in the mirror). And then the reveal: yep, everyone in that party can't reflect, it wasn't a mistake.
Was so annoyed this never got a sequel. I loved the pulpy adventure of this movie. The actors knew exactly what film this was and absolutely chewed the scenery to pieces.
I absolutely love this film! It always had such a great 'gothic adventure' vibe to it, and man... Richard Roxborough absolutely kills it as Dracula. The camp, the cheese, the dramatic flair, you could tell that in every scene he's in, he was having the time of his life.
Hugh Jackman's long hair. The unnecesary over the top epic guitar in the soundtrack. The GOOD cgi of 20 years ago. And actually a well made history with a lot of plot and popular characters. This movie is a master piece of time. I always watch it in time to time.
His name is David Wenham he is an Australian actor and I drove myself insane for while trying to figure out if indeed he was the one from 300 and I completely forgot that he was in Lord of the Rings
This movie has a special place in my heart because this is my first movie with Hugh Jackman playing a different character since I only knew him as Wolverine at the time. Man, this movie makes me feel old. Such a fun movie to watch.
Richard Roxburgh's performance as Dracula is so fun in this! This also has some of my favorite werewolves. The transformation is really cool with the skin shedding!
Fun story, I watched this one on DVD with my parents when I was 15, at the exact moment Kate Beckinsale sat on Hugh's face my mom paused the movie to go use the bathroom, so I had to sit there with my dad while Kate was taking a mustache ride, that was the longest 5 minutes of my life.
20 years later and im still waiting for the sequel that will never happen. I have seen this movie so many times that i basically know it by memory and it's always great to see it again. It's one of those movies that became classics.
There were actually supposed to be two more Van Helsing movies, and Hugh Jackman signed up to do those too. But, it, alas, was not meant to be. At least Hugh found something else to do *wink*.
I didn't realize that Carl was played by David Wenhem (Faramir) until I watched this reaction. So familiar but just didn't place him, I'm getting old. 😂
The Mummy and Van Helsing were two of my favorite movies growing up. I’m just NOW learning that they share the same director. It all makes sense xD Edit: there was supposed to be a Van Helsing sequel where they go into his history, but I believe funding fell through.
@@dkfhsdk He means the actor who played Igor in this movie also played Beni in The Mummy, and both Igor and Beni have the same character (being a weasel)
One of my favorite Hugh Jackman movies. It really blew my mind to learn that Robbie Coltrane (AKA Harry Potter's Rubeus Hagrid) did the voice and facial motion capture modeling for Mr. Hyde. I love the brides, the lore of Count Dracula, Van Helsing's werewolf form and the look of Frankenstein's Monster
I have never thought this duo of Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman as being the combo with the best hair until Denise said it. Now I can't unsee it... 😂😂😂😂
David Wenham is an incredible actor. From The Lord of the Rings, to 300, to Pirates of the Caribbean, to Legend of the Guardians, to Australia, to Van Helsing, the man just kills it every time.
Few notes about the plot and actors 1. Richard Roxburgh actually did most of his stunts, especially those where he walked on the walls, because he wanted to spend as much time in character as possible. 2. During the production of the movie, Richard and one of his on-screen wives, Silvia Colloca (a Brunette Bride), fell in love with each other and later got married. They thanked the director of the movie ever since for making their union possible. 3. The actor, who played Igor, Kevin O'Connor, also played Benny in the Mummy, and he is one of the favourite actors of Stephen Sommers to work with. Now about the plot and the Gabriel: 1. When both Werewolf and Velkan had fallen into the river, Anna said: "God, help us". And literally in the next shot we can see Van Helsing on the ship heading to Transylvania. As if God had heard Anna's request and sent his Left Hand to help her. 2. When Van Helsing turned into the werewolf (sick desing still), you can clearly see the cross on his chest as he walks towards Dracula. Giving more meaning to his Angelic past. 3. It no coincidence that Van Helsing was able to see Anna and her family enter the Heavens Gates, I mean, he is the Left Hand of the God after all. But I think there's more to it. As Van Helsing was burning Anna's body, he himself actually opened the Gates for Anna's whole family to enter. Maybe he did that unknowingly, but still. One of the most underrated movies of the 2000s.
Oh shit I didn’t realize back then when it first came out it went over ppls heads but this movie is literally one of Hugh jackmans masterpieces tbh in my opinion
Funny thing is that I knew Kate Beckinsale through her work as Selene in the _Underworld_ franchise but never realized she was Anna. Finally what’s more interesting is that Richard Roxburgh who played Dracula and Silvia Colloca who played Verona (one of Dracula’s Brides) are surprisingly married in real life.
@@OfficialMediaKnights Don't forget that Igor in Van Helsing is none other than Benny from The Mummy. Something I never put together previously. I didn't look it up, but recognized his voice.
I have always loved Van Helsing. It was so good! The werewolf transformation, ripping off the skin, was something new and interesting. Just very good lore and acting!
@@adamhaych8456 Right? I have no idea where this narrative came from that this was a low-budget movie, because I've heard multiple people say it. The only thing that I can think of is that blooper of the director and cast joking that this was a low-budget film because their props kept breaking. The other factor is probably the fact that the movie just has this dated look to it, especially in terms of the CGI aside from the werewolf designs. It might have made people assume this was low-budget.
This is probably one of the most underrated action adventure, monster horror films ever made. I loved this flick from the first frames. Great to see you guys doing this one. Love your channel, great hosts!
Honestly David Wenham's character, Carl, in this always manages to make me laugh and is one of my favourite roles he's played. I also think Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale nailed their roles in this as well even if it was a low budget film.
This movie cost 160-170 million, so it actually had a very large budget for its time. I think it's just the datedness of a lot of the CGI that makes it look low budget.
