When Count Dracula comes to London from Transylvania, a series of ungodly events follow him, and a group of men unites to stop him from claiming his future bride.
Which Dracula is your favourite? I guess your answer depends on how old you are. I grew up with Francis Ford Coppola’s, and admittedly, it is my favourite. And how could it not be… Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Cary Elwes, Richard E. Grant, and Tom Waits. The late Michael Ballhaus’ haunting photography and the team’s meticulous editing synthesize one of the greatest Gothic fairy tales of the 90s. Two years before that, there was Edward Scissorhands (1990) – once again with the one and only Winona Ryder. See how shadows are cast, how the match-cuts stitch the sequences together, and how the narrative patiently unfolds. Also, the amazing costume design and the brilliant makeup (Oscar winners) are not to be discounted.
The 2007 Collector’s Edition DVD audio commentary revealed an enormous amount of information regarding the film’s production. One of the most interesting facts is that, other than the Blue Inferno, no digital visual effects were used in postproduction. Coppola was adamant, and his vision paid off (it also paid for his production company’s debt and saved it from bankruptcy).
In all honesty, of course, I am not posting this actually to review the film. I am doing it for two reasons: Its brilliance lies in the storytelling, and I really want to bring it to the newer generation of moviegoers or film lovers’ attention to appreciate and understand that visual effects should be used only as a means to enhance the narrative rather than overshadow it or compensate for the lack of it. Also, I want to remind myself and older generations that films such as Dracula still exist. Hey… it’s Halloween time, so why not dust the old scary DVDs and enjoy something from the past? For nostalgia…
Enjoy Halloween!
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