We are almost to Halloween and today I've got an unusual character from the Universal Monsters canon: Gabriel Van Helsing from 2004's Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman. Yes, Van Helsing is a Universal Monsters film! Sure, everything I've been looking at is pretty much pre-1960 but the Universal Monsters have lived on not just in nostalgia and rewatches but in attempts to rejuvenate the franchise. 1999's The Mummy is without a doubt the best movie in the entire Mummy franchise (and I'm a guy who regularly wears a Universal Studios The Mummy had based on the Boris Karloff original) and due to the success of both that film and it's sequel, The Mummy Returns, Universal Studios returned to the same well, bringing back director Stephen Sommers and recruiting Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale to fight the classic monsters with a mixture of Victorian charm and steampunk sensibilities. Dracula and his brides, Victor Frankenstein, Igor, and the Monster, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and a wolf man, too? Sign me up. Honestly, just hearing about it makes it sound like possibly the greatest film ever made. In reality... it's just OK. I saw it back in 2004 when it was released and I even watched it again quite recently. It's a decent movie with a great visual style that just tries to jam too much stuff into one movie, over does the CG, and could stand to slow down a bit at times. It's a shame we never got another one, perhaps to rectify some of the issues with the first film, but it wasn't a hit. Still, Van Helsing is a recognizable character (Hugh's Van Helsing isn't directly Professor Abraham Van Helsing from Dracula, and may actually be the angel Gabriel, oddly enough) and Pop Mart's Universal Monsters Alliance line included him in their roster last year. Want to have Van Helsing chill out with the creatures he's sworn to hunt down? Then join me after the break...
The Facts:
Height: 3 inches (sitting)
Articulation: None
Accessories: Crossbow, mug, chair, and collectible card.
Year of Release: 2023
Original Retail Price: $16
The Positives:
* These were available in blind boxes, with a case netting you the whole set or the whole set minus one and the rare chase figure of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. Each figure is pre-posed, sitting down in a grand, old fashioned theater style chair. They are removable from the chair but since they can't stand on their own there isn't much reason to remove them unless you're sitting them down somewhere else. I love the concept that the Universal Studios Monsters are just chilling out, watching movies together. It's quite charming, even with Hugh Van Helsing in the mix.
* The Universal Monsters Alliance line has a stylized and kind of cute aesthetic to it with large eyes and more simply shaped heads. Still, there's a lot to like here. Van Helsing looks a little bit upset. His cheeks are red and flushed. Perhaps he's a but rattled at being surrounded by the rest of the Universal Monsters? Maybe he's upset that it's taking so long to get to his movie during this monster marathon? He's sporting a cool hat and some long hair to drive the ladies wild.
* Despite this being a stylized collectible figure, the paintjob is really good. Van Helsing's pants and boots are really covered with some grime and dirt from a hard day's work fighting monsters. He's definitely going to have to work to get those stains out!
* The chairs seem to be the same with each figure, but this is still a really neat piece with a red cushioned seat, wood construction, and silver paint apps for the bolts holding it together. There's even some shading for the cushions.
* The back of the chair actually has the name of the film complete with the release date (May 6th, 2004). What a cool little extra! I saw this with my dad in a matinee showing at a smaller theater near our local mall. It was the same theater we saw Blade and John Carpenter's Vampires in, too. Lots of vampire killing was witnessed in that theater.
* Van Helsing comes packing some heat. He's got his cool crossbow with a little arrow in it. It fits in his right hand in case he needs to keep the monsters in line.
* Since he's also just chilling out and enjoying some of the movies, Van also has a large wooden mug of some frothy drink. Pop Mart really does have some nice paint work. The mug looks fantastic!
* There's also a little collectible card included, just for fun.
Looking for more of Van Helsing? I've also reviewed the Diamond Select Van Helsing which is a different take on Abraham Van Helsing.
For more Universal Monsters Alliance reviews check out the following:
The Mummy
The Mummy
I'd like a proper action figure of Van Helsing. Yeah I thought the movie was fine. And Hugh and Kate looked fantastic and both would make some attractive action figures. :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if NECA has the rights to do them since they have the Universal Monsters rights? I wonder how much interest their would be in those two? I think they'd make great figures.
DeleteHe’s to cute to be intimidating to any monsters.
ReplyDeleteAt best he's just minorly annoying them.
Delete