@@windowsVD Yeah that's what I thought too when I saw the interview where one of his castmates said they felt sorry for him having to stoop for the whole film. That he must of been very sore at the end of the day. Maybe that was a character choice David did on his own.
This is the movie I rewatched the most in my life 10-ish year old me was mesmerized by the whole aesthetic. Scenery, costumes, monsters, soundtrack. Everything on point. And as many people will mention, probably still the best werewolf design in movies to this day
Literally 😅I’ve been seeing all over social media of how ppl saying this movie is actually a masterpiece with good cgi for a low budget film first time I watched this is when I was little literally and I also played the game
There's a part of one of the two audio commentaries that I will always remember. You had Stephen Sommers, the director, and Bob Ducsay, the producer and editor. They talked about the audience's reactions after the final fight. They cheered when Dracula is dead, then everything goes quiet when it's revealed that Anna has passed. In Sommers' words, he could feel the audience's silence and then, according to him, as Van Helsing returned back to normal, every woman in the audience went, "There's Hugh Jackman's ass"! Then every man went, "I don't want to see no man ass!" XD Oh, that moment you had your audience by the hand, then that happens. Peak cinema.
Kevin J. O'Connor who plays Igor, plays in at least three Stephen Sommers movies I know. The Mummy, Van Helsing and Deep Rising, which is another awesome movie I think you guys might love.
Deep Rising is definitely on our list!! We should have known that Igor and Benny were played by the same actor just because we hated his characters so much in both 😂
This movie is so fun! The Werewolf designs are absolutely amazing and Richard Roxburough is having the time of his life! You can definitely tell they had a blast making this film!!
Another action, drama, horror classic! Wish they would have made a part 2. I remember one trailer, where they introduce Hugh Jackman a Van Helsing, Kate Beckinsale as Anna Valerious, Richard Roxburgh as Count Dracula, Shuler Hensley as Frankenstein and the Wolfman as himself! I'm like WHAT!!! The Wolfman as himself? Oh, so he's really a werewolf, huh.😂
Van Helsing is my all time fav Universal film apart from Jurassic. It was a huge part of my childhood and soo happy to have grown up watchin it. Van Helsing has been a movie I enjoyed for its infamous monster hunter would definetly want to see another film today but honestly it probably wouldn't top this movie and again just an amazing film.
I do wish this got sequels, when Universal was doing their horror monster thing, this should have been their base. The horror campiness was good but not overly done.
Wow! Someone who actually used "underrated" properly on the internet. A movie that won multiple academy awards is by definition not underrated. A movie that's a fun popcorn flick with a likable hero and many great scenes but scored under 25% on Rotten Tomatoes? I don't care what anyone says, Van Helsing is a great movie. When you can say that, that's what makes it underrated.
(At 4:30) This part I always liked, and at the same time found sad, because this misunderstood monstrous son was falling to his death with his father who was dying and his arms. And the way they were falling into the flames was more dramatic, It looks so epic, I was impressed.
Yes! One of my all time favorites! Van Helsing and The Mummy are two of my most beloved monster movie jams. And this film in particular presents a phenomenal Dracula. Richard Roxburgh is perfect giving such an unforgettable performance. Love this movie, love you guys! So excited!
Sommers just proved with those movies that he has such a keen understanding on creating likeable characters and injecting great action with silly fun! Richard Roxburgh was fantastic in this - his over the top, diva-like performance was such a joy to watch!! Thank you so so much for your kindness and support, you truly brighten our day ❤️
For me there's 4 Stephen sommers movies that are fun to watch 1) mummy 2) mummy return 3) van helsing 4) G.I Joe Rise of Cobra There's also deep rising and odd Thomas which I can recommend to you
This was an instant (and still) favorite from 20 years ago; the stylized fashions, the elaborate, handcrafted gadgets, excellent cinematography, I always appreciate attention to detail in a movie above and beyond what the film requires.
Watch Underworld series too, guys. They have vampires, werewolves, lots of guns, some romance, and saucy leather suits. Oh and Bill Nighy (Davy Jones) is there too, so that's a treat 😂
This movie is seriously underrated. I love the nods to old monster movies, the creature design is phenomenal, and the twists on the classic Lord is entertaining. Costume design, sets, etc. It's all fantastic!!
Been watching you guys for a little while now. Definitely have some of the best reactions to movies that I’ve seen so far. Your love for film and storytelling shines in every reaction. Not just for the actors but all those that work behind the scenes. Set design, appreciation for practical effects vs CGI, score, filters, camera techniques and so on. You two make me appreciate movies even more. Thank you.
Lord, no matter how many times I watch this film, the idea of showing the shadow of the converted Dracula until the very end is just fiery!!!!!! You are so interested in this mystery, and at the very end - you are not disappointed, but on the contrary, you splash out this expectation. It is literally like those "animals" in Lost, when only their shadows and sounds were shown...
The most interesting thing is that according to the plot Gabriel Van Helsing is the archangel Gabriel. There are many hints about this in the film. According to rumors, they wanted to tell more about this in the planned sequel.
Still conflicted with the need of making any film into a franchise, rather than giving the basic story in the first one, and build more context in possible sequels (because, if the studio decides not to pursue sequels, the main story remains unfinished an open). Such is life...
Ever since I was a kid I thought this movie had the best werewolf design ever. Fun fact Velkans actor was a former ballet dancer so when he was doing all that twisting and turning on the wall that was all him.
@@OfficialMediaKnights indeed he was, my Dad and my Cousin would always be watching movies with him, whether it be Monster Movies, Westerns, War Movies, Comedies, even Musicals.
I love this movie soo much. I ride so hard for it because people dont give it enough credit. I ve grown to enjoy it more and more as I watch it. The creature design is top tier! Cast is 10/10. The ending makes me tear up honestly. Its so sad but oddly warming. Really really enjoyed y’alls commentary on this one. Im never not amazed by how much depth and appreciation you both show.
