Dracula Untold (2014)

[Archivist]

A number of reviews aren't wonderfully favourable, but I really enjoyed this Dracula Untold.  Apparently the first of a series reboots for the Universal Monsters franchises, Dracula Untold eschews the Bram Stoker novel in favour of a sympathetic retelling of the story of Vlad The Impaler.

Set in Transylvania during the reign of Vlad III, the Ottoman Turkish Sultan demands a thousand boys from Vlad's country to join his army.  Not wanting to surrender his people, he resorts to finding a legendary vampire that lives in a nearby mountain.  Vlad is portrayed as a loving family man who wants only to help his people, and his ferocious reputation for impaling enemy armies on stakes came from the necessity of sending a strong message.

The direction is pretty solid and I very much enjoyed the cinematography and editing.  Luke Evan's Vlad is torn between protecting his people and his family from the Turks, and succumbing to the bloodlust that the vampire gave him.  Special effects are, of course, widely used, and well used. 

This isn't a movie for logic, it's about going with the story and having some fun.  There are a few nods to the Bram Stoker novel, almost in a tongue-in-cheek manner, but this movies shares more with the Brian Lumley Necroscope novels in historical references and war scenes.  Something fun to see in the cinema if you like this kind of thing!

Dracula Untold - Official Trailer (HD)

[Olivia Bauer]

The reason why I haven't watched it is because of one line in the trailer.

"Drink and become Dracula."

That literally makes no sense whatsoever.

Dracula means son of Dracul. Vlad Tepes was indeed the son of a man names Dracul. So by default his name would be Dracula anyway.

[Archivist]

The reason why I haven't watched it is because of one line in the trailer.

"Drink and become Dracula."

That literally makes no sense whatsoever.

Dracula means son of Dracul. Vlad Tepes was indeed the son of a man names Dracul. So by default his name would be Dracula anyway.

Strange.  I thought the line in the trailer said, 'Drink... Dracula'.

[Muscle Hedonist]

I really like the old vampire dude from the trailer. Just good old practical effects and make-up. Almost makes me want to watch it if it wasn't for the unfavorable reviews, but I probably will watch it eventually.

[Neville]

It rates very low on originality... it's basically the prologue of "Bram Stoker's Dracula" retold in different aesthetics. This said, it's not a bad retelling of the same old story and it's much better done than you could expect from the trailer. And certainly a million ways better than those appalling "Dracula 2000" films.

[rebel_1812]

It rates very low on originality... it's basically the prologue of "Bram Stoker's Dracula" retold in different aesthetics. This said, it's not a bad retelling of the same old story and it's much better done than you could expect from the trailer. And certainly a million ways better than those appalling "Dracula 2000" films.

It dealt with that material in an original way.  They made the character just as brutal but sympathetic and relatable.  It combined elements with the current blockbuster genre with horror elements.