Customer Reviews

Dracula - The Dark Prince

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Or so they would have us believe. This film is strongly influenced by the Bram Stoker novel in mood and menace, but it is still highly entertaining and quite well done. Meant to be a historical drama about the real life of Vlad the Impaler, Dracula: The Dark Prince takes us to Romania in the 1400's, to see what made the man the legend he is today. The story is told from Vlad's point of view, as he recounts the story of his life before an Orthodox Ecclesiastical Court in defense of his crown. We first see Vlad as a child, training for battle with his father and younger brother, Radu. But soon after, Vlad's father is killed by the noblemen of his own country, who are constantly looking after their own interests above anything else. His brother kidnapped and brainwashed by a perverted Turkish Sultan, and himself believed to be long dead, Vlad eventually raises an army to help him take back the throne that rightfully belongs to him from the noblemen and their hand picked NEW prince. Once back in power, Vlad and his beautiful, new, young wife commence to having a son. Simultaneously, Vlad takes his revenge on the noblemen of his country who were responsible for the death of his father and so many others. With that matter taken care of, Vlad focuses on his main interest, dealing with the accursed Turks that have plagued him all his life. This brings up the problem of his younger brother, who is now one of them, and matters are not helped by the failing mental state of Vlad`s wife, who is disturbed more and more as she discovers the brutality of her husband`s style of government.
While the film does mention and even depict Vlad's more legendary and gruesome exploits, those that were less likely to be true were presented only as rumors amongst the people and noblemen of Romania that the Prince himself always denied. The film doesn't really take much of a fantasy angle, it simply drops hints here and there to remind you that this is the man known as Dracula. True, in the end the possibility that Vlad did become one of the undead is left open, but even the act that many have claimed ruined the reality of the film could easily be interpreted as the hallucination of a dying man. Overall, this is a pretty good film for what it is, and I recommend it to all fans of Dracula, real or imaginary.

Correcting Amazon's listing, this DVD is not widescreen but full screen, presented in its original 1.33:1 format. Digitally mastered. Audio: English 5.1 digital surround and Dolby 2.0. Subtitles: English and Spanish. Special features include: Select filmographies for director and cast; trailers for this and other features; menus and scene selection; photo gallery.

DRACULA: THE DARK PRINCE (a.k.a. DARK PRINCE: THE TRUE STORY OF DRACULA, from USA Networks) stars Rudolf Martin, Jane March, Roger Daltry, and Peter Weller. Shot on location in Romania with a largely Romanian crew.

The DVD's cover art has very little resemblance to the feature. This is not a vampire movie, though at times it's dark and bloody.

Martin (Vlad III) and March (Lidia) have many truly sublime moments in DARK PRINCE. The performances overall are well worth wading through the production's few awkward moments. Michael Sutton (Radu) and Christopher Brand (Bruno) add welcome depth with their supporting roles, as does Weller (Fr. Stefan) certainly.

March's Lidia is almost distractingly modern in her distain for Dracula's methods, until considering noble daughters might well have been shielded from such political realities. It's Martin's portrayal of the medieval ruler that lingers, however. Coldly ruthless, commanding, born and trained to rule, weary of the necessary dancing with the Roman and Orthodox churches. Yet humanity shines through when he smiles at his infant child.

Well done finale, worth the price of admission.

This film attempts to portray Vlad Dracul in a more realistic manner, as far as specific events are concerned, such as:

1. Rounding up traitors with the pretext of a drunken celebration, and then when all are pretty well enebriated, lighting the entire edifice aflame, thus ridding himself of possible antagonists to his reign.

2. Dining at The Field of The Impaled, while dipping his bread in a goblet filled with blood and wine. Enemies turning back to their countries fearing the man who is capable of such a fearsome spectacle.

3. The oft-times neglected fact that he also impaled women and children at times, depending upon their offense, in this case, for being "adulterous". In this sense, he was influenced by Judeo-christian moralism.

4. Another truism related that one could veritable leave gold on the streets, and it would not be stolen, for fear of the punishment. Criminals were often seen impaled and immolated on the streets, which acted as a perfect deterrent. He actually displayed elements of Lex Talionis - as a result, crime was just about nil.

5. Driving spikes into the skulls of Muslims who refused to remove their turbans. They should "keep their traditions in their own country".

As far as the characterization is concerned, the mane-haired Vlad Tepesh {Rudolf Martin} is presented herein in a more or less romantic manner, sans moustache, and often wearing leather. 'Mina' as "Lidia" {Jane March} remains sheltered, and goes insane upon her realization of the actual events occurring in the kingdom, who then begins to superstitiously adorn herself with a rosary and calls Vlad a "monster" {"Voevod"}. Upon her suicide, he has all the mirrors in the castle covered, thus the mythological connection with the vampire "unable" to view his own reflection. She is survived by Vlad Jr., who displays great potential for leadership through his own ruthlessness.