A fun fact I heard years ago, the hit on the side of the tub when falling at 30:25 was not intended as he was supposed to fall into it...but the stuntman was okay with them using the shot as it looked really good and was worth the pain. XD So glad to see you watch this film, one of my favorites!
Kinda reminds me of an old interview 😅with Jacky Chan(he played a stuntman in a few Bruce Lee movies), and Bruce would stop the film 📽️ just check on old Jackie and he would say ,"😜 nah,it was great scene,keep rolling the film." Gotta 🤟🏽 love the stunt team
@@OfficialMediaKnights They are wicked movies!!! Love them all but, Rise of the Lycans is my personal fav. Thank you for answering & hope you both have had a wonderful weekend! :)
Ah, yes, the first appearance of wolferine. Such a fun movie. There were some great cinematographic shots, it had a score that really hooked you, and the whole movie didn't take itself too seriously. It's fun. That's it. So glad you reacted to this one.
Just finished the full length version. When this movie first released, I wanted a sequence but the journey ended here. I also wanted them to expand on Gabriel’s past but understand it might also be too much for the movie. The transformations!! Their take on it is great! Imagine if Hugh Jackman came back as Van Helsing!
Yes yes and yes to all of the above!! It would have been amazing to see more of a glimpse into Gabriel's past - that part of the lore was just awesome!
Just spoken with my partner whose dad loves comics, Gabriel has a long life because of Dracula’s ring. He was a Knight who fought him, killed him, took his ring and was found in a cave by the priests.
30 SECONDS AGO?? I'm EARLY TODAY!!! Just wanted to say thanks for all these, it feels fun to watch some of my favourite video with some people. Its like we are watching it together ❤❤
I was 9 when I saw this at the cinema within the UK...the vampires terrified the hell out of me, But at the same time I enjoyed it so much as it was so fun seeing this as a kid...I watched it over and over again when it was released on DVD...and I still love it today at age 29.
Aussie (Van Helsing), Aussie (Dracula), Aussie (Friar) and Kate. Who wouldn't love this movie Want more iconic monsters? Give "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)" a watch
Lets gooooooooo!!!!! I'm so excited. I have asked for this movie on some videos. I'm so excited to see and hear your reaction to the music score It is soo good.I didn't expect it to happen that way. You guys made my day
Omg the score was ahhhmazing, we fell in love with Silvestri's work!! Thank you so much for the support, we truly appreciate having you here with us ❤️
Other vampire films to watch include Underworld 1-5, Blade 1-3, Bram Stoker's Dracula, John Carpenter's Vampires, Fright Night, From Dusk til Dawn, Dracula 2000, 30 Days of Night and Dracula Untold. Gabriel Van Helsing is an homage to Professor Abraham Van Helsing and the Archangel Gabriel
@@muzikman4399 only an Archangel can be in that position, as it used to be Lucifer until he was cast out of Heaven. It's further alluded to by his memories of being in ancient Rome. He was stripped of his powers and memories after murdering a human Dracula
Fun fact but the actor who plays dracula ended up marrying one of the actresses who plays Dracula's bride (Verona, the dark haired bride) and theyve been together ever since
Another great movies with classic monsters I recommend are: Frankenstein (1994) with Robert De Niro as monster (!), Bad Moon (1996), Fright Night (1984), Vampires (1998), Dracula (1992) with Gary Oldman,.
Have to say Kate Beckinsales dad would be very proud of her and I know it's not PC to say this sort of thing anymore so under no circumstances am I going to say she is absolutely stunningly beautiful.
Hey guys! Thank you for being absolutely amazing these past few months. Thank you for showing up and for the incredible amount of love and support, you all make our day ❤If you enjoyed the reaction leave a like and subscribe! (It's free and it helps us out A LOT!) www.youtube.com/@OfficialMediaKnights?sub_confirmation=1 and if you'd like to support the channel and gain access to the full length reaction become a member of our patreon bit.ly/3ICVrJ6
Watch our reactions early! ua-cam.com/channels/iCUz1bHid4H9mu6g2IOjXg.htmljoin
#VanHelsing #Reaction #TheMediaKnights
❤❤❤❤
So awesome
@MediaKnights Guys, hello. How about watching some French movies? Like: "Vidocq" aka "Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidocq"(mystery\detective film), "District 13"(Parkour\Action film written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by Pierre Morel) or "Taxi" - small phenomenon back in time it was released (action comedy film written by Luc Besson and directed by Gerard Pires) for example
You have an amazing taste of the cinema and the actors ❤❤❤❤ hope you are so happy 🎉
Please watch SLEEPAWAY CAMP. One of the greatest plot twist in cinema history❤️❤️
This movie has THE BEST WEREWOLF DESIGN EVER.
Yeah! I love the "rip the human apart" transformation :)
Van helsing werewolf is the best werewolf design I have ever seen in a movie.
The transformation is just...
Better than Twilight werewolf-ish..
On I will say I enjoyed on the totally opposite scale (monstrosity vs beauty) was Blood and Chocolate's :) I enojoyed the movie :)
Van helsing being Gabriel in human form is one of the best plots twist that went over so many people heads when it first came out. Gabriel committed a sin by killing Dracula before he was a vampire. He asked God to wiped his memory because of that so Gabriel can atone for that sin. Gabriel redeemed himself by ridding the world of vampire Dracula and helping Anna family into heaven. Movie is highly underrated
Which is funny...he kills dracula....to redeem himself....he killed dracula again
... Might have helped if Gabriel knew what the sin he was supposed to atone for *was*. Just saying... 😋
Media Knights, read this comment please
@refurbishedtechpriest9076 If he knew he had to atone for a sin, he would be doing it for a selfish reason, self-preservation. With his memory wiped he had a chance to prove him self as a new person.
