Van Helsing: The Making of the Thrilling Monster Movie (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook Series) [Hardcover]

Steven Sommers (Author), Stephen Sommers (Author)

Book Description

Series: Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks | Publication Date: May 19, 2004

From the maker of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, the long-awaited movie from Universal Pictures (May 2004) starring Hugh Jackman as Van Helsing, the legendary monster hunter born in the pages of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Stephen Sommers, the visionary filmmaker who revived Universal's classic Mummy character in the massive blockbusters The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, breathes new life into the most time-honored pantheon of classic Universal monsters: Dracula, The Frankenstein Monster and The Wolf Man. In Van Helsing, Sommers infuses these screen legends with dimension, characterization and technological wonder in a way that honors their legacy and propels them into the next generation of cinema.

Set in the late 19th century, the film finds fabled monster hunter Van Helsing summoned to a distant European land on a quest to vanquish evil. Starring Hugh Jackman (X2) as Van Helsing and Kate Beckinsale (Underworld, Pearl Harbor) as valiant Anna Valerious, and with awe-inspiring digital effects from Industrial Light & Magic, Van Helsing will thrill moviegoers as they are introduced to worlds never before imagined.

In addition to the complete screenplay, this spectacular Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook features over 150 full-color illustrations, including movie stills, creature and costume sketches, set designs, and special visual effects stills. Sidebars include interviews with the film's cast and crew, and details on the sweeping locations used to create Van Helsing's visionary supernatural world, spanning from 19th century London, Rome, and Paris to Transylvania. 150 color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen Sommers directed and wrote the screenplays for The Mummy and The Mummy Returns.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Newmarket Press (May 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557046298
• ISBN-13: 978-1557046291
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,810,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Splendid Companion to "Van Helsing", August 30, 2004

By 

G M. Stathis (cedar city, utah USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Van Helsing: The Making of the Legend (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook Series) (Paperback)

There are a number of things that one could single out for complaint regarding Stephen Sommers' summer tribute to the classic Universal monster films, but one of its strengths is its rich art direction. For fans of this film the art direction, and how it came about, is well pictured and documented in "Van Helsing: The Making of the Thrilling Monster Movie." It is a fun compaion to the film and a tribute to Sommers' work in creating a visually stunning summer treat. Shortly, after the realease of the film, the "Salt Lake Tribune" complained that "Van Helsing" lacked "atmosphere." This was a bizarre comment given one of the most atmospheric treatments of this genre since the best of the Hammer films. Much of this is caught in "The Making of." The phenomenal sets and backdrops are well preserved here. The book also contains a full working screenplay which may not stand up to more literal scripts, but it works here and is again fun to have in print.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The art alone is worth it!, July 4, 2004

By 

Hengky Tanoyo "Art Devourer" (Surabaya, Indonesia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Van Helsing: The Making of the Legend (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook Series) (Paperback)

Despite the rather silly premise of the movie itself, I bought this book for the art alone. I am a fan of monster designs and I have to say that the creature designs on this book (the Hellbeast and Werewolf)are worth every penny of it. The costumes, sets, and creatures' transformation are magnificent. I have only one dislike about the look of the Frankenstein monster which seems to be lifted out of the Munsters. If you're into dark creatures and monsters, you'll like this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensational Photo Book, August 21, 2004

By 

Jill M. Heins (Lenexa, KS United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Van Helsing: The Making of the Thrilling Monster Movie (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook Series) (Hardcover)

Van Helsing: The Making of the Legend is a gorgeous book full of beautiful scenes with glamorous vampires and adventurous monster hunters. It's too bad Dracula's brides were killed because I wanted to ask them where they shop. The only person without magnificent tresses is Frankenstein's monster, and he's so sympathetic I couldn't help but love him despite his monstrosity.

I had to laugh at this understatement from the writer/director on page 8 of the book, "There are no monsters in this movie, there are only people with very bad problems."

Richard Roxborough's Dracula stole the show with his seductive portrayal of evil's attempt to defy God (with predictable consequences), so I would have liked to see more of him in the book. However, Van Helsing: The Making of the Legend thoroughly documents the creation of the characters and filming of the stunning scenery. If you loved the movie I would highly recommend this book.