He encounters his traitorous younger brother on the battle field, and graciously spares his life instead of dispatching him, which he should have done, as well as his step-father, both of whom eventually prove to be major obstacles, from framing him, which lands him in prison for awhile, to attempts at assassination. Upon regaining the throne, he strikes a deal with Catholic King Janos {Roger Daltrey}, proclaiming that it does not matter to him under what banner he fights, so long as his rule continues, and thus, his own interests prevail.

He seemingly resurrects on a couple of occasions, which lends to the legend of physical Vampiric immortality, whose "soul" is unable to enter heaven or Hell, and is "condemned" to roam the earth in a state of the 'undead'; to which he remains thankful to the murderous priest, who himself meets his end via a heart attack - veritably scared to death. Quite a pleasing concluding scene, instead of the typical stake in the heart.

Because of his indestructability and military genius, he is accused of being an antichrist by the Orthodox clergy, which seems to amuse him, when all he wanted to accomplish was the glorification of his country and the preservation of his kingdom, both at which he succeeds.

I rather enjoyed this presentaion, where Vlad The Impaler relishes in his role as tyrant to his enemies, and savior to his people, who still hail him as a national hero, and expect his symbolic return in some form.

Overall, Dracula: The Dark Prince is an aesthetically-impressive film, as Dracula / Vampiric presentations tend to be quite elegant from environment to accoutrement to deportment, and is probably the closest adaptation to actual events in the life of this remarkable historical figure, certainly an unforgettably mighty warrior. who remains an inspiration.

Do not let the box cover of this video mislead you. It is much more than some silly blood sucking vampire movie. In fact, there is nothing at all of Vampires. Just the fact that his family's name was Dracul, a name that represented his father's bloodline association with the Order of the Dragons. Personally, I rate this movie high above Bram Strokers Dracula. The simple fact is, they really cannot even be compared. This is a movie that actually tries to understand and show the viewer what motivated the man known as Vlad the Impaler. Having watched the movie, I can state as a personal opinion, that it was not insanity or evil. It was a passion and love for his murdered father, country, his country-men/people and family.

Rudolf Martin does an exceptional job depecting the life and mind of Vald Dracula. There is not a single moment in this movie that you do not understand the reasons behind his "perceived" cruelty. There are many who believed him to be a tyrant, but I think it is important to note, as they did at the end of the movie, that he was beloved by his people and there are many in Romania today who pray for his return. I personally adore this man... at least as he was reflected in the film. His passion for revenge and justice; his love for his country, people and wife; and his consistent willingness to fight the people and the establishments that repressed the freedom of Romania and its people.

The entire cast plays their role to the hilt, finally giving viewers an opportunity to observe the mental and emotional circumstances that palyed a part in shaping him into the man he became. Some may think that his methods were too harsh. Impaling men on a stake for committing petty crimes. However, his controversial methods of bringing order to his country resulted in the well known "golden goblet at the city square well". What ruler today has brought such order to their country that any person can leave a prized possession out in a public area for days on end and have it never once removed.

I know that there are many people who may disagree with that statement as they are well allowed to. Perhaps the idea is to instill in people such morality and ethics that peace will be the natural end result. Well centuries before his time and centuries later, that does not seem to be a possible reality, not even with all the religions and "advancements" that abound.

Personally, if chaos can be stilled by inflicting such fear, then that works for me. Honestly, what would anyone have to fear unless they were committing a crime. As seen in this movie, Vlad Dracul was not a tyrant for self serving reasons. He did not personally gain from the punishments he inflicted. The people of his country gained. They gained in being able to walk the streets of their country without worry of being victimized by petty criminals and corrupt, greedy self-serving noblemen. How refreshing to see a leader who is as quick to inflict the same punishment to those of his class as he was to those of the class below him.

Based on this movie alone, I personally perceive Vlad Dracul as a man that many leaders and people today can look to as an example of what it means to have integrity, honor, courage and passion in life.