@@Sinkorswim1225 exactly!! You nailed it on the head.
Underrated gem from the 2000s.
Cant wait to watch some more of these early 2000s flicks 👌😄
yep. and the CGI here is far better than some of the recent CGIs.
I don’t think VH is an underrated hidden gem, though. Maybe for younger viewers, but it was pretty well known in 2004 and afterward. I guess, most cinemagoers at the time probably thought it was a bit cheesy, maybe a bit trashy, and overall kind of forgettable. Like something on the level of Resident Evil: Apocalypse. I felt the same way initially, but after rewatching it several times over the years, I grew to like it. Nice little treat for Halloween, especially.
@@koyapol you're right! I'm sure I'll hear from haters but that's exactly why I don't like Avengers Endgame. They should've just called it a cartoon. It would've been more palatable.
@@OfficialMediaKnights gotta watch Swordfish, early Hugh Jackman you won't even recognize, Travolta, Cheedle, Halle Berre!
"I think if you're going to kill someone, kill them! Don't stand there talking about it!"
Best line in the movie, hands down!
It's from "The good, the bad and the ugly" when Tuco is taking a bath and a man that Tuco shot previously comes into the room. The man then starts monologue about how he lost the arm and had to learn to shoot with the other arm and that he is about to kill Tuco (who is in a bath with bubbles everywhere). Then Tuco just shoots him through the bubbles and tells him: "If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
I’ve watched this movie over 100 times and never realized that’s why Dracula died. He could’ve killed Gabriel while he was in his human form in that moment (when the moon was obscured by the clouds) but he chose to stand there and talk about killing him, playing with his food. He wasted all that time, allowing Gabriel to gain the upper hand.
@@drunkenmonkey28vampires loooove playing with their food a little to much sometimes. 😂
I think 'you talk too much' would've summed it up better
Very Die Hard line. Lol
The design of the werewolves in this movie are unmatched! 20 years later and they are still my favorite!
They looked pretty freakin’ cool! Especially Gabriel’s werewolf form!
I always thought this was a throw back and respect to the American Werewolf in London and old school SFX
I agree straight up, why haven’t we seen this fantastic design replicated?😭
I love Van Helsing's moral code that he only kills evil . example Dr Frankenstein's monster "evil may have made it but evil does not rule it so I cannot kill it"
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is another fun movie to watch
Agreed. Underrated. Sure, it's nothing like the comic, but it's still enjoyable.
Agreed. Like WW Z. As a standalone movie, it's fantastic.
Adding that to our list, thank you so much for the recommendation!
Word.. one of those films that I genuinely cant believe never got a sequel - but as the years have gone by, I'm really happy that it didnt, it's exactly what it should be as a standalone.
Factz..🎉🎉🎉🎉
What I appreciate about this movie is that this is one of THE best depictions of Frankenstein's Monster. The original creature from the book that Mary Shelly wrote was capable of having his own thoughts and feelings and was distraught from the sheer loneliness he felt in being a perceived abomination. Tragically he had no one willing to connect with him but at least in this movie he was seen as the man he could be by Van Helsing.
This, 100%. I love this portrayal of the Creature.
The one in Penny Dreadful was amazing in this way too
Wow, that's awesome, very cool!
It took me a long time before I realise that the mirror that show only Anna in the ballroom also reveals that everyone else is a vampire and not showing
No way! Missed that detail!
yeah i just realized that myself on this view-through and i've seen it around a dozen times
@@OfficialMediaKnights I know I missed it on my first watch. It seems so obvious once you know, but I was wondering if you would notice. They teased just enough by zooming out the shot while still pointing at the mirror to remind you that they're in a full ballroom before cutting away entirely. Just enough so that some people might notice and be like "Wait a sec...!" But they also set your brain up to only be thinking about her by deliberately showcasing just the two of them in front of it, first.
Two elements conspire for that reveal to be more interesting, one in universe and one in hindsight: in universe, we get so focused on Dracula's speech that we don't think much about it; in hindsight this film is not that well appreciated we think it's a mistake (maybe it was cheaper to just make Dracula the only one transparent in the mirror).
And then the reveal: yep, everyone in that party can't reflect, it wasn't a mistake.
Was so annoyed this never got a sequel. I loved the pulpy adventure of this movie. The actors knew exactly what film this was and absolutely chewed the scenery to pieces.
I know, right?! This movie was great.
There is actually a Van Helsing 2...
But yeah forget it
It got an animated prequel. Eh? Ehhh?
Lol.
Its bizarre this movie has better CGI and action scenes better than most today movies. VH its From what? 2006?
@@aryssobral 2004
I absolutely love this film! It always had such a great 'gothic adventure' vibe to it, and man... Richard Roxborough absolutely kills it as Dracula. The camp, the cheese, the dramatic flair, you could tell that in every scene he's in, he was having the time of his life.
YESSS!! His performance as Dracula was just so deliciously over the top - loved that he leaned into that!! This film was just so much fun!
That's the problem. He should have been doing his work instead of having fun.
Yeah, I watched this a lot growing up.
@ azazello1784 nobody is gonna beat Gary Oldman. This direction works better for the theme and the story.
Lol, go make good movies then, not this.
At the end, during Anna's funeral, when her spirit looks at Gabriel, she can be heard whispering I love you.
Ohh really I didn’t know that
This was the movie that sparked my love of Werewolves
And Alan Silvestri’s score, my gawd, the guitar gets me every time
Omg Alan Silvestri did NOT need to go that hard and he did, what a phenomenal score!
It sounds like the Castlevania games, that is a solid reference! It sounds great...
Hugh Jackman's long hair. The unnecesary over the top epic guitar in the soundtrack. The GOOD cgi of 20 years ago. And actually a well made history with a lot of plot and popular characters. This movie is a master piece of time. I always watch it in time to time.
