The umpteenth in a long line of screen adaptations of Bram Stoker's iconic literary creation the BBC's 2006 production has the dubious distinction of a unorthodox casting in "Hustle's" Marc Warren as the vampiric Count while diverting more so from Stoker's classic novel than previous versions.This version sees young English estate agent, Jonathan Harker journeying to Transylvania to finalise the sale of a property being bought by the aged Count Dracula. Little does he realise and all of us are more than aware, the Count is a vampire and upon learning this, Jonathan is murdered by Dracula. Meanwhile back in England , Jonathan's fiancé, Mina Murray is celebrating the imminent nuptials of her best friend Lucy Westernra to Lord Arthur Holmwood. However, unknown to Lucy her husband to be has contracted syphilis, a disease that was passed on to him by his father before his birth and is therefore unable to consummate their marriage. In the vain hope of ridding himself of the fatal illness he enlists the services of Dracula who he has been told can rid him of the affliction and aided him to secure the purchase of Carfax Abbey as a residence in London. But the Count has his own agenda and with the help of a cult who worship him, he plots to make London his own personal feeding ground. It is only the sage knowledge of Dutch professor, Abraham Van Helsing that can put a stop to Dracula's plans. The BBC has a distinguished history, particularly when it comes to costume drama's and while it's beautiful to look at and the scenes in Transylvania are brought brilliantly to life, this latest adaptation is incredibly misjudged, hollow and ultimately unfulfilling. The problem primarily is with the unnecessary alterations made to the films source material. The whole angle revolving around Arthur's affliction only serves to add the ridiculous and terribly misconceived notion that Dracula is the figure of worship, a clear attempt by the films writers to do something original and inventive with the story which only manages to be tawdry. The actors struggle to bring any credibility to the sorry affair with Warren chiefly miscast as the titular Count, lacking any commanding presence that former Dracula's (Christopher Lee springs to mind) had in abundance. While impressive in earlier scenes where the Count is elderly, his later scenes are woeful. Warren stares fixedly at his co-stars clearly attempting to provoke chills and merely provokes indifference. Only David Suchet comes out of the whole farrago with any dignity in tact as Van Helsing. More depressing than scary and only running in at an hour and a half in length "Dracula" is a dull inspired mess as is the rest of the acting. It's hard to really care about any of the characters least of all Arthur who is partially responsible for bringing Dracula to London while Warren preying on Sophia Myles Lucy in the bedroom scenes, obviously an attempt to recreate the sexiness of Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" just comes across as flat and unappealing. If you want to see a good adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel then don't bother with this one, the hammy bygone days of the old Hammer Horror films were more enjoyable than this fluff.

Dracula (2006) * (out of 4) Incredibly bad adaptation from Masterpiece Theatre. Before he gets married, a Lord (Dan Stevens) discovers that he has syphilis. The Lord is told that a man named Count Dracula (Marc Warren)) can get rid of the disease. Um, yeah. I'm really not sure where to start with this film but it's pretty much bad on all levels but it somewhat remains interesting just because of how bad it is. Dracula can stay out in the sunlight and drink wine here so good for him. The performances are all incredibly bad and rival a high school play. The direction is all over the place and it's quite clear the director didn't know how he wanted to tell the story. The film plays so fast it's like you're watching it with the FF button going full blast.

and also one of the originals ones. Based on Bram Stocker Dracula, this movie center on Arthur Holmwood (Dan Stevens). A powerful English lord who suffer an heritage Syphilys who killed his parents. So he contacts a Secret Society as his last hope to finish his fatal illness, so he can depose the beautiful Lucy Westerna (Sophya Miles). At first looks like another boring BBC TV Movie or Miniseries, but then the crippy and the horror appeared. The thing that I like of the movie is that finally makes justice for a forgotten part of the book. The dead calm of the British coast before the huracaine of blood starts. Also makes justice to Lucy Character, who isn't a slut, just a Virgin girl who try to forget her virginity after several month of marriage. The cast is not the best but Sophia Miles and Dan Stevens shines as the Holmwood, and Tom Burke (as Seward), David Suchet and Marc Warren (as the Roumanian Count) makes also a wood work. The only miscast are Stephanie Leonidas and Rafe Spalle as Mina and Hycker.

I first saw that this was going to be shown here in the U.S. on PBS on February 11, which happens to be my birthday, and considered it an unexpected treat - and, having watched the show, my opinion hasn't changed.I had never heard of Marc Warren, but I was more than satisfied with his performance in the title role. I thought he made a very menacing (in his aged state) and sexy (in his young state) Count, and found his voice to be one of his most seductive features. The remaining cast - some of whom I had seen before - were also excellent. I especially liked the scene of Drac's seduction of Lucy as she lies in bed beside her unconscious husband - who, due to his fear of infecting her with his own syphilis, has not consummated their marriage although it has been several months. It was very, very sexy in a perverse way but not tasteless or explicit.All in all, a fine effort by all involved.