I hate that DVD cover, it makes it look like this film is some sort of cheesy B movie. But it isn't, this movie is well filmed, well acted, a complex well written script, beautiful scenery (shot totally in Romania, you can even see the castle where the real Vlad was born, in the background), great music, and just a great film period. I personally feel that this film should have been given a bigger budget and released in the theatres. It most certainly would have done a great job at the box office. Everything was prefect, all it would have needed was extra funds for larger and bloodier battle scenes and that's it. Even though I liked the music, with a bigger budget they maybe could have hired someone like Elliot Goldenthal (interview with the Vampire)Or Danny Elfman (Sleepy Hollow)to give it a darker sound. But oh well, even with the low budget the movie is still very good and although it may not be completely historically accurate it's much better than most of the Dracula films out there that is based soley on the Bram Stoker created character and not Vlad himself. And to be honest the guy who plays Vlad in this movie is creepy as *** and he isn't even a vampire!

When I first saw this movie on the USA network, I didn't know the name of it cause I only saw it near the end but I thought it was pretty good and couldn't wait for them to air it again, but that didn't happen and I figured I missed my chance. Then when I went to the video store I saw that DVD cover and was in the mood for a campy Vampire flick (misleading cover) and figured why not, esp. since I love vampire movies anyway. I was shocked when I started to watch and discovered that it was the movie I saw a long time ago and thought I would never see again. (unless USA network decided to ever show it again)

Bottom line this movie is completely different than I expected it be. Rudolf Martin was perfect for this role. He's the best Dracula I've ever seen on film. He also appeared in a Buffy the Vampire slayer episode as Dracula but they didn't do him justice. Rudolf Martin oozes dark sex appeal as Vlad the Impaler, a ruthless tyrant to some but a national hero to most, who tries desperately to free his country from Turk oppression. Even though it's a made for TV movie it certainly pulls no punches with Vlad's brutal acts. Rudolf Martin adds a level of complexity to the character that is easy to just play evil. In one scene you see him brutally murdering people and impaling their bodies and in the next you see a man who is a loving husband and father to his wife and son.

Jane March even shows that she can act in a movie AND keep her clothes on *gasp*! I loved watching her slowly go mad as she sees the acts her husband has committed. I know some people who saw this movie got thrown off by the Bram Stoker like ending, but I say it adds to the film,I see it as a small tribute to all the Dracula films we know and love and the man that actually inspired it all...Vlad Tepes himself.

And compared to the other films who only want to show the capes and fangs while chasing after some big breasted teenager this is near perfect, showing the life and times of Vlad Dracula.

Just rent the movie and see for yourself.

I'm writting this after reading the other reviews. You have to remember when watching this that it is a Movie not a Documentary. It's a great Dracula story based loosely on facts. If anyone is trying to convince you otherwise they're out of their mind. (And if anyone actually portrayed the true figure of Dracula it would not only be an ugly character, but also an ugly actor ...)

This is a great, slightly dramatic movie; with a great looking actor; and a lose ending. It's fun and a great movie if you like vampire movies, or historical fiction.

I had figured this would be just another cheesey vampire movie, but it wasn't. I don't even know why he had fangs on the cover. He was never portrayed as a vampire in the movie. It is a factual and historical account of Vlad The Impaler from ancient Romania. The movie was touching, intense, and kept my eyes glued to the tv so as not to miss a single thing. It was so good, that my other Army buddies that watched it with me all fought over who was going to borrow it from me first! I think it'll be weeks before I get this dvd back! It arrived fast and in perfect condition. ...

I want to say that I was born in Transylvania, Romania, and moved to the states when I was 3. I was astonished to find a movie based on the historical figure of Dracula. This movie was great! I know most people think of Dracula as an evil tyrant, but its untrue. He was/is a hero to Romanian people. He did NOT stake innocent people, he punished only those that stole, killed and deserved it. He helped the sick, innocent and poor. He fought for the weak. He was a brilliant general and a loving father. This movie portrays him pretty well, and I'm glad it was shot in Romania, where people can see its a beautiful place. I would definetly recommend this for people interested in facts.

Ok, if u r a fan of Dracula horror movies, this is prolly not the movie for u. If u r a fan of the history of Vlad Tepes(the real Dracual)this is for u. This movie gives the factual history of Prince Vlad's life which was what Bram Stoker based his novel Dracula on. Of course their r some untrue hollywood glam effects in this movie but other wise its a gr8 film. If ur someone who is interested in the myth of vampires, I would recommend this movie. I have been studying the myth of vampires for years and was shocked how well hollywood followed to the actual truth. Plus, Rudolf Martin plays a gr8 Vlad and hes nice to look at:0)

this movie is ecspecially good for history fans because of its place with the ottoman empire. it is one of my favorite movies because there is truth behind the tale and it shows what it origionally was before blood-sucking vampires were introduced into society and their sterio-types. it is a very enchanting tale as well as informing, i suggest this movie to all history fans and drama fans. its so intense.