Also, Carl aka Faramir also was the one who narrated in the movie 300, he was the same Spartan soldier that Leonidas sent back to tell the story
YES! It's so unbelievably impressive how versatile he is as an actor!!
holy smokes, that man has range.
His name is David Wenham he is an Australian actor and I drove myself insane for while trying to figure out if indeed he was the one from 300 and I completely forgot that he was in Lord of the Rings
Holy shit I never realized that was the same actor in LotR and 300.
...and also...Igor was Benny from The Mummy
This movie has a special place in my heart because this is my first movie with Hugh Jackman playing a different character since I only knew him as Wolverine at the time. Man, this movie makes me feel old. Such a fun movie to watch.
Richard Roxburgh's performance as Dracula is so fun in this! This also has some of my favorite werewolves. The transformation is really cool with the skin shedding!
He definitely had fun with his choices!
I have watched this movie so many times and just now I realize he is the Duke in moulin rouge. Two psycho divas lmao.
Fun story, I watched this one on DVD with my parents when I was 15, at the exact moment Kate Beckinsale sat on Hugh's face my mom paused the movie to go use the bathroom, so I had to sit there with my dad while Kate was taking a mustache ride, that was the longest 5 minutes of my life.
and a dad beside you with a smile on his face ear to ear ;)
The same thing happened with me for that scene. My father got the CD
20 years later and im still waiting for the sequel that will never happen. I have seen this movie so many times that i basically know it by memory and it's always great to see it again. It's one of those movies that became classics.
theres the animated one tho i havent seen it yet
Speaking of waiting for a sequel… Still waiting for District 9!
There were actually supposed to be two more Van Helsing movies, and Hugh Jackman signed up to do those too. But, it, alas, was not meant to be. At least Hugh found something else to do *wink*.
I didn't realize that Carl was played by David Wenhem (Faramir) until I watched this reaction. So familiar but just didn't place him, I'm getting old. 😂
@@parksnrec5476this and district9, still hoping and waiting
The Mummy and Van Helsing were two of my favorite movies growing up. I’m just NOW learning that they share the same director. It all makes sense xD
Edit: there was supposed to be a Van Helsing sequel where they go into his history, but I believe funding fell through.
I also didn't know it was the same director until they said it lol. And then I was wondering why Igor sounded so familiar. It's Beni!
If You Enjoyed This Hansel And Gretel Witch Hunters is another fun one with Jeremy Renner .
Definitely
True True
I just realized that not only is Igor played by the actor who played Beni in The Mummy, but Igor is literally Beni, they are the same character
What do you mean?
@@dkfhsdkboth in service to the evil
@@dkfhsdk He means the actor who played Igor in this movie also played Beni in The Mummy, and both Igor and Beni have the same character (being a weasel)
Jackman holding a dying woman that he loves is spectacular.
One of my favorite Hugh Jackman movies. It really blew my mind to learn that Robbie Coltrane (AKA Harry Potter's Rubeus Hagrid) did the voice and facial motion capture modeling for Mr. Hyde.
I love the brides, the lore of Count Dracula, Van Helsing's werewolf form and the look of Frankenstein's Monster
I have never thought this duo of Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Jackman as being the combo with the best hair until Denise said it. Now I can't unsee it... 😂😂😂😂
This and League of Extraordinary Gentlement are criminally underrated
David Wenham is an incredible actor. From The Lord of the Rings, to 300, to Pirates of the Caribbean, to Legend of the Guardians, to Australia, to Van Helsing, the man just kills it every time.
Ok, I feel stupid, who was he in Pirates?????
@@teutonicknight23 He was a British officer in the last one.
Few notes about the plot and actors
1. Richard Roxburgh actually did most of his stunts, especially those where he walked on the walls, because he wanted to spend as much time in character as possible.
2. During the production of the movie, Richard and one of his on-screen wives, Silvia Colloca (a Brunette Bride), fell in love with each other and later got married. They thanked the director of the movie ever since for making their union possible.
3. The actor, who played Igor, Kevin O'Connor, also played Benny in the Mummy, and he is one of the favourite actors of Stephen Sommers to work with.
Now about the plot and the Gabriel:
1. When both Werewolf and Velkan had fallen into the river, Anna said: "God, help us". And literally in the next shot we can see Van Helsing on the ship heading to Transylvania. As if God had heard Anna's request and sent his Left Hand to help her.
2. When Van Helsing turned into the werewolf (sick desing still), you can clearly see the cross on his chest as he walks towards Dracula. Giving more meaning to his Angelic past.
3. It no coincidence that Van Helsing was able to see Anna and her family enter the Heavens Gates, I mean, he is the Left Hand of the God after all. But I think there's more to it. As Van Helsing was burning Anna's body, he himself actually opened the Gates for Anna's whole family to enter. Maybe he did that unknowingly, but still.
One of the most underrated movies of the 2000s.
Oh shit I didn’t realize back then when it first came out it went over ppls heads but this movie is literally one of Hugh jackmans masterpieces tbh in my opinion
Funny thing is that I knew Kate Beckinsale through her work as Selene in the _Underworld_ franchise but never realized she was Anna.
Finally what’s more interesting is that Richard Roxburgh who played Dracula and Silvia Colloca who played Verona (one of Dracula’s Brides) are surprisingly married in real life.
Oh wow! They were actually husband and wife haha
@@OfficialMediaKnightsturn out a lot of people in the movie or TV series are married to a CO star. 😅
@@OfficialMediaKnights Don't forget that Igor in Van Helsing is none other than Benny from The Mummy. Something I never put together previously. I didn't look it up, but recognized his voice.
Same
@@jebVlogs556 married to or dated during or after filming.
