Great movie, with great actors. Intense battle sequences, and very little blood. Plus Kate is super hott in this movie, so all the better.
Van Helsing
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
This is one vampire movie with bite.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Van Helsing was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this movie has non-stop and intense action, with characters in constant extreme peril. There are gross and violent images and many characters are killed. There are a lot of jump-out-at-you surprises and grotesque creatures. Characters use brief mild bad words. There are brief mild sexual references and a non-explicit sexual situation.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the original sources and enduring appeal of characters like Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the Wolfman. They could talk about the villagers' decision that since the vampires killed only one or two people a month, they should not try to stop them. They might want to talk about the ending, whether it was a surprise and how they feel about it.
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More on Van Helsing
What’s the Story?
VAN HELSING starts with a bang, even the movie studio's logo a part of a glorious black-and-white intro that wonderfully evokes James Whale's iconic scene of Viktor Frankenstein screaming "It's ALIVE!" as the monster created from pieces of seven men is shocked into life and torch-bearing villagers are getting closer to the castle door. But then Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), who can regenerate when he is wounded, shows up to say, "It's a pity your moment of triumph is being spoiled over a little thing like grave robbery," and things take a surprising turn. A year later, a guy in the coolest fedora since Indiana Jones is fighting a monster. It is Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman), a man who knows that he is here to fight evil, but is not sure why. He seems to remember fighting the Romans at Masada (that would be in about the year 72) but can't remember the details of his past. When asked whether he is a holy man or a murderer, he says, "A bit of both." All he ever needs to know is "What are we dealing with and how do I kill it?"
Is It Any Good?
This is one vampire movie with bite. It's a deliciously entertaining thrill ride that pleasurably tweaks new thrills from old stories. Thankfully, little time is wasted on exposition and explanations. Van Helsing is pretty much non-stop action, more thrill ride or video game than story. And that's fine with me. The production design is fabulously entertaining and imaginative. The monsters are all re-imagined with a great deal of flair, particularly Frankenstein's creation, one of the best of his many screen portrayals. The CGI effects are exceptionally well done, subtle details add a great deal of depth and atmosphere, and there are many intricate contraptions and a lot of slimy, dripping gloop.
Some good dialogue is delivered with a lot of panache. The movie takes itself seriously enough to have us care about the outcome but has enough of a sense of humor to provide Van Helsing with a cheery sidekick with a knack for weapons technology. Jackman has all that it takes to be both leading man and action hero. Kate Beckinsale is fine as Anna, the last in the line of her family, which for generations has been dedicated to wiping out the vampires. But in a movie like this, what matters is the bad guys, and Roxburgh is just right as Dracula, sinuous and seductive, a little effete, a little theatrical, and deliciously bloodthirsty.
Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures, Director: Stephen Sommers
Run time: 132 minutes
Theatrical release: 5/7/2004, DVD release: 10/19/2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for nonstop creature action violence and frightening images, and for sensuality
Run time: 132 minutes
Theatrical release: 5/7/2004, DVD release: 10/19/2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for nonstop creature action violence and frightening images, and for sensuality
Our Members Say
See all 17 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Van Helsing
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
great for tweens and up but little kids is prob a not good idea
I've seen the movie quite a few time and sure it's strange but most sexual things for younger children in this movie will slide by but older will proabaly catch on,language is pretty mild,and the violence is bacily supernatural fighting it is of course a movie with vampires and werewolves.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
AWSOME!!!
A good movie. But if young ones are afraid of vampires and werewolfes this is not a movie for them.
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
violent but good
I think this is a good movie but u dont need to watch it if u get scared easily because it can get scary for some people at times
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Not for everyone, but not bad
The combination of the Frankenstein monster, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, and the Wolfman was interesting, to say the least. For such an in-your-face, "oh-look-something-else-just-popped-out-and-scared-my-socks-off" movie, I thought they did a pretty good job. Hugh Jackman was wonderful as the title character, though I think that Kate Beckinsale overdid her Transylvanian accent just a tad. And honestly, what vampire-killing woman would, in her right mind, wear high-heeled boots? The vampire chicks, while a little freaky, were pretty awesome, though their outfits were defnitely veering towards scandalous. I thought Richard Roxburgh was wonderful as Dracula, and you had to love David Wenham as the bumbling friar with a perfect throw. The ending wasn't perfect, but it was satisfactory in its sadness, somewhat touching, and it did fit. The movie was kind of violent, a little gruesome, but hey, we're dealing with literature's most fearsome monsters, so what can we expect?
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I rate this title pause for age 12 and give it
Guaranteed To Keep You Entertained
This is one great movie. I've seen this movie 4 times and it has kept me entertained every time. The visual effects are amazing and it has an intriguing story. This is no doubt a 5-star movie. One aspect that kept me entertained is that this is non-stop action. This movie is a roller coaster of a ride and never lets up for more than 2 minutes. I would give this a pause for 12 year old's. I think most 12 year old's could handle it, but some might get scared. There is no language in the movie, however in one scene, a women has implied sex with a man in return for saving her life. There are many scary monsters such as the werewolf, Dracula, his 3 wives, Dracula's kids (which are little flying monsters) and Mr.Hyde. There is lots of violence, however no gore, and very little blood. Consider watching the movie with your kid is he/she is scared easily.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Excellent!
Totally loved this movie. Could watch again and again.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Awesomely cool movie
Yea this movie was great! Your favorite monsters are featured and your screen isn't broken -- just the first few minutes are black and white. The movie keeps you interested and puzzled at some parts. I say that any brave 5 year old could see it but I'd recomend it to 10 years+. The only downside is that the ending may not make sense. I do not recall any launguage but it's a great horor/comedy.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Fun to watch but also a bit stupid.
This movie was eciting to watch but a little stupid and the other stuff was bad.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
OK comic book
I watched this with my 13 year old, and by the end we both agreed it was kinda like a mildly amusing theme park ride neither of us would wait in line to ride again. It's visually spectactular, with the whole Universal lot of monsters rendered in pretty good CGI splendor. It would have been too scary for my 11 year old--if you have kids who are at all fright-adverse, find another movie. There are plenty of horror-movie type scenes where monsters stalk the protagonists. There's also this underlying semi-erotic theme of the well endowed she-vampires. Check out the recent "Count of Monte Cristo" for a better family adventure.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Ugh!
This is a totally and utterly despicable movie- it's a brainless film that will bore you to death! There are so many special effects the movie looks like a cartoon, and the characters are flatter than paper. Please dont see this dreadful movie- you'll thank me later.
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
a definate NO NO
Don't watch this. Bad for kids, teens, everyone. Not only is it absolutely laughable, and just plain pointless, but its bad, as there are lots of monsters/vampires, etc. Shouldn't have been made.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Exciting and entertaining
Overall, this was a great movie. It was just that some parts were so....serious and with such dramatic music that it was almost funny when it shouldn't have been. It just could have been a but more subtle - it didn't need everything to spell out that it was supposed to be suspenseful. Otherwise, I really liked it.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Mild Stuff
I would not think that the movie was so bad had it not been for parcial naked vampires flying around the place. Dracula was rather scary and sometimes some shock moments would right on appear. But if you aren't strict about movies you should easily let your kids see this. If you are STRICT then I would recommend watching this movie first.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
pretty good till the end of the movie
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Very fun movie
If you're kids are going to watch it, you should know this movie is almost non-stop action, teens will absolutely love it. Adults might not like it as much due to it's relative lack of plot. But it's a very fun movie to watch, and it almost even made me cry at the end... though I won't give away why.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
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