35 years of Summer Blockbusters - May 7th

May 7, 2004 - Six years ago Universal and Hugh Jackman had one of the biggest flops in recent movie history when the film "Van Helsing" was released to an uninterested public. The film had been highly advertised with a big as campaign and movie tie-ins. This was an attempt by Universal to capture the magic of the multi-monster mash ups of the 1940's. The movie featured Dracula, Frankenstein's monster a wolfman and assorted ghouls and vampire bat things.

The film was almost universally panned. With a production and marketing budget of $220 million dollars the film needed to be a colossal hit when it opened in 3,500 theatres. But it only made $51 million in the first weekend and lost 60% of its audience by the second weekend. The film eventually made $120 million plus another $180 million overseas, so it was not a complete financial wreck. But Universal abandoned any attempt at creating a new summer franchise.

I saw it on the first weekend and it was over written in a CGI explosion of action sequences and had no heart. Too many monsters! At The Movie House rating ** stars

May 7, 1999 - Universal probably got the idea for Van Helsing because of the success of "The Mummy" released eleven years ago. This remake of the 1930's and 40's horror movies turned the mummy into an Indiana Jones like adventure starring Brendan Frasier as a charming rogue, who turns mummy killer. It was fast paced and had a smart comic edge that made it a perfect summer movie. It was a big hit for Universal and made $155 million at the box office and was the #1 movie for two weeks in a row.

I saw a sneak preview of this in Las Vegas at a Blockbuster conference. The sound was so bad we had to see it again in theatres when it came out. At the Movie House rating *** stars

May 7, 1993 - Seventeen years ago Warner Bros. released "Dave". This adaptation of the Prisoner Of Zenda updated the story to the modern day White House and had Kevin Kline playing the president and his double. More romantic comedy than political satire this movie charmed audiences all summer. A solid hit at the box office and a home video favorite.

At the Movie House rating ***1/2 stars.

May 7, 1982 - Twenty Eight years ago Hollywood didn't know you could release big pictures in early may and the audiences would come. The two major releases for the day were "Paradise", a Blue Lagoon rip-off and "The House Where Evil Dwells" a Japanese/American grade "B" horror flick. Neither pics are rated by our At the Movie House critics.