Bagong version ng ‘DRACULA’ kailangan panoorin ng 2 beses

TRY as we could, hindi namin maintindihan ang “Dracula Untold”.

Iisa ang dahilan kung bakit namin gustong mapanood ang “Dracula Untold” – sa kaniyang interview na part of E News special ng nasabing movie, Luke – always the one of those sa mga big franchise movies like “Fast And The Furious” and “The Hobbit” – is pre-disposed daw na gumanap ng isang bampira one of these days.

Paano, tunay as in tunay ang apat na pangil niya so hindi na kailangan ng dental special effects. Ipinakita niya ito sa interview and indeed, matalas at mahaba ang dalawang pangil niya sa itaas at hulmado rin ang mga pangil niya naman sa ibaba.

For a change, we saw the movie not in our favorite haunts like Greenbelt/Glorietta or TriNoMa but in Promenade sa Greeenhills. Ito ang ginawa naming pampatay ng oras para sa appointment namin ng 7 p.m. sa Teatrino.

Same rate ang sinehan ng Promenade and Greenbelt and fortunately, same high standard of cleanliness and comfort din naman so okay na.

Fourteenth century, sa kingdom na pinamumunuan ni Vlad Teper (Luke), an anarchy is starting from the very people he protects and rule over. With the help of right hand Mehmed (na ang pinagbasihan ng character is a sultan so could not be just a plain assistant to anyone even to a king) Vlad is forced to asked for help from a supernatural power na si Master Vampire (Charles Dance) but avoiding na baka matulad siya at maging isang supernatural din.

This is really Dracula untold dahil wala namang ganitong kuwento ang original author nitong si Bram Stoker. Now, being a scriptwriter ourselves, we appreciate the efforts of the other wordsmith who can extend a story either at the start of the original frame, in the middle or even an epilogue.

Dito, writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless created a totally different version of “Dracula”, at isinama pa si Bram Stoker sa credits ha, we just hope properly notified talaga ang author’s foundation to tweak the character so much bidang-bida ang bampira level siya ng mga “Twilight” creatures. “Dracula” is such a heroic character, a loving husband, a good father hindi na namin ma-reconcile ang “Dracula” of old na isang blood sucking killer.

The last successful version of this Bram Stoker’s Dracula ni director Francis Ford Copolla in 1992. Although nag-extend din sila ng kuwento sa panimula, it remains true to the character they are using for cinematic purpose.

Vlad the Impaler ang tawag sa kaniya ng mga tauhan niya because he impaled the heads of enemies and townsfolk alike, not here, parang forced to do lang siya.

This is why we’re confused. First how many versions of “Dracula” ba ang kailangan natin in our lifetime? Bram Stoker’s Dracula is definite and “Dracula Untold” rocked its boat. Now, if the new generation would see this and then via DVD would see the Bram Stoker’s Dracula, maku-confuse talaga at magtatanong kung sino ang paniniwalaang version.

And this is final irony, there is no historical connection between the real Vlad Teper and Dracula ha, in-assume/research lang ito ni Mr. Stoke. Our point is do the writers assume their story is plausible enough to be accepted? Sabi nga ng mga lumang movies, “it will not play in Peoria,” the old Hollywood’s way of saying it will not be appreciated by the masa.

We don’t want to spoil the ending, alam niyo ba nang naging vampire na si Vlad sa huli at kailangang uminom ng dugo, somebody close to him ang nag-offer pa ng kaniyang leeg to drink from it? Laughable hindi ba dahil the real character died violently and not some vampire bite.

Isa pa, “Dracula Untold” is too dark pa literally and figuratively. Parang wala kaming nakitang morning scene. There are of course but very far and few. Gabi ba palagi sa Transylvania? We can understand mood setup pero overkill ang pagkadilim nito even the castle of the king is dark.

Good thing may maganda naman kaming masasabi sa movie. The special effects is exceptional but then with the new techniques being created in Hollywood, the movie should at least followed with the times and it did.

The characterizations are surprisingly good din, Luke likes a hero and acts like one brooding king very much like Hamlet. Sarah Gadon who plays Vlad’s wife Mirena is so beautiful to look at and this is an achievement considering he’s always in the dark nga just like the other characters.

“Dracula Untold”, needs to be watched twice. Hindi namin maitindihan ang purpose ng pelikula the first time, baka a second viewing will help. But then parusa na amin ito, we do not like the movie the first time, will it change our mind the second time?