Kaley Cuoco and the guy that plays Leonard in TBBT had a multi year relationship too.
That final scene with Anna and her family in the clouds literally broke my heart as a child 🤧
Omg me as well. 😢
The movie still has the best looking werewolf design ever (and no one can change my mind)! 🤩
YESSS we loved the design and also the transformations!
I have always loved Van Helsing. It was so good! The werewolf transformation, ripping off the skin, was something new and interesting. Just very good lore and acting!
I love this movie so much. The CGI on the Werewolves is very impressive, for such a low budget.
Absolutely agreed, this movie was just pure fun! The transformations also were super impressive!
It had a 160million $ budget …
Its literally impressive for any budget even today.
@@adamhaych8456😂😂😂
@@adamhaych8456 Right? I have no idea where this narrative came from that this was a low-budget movie, because I've heard multiple people say it. The only thing that I can think of is that blooper of the director and cast joking that this was a low-budget film because their props kept breaking. The other factor is probably the fact that the movie just has this dated look to it, especially in terms of the CGI aside from the werewolf designs. It might have made people assume this was low-budget.
This is probably one of the most underrated action adventure, monster horror films ever made. I loved this flick from the first frames.
Great to see you guys doing this one. Love your channel, great hosts!
Honestly David Wenham's character, Carl, in this always manages to make me laugh and is one of my favourite roles he's played. I also think Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale nailed their roles in this as well even if it was a low budget film.
David is tall in real life but played the character stooped over for the whole film so he was shorter than Hugh.
@@echocheck almost like he was to Van Helsing as Igor was to Dracula
@@echocheck David is 5'10" so he's pretty average height naturally, and wouldn't have needed to slouch to look shorter than 6'2" Hugh Jackman.
This movie cost 160-170 million, so it actually had a very large budget for its time. I think it's just the datedness of a lot of the CGI that makes it look low budget.
@@windowsVD Yeah that's what I thought too when I saw the interview where one of his castmates said they felt sorry for him having to stoop for the whole film. That he must of been very sore at the end of the day. Maybe that was a character choice David did on his own.
This is the movie I rewatched the most in my life
10-ish year old me was mesmerized by the whole aesthetic. Scenery, costumes, monsters, soundtrack. Everything on point.
And as many people will mention, probably still the best werewolf design in movies to this day
Same great movie. 1st time in theaters was pretty underrated experience
Finally!!! This movie deserves a lot more recognition. It's 2024 and this movie still has the best werewolf designs ever put on the big screen
Literally 😅I’ve been seeing all over social media of how ppl saying this movie is actually a masterpiece with good cgi for a low budget film first time I watched this is when I was little literally and I also played the game
There's a part of one of the two audio commentaries that I will always remember. You had Stephen Sommers, the director, and Bob Ducsay, the producer and editor. They talked about the audience's reactions after the final fight. They cheered when Dracula is dead, then everything goes quiet when it's revealed that Anna has passed. In Sommers' words, he could feel the audience's silence and then, according to him, as Van Helsing returned back to normal, every woman in the audience went, "There's Hugh Jackman's ass"! Then every man went, "I don't want to see no man ass!"
XD Oh, that moment you had your audience by the hand, then that happens. Peak cinema.
Kevin J. O'Connor who plays Igor, plays in at least three Stephen Sommers movies I know. The Mummy, Van Helsing and Deep Rising, which is another awesome movie I think you guys might love.
i hope they do deep rising. Almost nobody knows about that.
@@0725038 IKR! That movie is a ton of fun! Shame it’s not as popular as Sommer’s other films.
Deep Rising is definitely on our list!! We should have known that Igor and Benny were played by the same actor just because we hated his characters so much in both 😂
Also GI Joe. The director of mummy is the reason Brandon Frazier and him were in the movie.
Totally recommend Deep Rising! That is another favorite of mine!
This movie is so fun! The Werewolf designs are absolutely amazing and Richard Roxburough is having the time of his life! You can definitely tell they had a blast making this film!!
The director once joked how this movie was done on a budget.
It's amazing what you can do (simplicity-wise) if that's true.
He really stretched the budget as much as he could! Good for him 😃
This was a major budget film, well over $100 million.
Another action, drama, horror classic! Wish they would have made a part 2. I remember one trailer, where they introduce Hugh Jackman a Van Helsing, Kate Beckinsale as Anna Valerious, Richard Roxburgh as Count Dracula, Shuler Hensley as Frankenstein and the Wolfman as himself! I'm like WHAT!!! The Wolfman as himself? Oh, so he's really a werewolf, huh.😂
The three brides are some of my favorite vampire designs in cinema!
Kevin J. O'Connor who plays Igor is also Beni from The Mummy. So, as Igor is falling, mentally there is that "goodbye beni"
Van Helsing is my all time fav Universal film apart from Jurassic. It was a huge part of my childhood and soo happy to have grown up watchin it. Van Helsing has been a movie I enjoyed for its infamous monster hunter would definetly want to see another film today but honestly it probably wouldn't top this movie and again just an amazing film.
Perhaps they can give it another go and give us something special ❤️
I do wish this got sequels, when Universal was doing their horror monster thing, this should have been their base. The horror campiness was good but not overly done.
I absolutely love this extremely underrated masterpiece of a steampunk fantasy movie!
Glad to hear you enjoy it so much! 😄
Wow! Someone who actually used "underrated" properly on the internet. A movie that won multiple academy awards is by definition not underrated. A movie that's a fun popcorn flick with a likable hero and many great scenes but scored under 25% on Rotten Tomatoes? I don't care what anyone says, Van Helsing is a great movie. When you can say that, that's what makes it underrated.
(At 4:30) This part I always liked, and at the same time found sad, because this misunderstood monstrous son was falling to his death with his father who was dying and his arms. And the way they were falling into the flames was more dramatic, It looks so epic, I was impressed.
