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| Your Comprehensive Guide To Video Movie Rentals. | ||
| by John Mundazio with additional editing by Bridget Petrella | ||
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John Mundazio is a
nationally syndicated columnist currently living in The Big Apple. |
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Eternal
love is the most romantic ideal we can embrace in a lifetime...
As the legendary story goes... once upon a time, there was a brave prince,
who was of the sacred order of the dragon, also known as Dracula (played
to brilliance by Gary Oldman). He humbly served the cross, defeating all
of the "enemies of Christ". His name was Vlad. He lived happily in his
beautiful castle with his beloved wife, Elizabeta (Winona Ryder), who he
priced above all things on Earth. At that time in history, Muslim Turks
swept into Europe, threatening all Christianity. Vlad marched out to meet
the warriors in battle and defeat them. He was victorious. But the evil
Turks shot an arrow into his castle, carrying false news— that the prince
had fallen. Elizabeta, believing his death, threw herself into the river.
When Vlad returned home, he found his beloved princess dead in his chapel.
He then addresses God, whom he had served and worshiped his entire life:
"Is this how you repay me? I will arise from my grave and avenge her death
with all the powers of darkness... Her blood is now my life!" That is how
the sweet prince became the servant of darkness, cursed to walk in the
shadow of death for all eternity. His beautiful castle turned into prison,
his heavenly land into hell and his life into a nightmare of epic
proportions... searching through time for the soul of his beloved
Elizabeta.
Oldman's
Dracula appears in a number of interesting forms, some enhanced by
creatively structured and no doubt uncomfortable makeup. But while he's
rather convincing in each and every one of them, he's the most impressive
as the young Dracula. Seductive, passionate and attentive, he has
everything it takes to create Dracula's overwhelming personality. Winona
Ryder is the otherwise dependable and sensible Mina, mysteriously drawn to
the charming foreigner in Jonathan's absence. She is constantly searching
for her true self, at last realizing that she is the reincarnated spirit
of Dracula's beloved princess, she becomes desperately caught between two
worlds of which she must choose one. It's an interesting character
struggle and Ryder's subtle style conveys the conflict precisely.
Coppola's film is structured as Stoker's novel— with fragments from the
diaries of the main characters. We slowly begin to unravel their true
feelings, thoughts and emotions through the narration. Both the film's
synopsis and visual appearance are specifically created as a fairy tale of
sorts. Most retelling of this classic novel have continually neglected the
foundation of the story, which is one of undying love. It is and always
will be a "love story" with major horror overtones. 