Yes! One of my all time favorites! Van Helsing and The Mummy are two of my most beloved monster movie jams. And this film in particular presents a phenomenal Dracula. Richard Roxburgh is perfect giving such an unforgettable performance. Love this movie, love you guys! So excited!
Sommers just proved with those movies that he has such a keen understanding on creating likeable characters and injecting great action with silly fun!
Richard Roxburgh was fantastic in this - his over the top, diva-like performance was such a joy to watch!! Thank you so so much for your kindness and support, you truly brighten our day ❤️
For me there's 4 Stephen sommers movies that are fun to watch
1) mummy
2) mummy return
3) van helsing
4) G.I Joe Rise of Cobra
There's also deep rising and odd Thomas which I can recommend to you
@@boboboy8189 Solid 4! Absolutely! I do enjoy the first G.I Joe very much. Thank you for the reminder to rewatch it soon.
This was an instant (and still) favorite from 20 years ago; the stylized fashions, the elaborate, handcrafted gadgets, excellent cinematography, I always appreciate attention to detail in a movie above and beyond what the film requires.
HAI GUYS YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST ❤ THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
Thank you so much for watching! ❤️
@OfficialMediaKnights absolutely no problem 😊
Watch Underworld series too, guys. They have vampires, werewolves, lots of guns, some romance, and saucy leather suits. Oh and Bill Nighy (Davy Jones) is there too, so that's a treat 😂
If you like werewolves, I recommend watching the film: DOG SOLDIERS (2002), a very good, tense and creative British horror, you'll enjoy it.
Yet another fantastic recommendation, thank you!! Adding that to our list!
LOVE THAT FILM ❤
Great Great movie.
Absolute gem of a movie
I was literally coming to the comments to say exactly this. I LOVE Dog Soldiers so much. Such a great film.
This movie is seriously underrated. I love the nods to old monster movies, the creature design is phenomenal, and the twists on the classic Lord is entertaining. Costume design, sets, etc. It's all fantastic!!
"You'll get your's Benny! You'll get your's!!!"
😂😂😂
"Oh like I haven't heard that before!" Benny
😂😂😂
I always wondered where i knew his Voice from XD
@@ParkerPG
If you watched the animated movie Anastasia. He's the white bat that serves Rasputin
@@boyscouts83712he not though? Bartok (the bat you’re talking about) was voiced by Hank Azaria
Been watching you guys for a little while now. Definitely have some of the best reactions to movies that I’ve seen so far.
Your love for film and storytelling shines in every reaction. Not just for the actors but all those that work behind the scenes. Set design, appreciation for practical effects vs CGI, score, filters, camera techniques and so on.
You two make me appreciate movies even more. Thank you.
Fun fact I didn't find out until recently: Mr. Hyde is played by Robbie Coltrane, who also played Hagrid. I miss him, man...
Lord, no matter how many times I watch this film, the idea of showing the shadow of the converted Dracula until the very end is just fiery!!!!!! You are so interested in this mystery, and at the very end - you are not disappointed, but on the contrary, you splash out this expectation. It is literally like those "animals" in Lost, when only their shadows and sounds were shown...
The most interesting thing is that according to the plot Gabriel Van Helsing is the archangel Gabriel. There are many hints about this in the film. According to rumors, they wanted to tell more about this in the planned sequel.
theres the animated one tho i havent seen it yet
Still conflicted with the need of making any film into a franchise, rather than giving the basic story in the first one, and build more context in possible sequels (because, if the studio decides not to pursue sequels, the main story remains unfinished an open).
Such is life...
Michael is the Archangel, Gabriel is not. The story claimed Gabriel is the Left hand of God not the Right hand of God which the Archangel would be.
Ever since I was a kid I thought this movie had the best werewolf design ever. Fun fact Velkans actor was a former ballet dancer so when he was doing all that twisting and turning on the wall that was all him.
Alongside Mask of Zorro and The Mummy, my Grandfather absolutely loved this movie. RIP Pa.
These films have been a blast to watch! RIP to your grandfather it sounds like he was awesome ❤️
@@OfficialMediaKnights indeed he was, my Dad and my Cousin would always be watching movies with him, whether it be Monster Movies, Westerns, War Movies, Comedies, even Musicals.
@@kaiju115 he certainly had great taste 👍
@@edgymoji8260 indeed he did. Thanks to him, I took on the Monster movies, my cousin took on the Musicals.
@@OfficialMediaKnights Also, you guys should TOTALLY watch Mask of Zorro! Great movie!
I love this movie soo much. I ride so hard for it because people dont give it enough credit. I ve grown to enjoy it more and more as I watch it.
The creature design is top tier! Cast is 10/10. The ending makes me tear up honestly. Its so sad but oddly warming.
Really really enjoyed y’alls commentary on this one. Im never not amazed by how much depth and appreciation you both show.
A fun fact I heard years ago, the hit on the side of the tub when falling at 30:25 was not intended as he was supposed to fall into it...but the stuntman was okay with them using the shot as it looked really good and was worth the pain. XD So glad to see you watch this film, one of my favorites!
Kinda reminds me of an old interview 😅with Jacky Chan(he played a stuntman in a few Bruce Lee movies), and Bruce would stop the film 📽️ just check on old Jackie and he would say ,"😜 nah,it was great scene,keep rolling the film." Gotta 🤟🏽 love the stunt team
These early 2000 movies were just pure gold. Like LOTR and Hell Boy.
I'm aware this may not be a lot of people's favorite movie, but it was always so much fun when I watched it
It honestly surprised us how much this movie was torn to shreds, it may just be a silly action flick but it's certainly really entertaining!!
"Dracula Untold" is good also 👍
One of my favorite movies of my childhood. And hands down the BEST werewolf design and it holds up to this day
Hugh Hackman and Kate Beckinsale… my bi panic is bi panicking 😮💨😮💨😮💨 now we need your underworld trilogy reaction!
If you guys havnt seen Kate as Selene in The Underworld movies PLEASE do!!!!
Ohhh hell yeah, I'm gonna show those to Ari, the Underworld movies shaped my childhood!
@@OfficialMediaKnights They are wicked movies!!! Love them all but, Rise of the Lycans is my personal fav. Thank you for answering & hope you both have had a wonderful weekend! :)
As a longtime Castlevania fan, this is still the best screen adaptation of that franchise.
Lol. The series on Netflix are incredible.
Adore this movie. Best werewolves in any film or game to date, still not been topped 20 years later.
Ah, yes, the first appearance of wolferine. Such a fun movie. There were some great cinematographic shots, it had a score that really hooked you, and the whole movie didn't take itself too seriously. It's fun. That's it. So glad you reacted to this one.
Just finished the full length version. When this movie first released, I wanted a sequence but the journey ended here. I also wanted them to expand on Gabriel’s past but understand it might also be too much for the movie. The transformations!! Their take on it is great! Imagine if Hugh Jackman came back as Van Helsing!
Yes yes and yes to all of the above!! It would have been amazing to see more of a glimpse into Gabriel's past - that part of the lore was just awesome!
Just spoken with my partner whose dad loves comics, Gabriel has a long life because of Dracula’s ring. He was a Knight who fought him, killed him, took his ring and was found in a cave by the priests.
Great movie!! It was really cool to see Beni "the mummy", being back as Igor. I wish they would have made more. Hugh Jackman nailed the character.
"Hellboy" would be a good choice to watch
I’m so so soooo happy you guys did this reaction and enjoyed it! This movie honestly deserves so much love and credit
Omg, i only now realized, after you said it, that Carl is played by same actor as Faramir 😁
A movie that really deserved a sequel. Would love to see Hugh Jackman play this role again.
Another reason i love this channel...
Whenever i get an urge to watch something... you two end up watching it 😁
We get so lucky with some of these choices somehow you guys are just in sync ❤️ Hope you enjoy 😃
49:20 The guy who plays Igor also plays Beni in The Mummy
30 SECONDS AGO?? I'm EARLY TODAY!!! Just wanted to say thanks for all these, it feels fun to watch some of my favourite video with some people. Its like we are watching it together ❤❤
You’re extra early! We’re so happy you guys have been enjoying these. Thank you for all the love ❤️
I love that the werewolves have characteristics of their humanity. They have their hair color, hairstyle and also their stature.
The best vampires and werewolves I've seen.
We loooved the designs and transformations!
Undertworld too
Definitely an underrated film for sure. The type of film that I could rewatch countless times in a single year and never get bored of it.
I was 9 when I saw this at the cinema within the UK...the vampires terrified the hell out of me, But at the same time I enjoyed it so much as it was so fun seeing this as a kid...I watched it over and over again when it was released on DVD...and I still love it today at age 29.
You have to watch the bloopers from Van Helsing. The funniest bloopers I think I have ever seen from any movie.
I give to you Van Halen!
One of my favourite monster movies and my personal favourite Werewolf design
Aussie (Van Helsing), Aussie (Dracula), Aussie (Friar) and Kate. Who wouldn't love this movie Want more iconic monsters? Give "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)" a watch
Lets gooooooooo!!!!! I'm so excited. I have asked for this movie on some videos. I'm so excited to see and hear your reaction to the music score It is soo good.I didn't expect it to happen that way. You guys made my day
Omg the score was ahhhmazing, we fell in love with Silvestri's work!! Thank you so much for the support, we truly appreciate having you here with us ❤️
If I may, I would recommend one of my favourite and in my opinion underrated move: The 13th Warrior starring Antonio Banderas
Still the best Werewolves transformations in cinema
The transformations were awesome! 👌
Other vampire films to watch include Underworld 1-5, Blade 1-3, Bram Stoker's Dracula, John Carpenter's Vampires, Fright Night, From Dusk til Dawn, Dracula 2000, 30 Days of Night and Dracula Untold. Gabriel Van Helsing is an homage to Professor Abraham Van Helsing and the Archangel Gabriel
Gabriel is not the Archangel, the movie claimed him to be the “Left hand” of God not the “Right hand” which Michael the Archangel is.
@@muzikman4399 only an Archangel can be in that position, as it used to be Lucifer until he was cast out of Heaven. It's further alluded to by his memories of being in ancient Rome. He was stripped of his powers and memories after murdering a human Dracula
interview with the vampire!!
Fun fact but the actor who plays dracula ended up marrying one of the actresses who plays Dracula's bride (Verona, the dark haired bride) and theyve been together ever since
Ugh, shes gorgeous
What a treat, I love this movie! It's just a ton of fun, and as a huge horror fan myself, really cool to see a new take on the classic monsters
We absolutely adored this movie, it was such a blast! Just like you, we really enjoyed this different perspective on classic monsters!
Another great movies with classic monsters I recommend are: Frankenstein (1994) with Robert De Niro as monster (!), Bad Moon (1996), Fright Night (1984), Vampires (1998), Dracula (1992) with Gary Oldman,.
The best thing is when you realize that Van Helsing is the Archangel Gabriel
Have to say Kate Beckinsales dad would be very proud of her and I know it's not PC to say this sort of thing anymore so under no circumstances am I going to say she is absolutely stunningly beautiful.
One of my favourite movies with the best werewolf design of all times!
YES!!!! HELL YEAH !!!!! OMFG.. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS OMFG OMFG OMFG . IM GEEKED
Omg ahahah that is awesome thank you so much!! We hope you have fun with our reaction!!