Stephen Sommers' summer movie extravaganza Van Helsing comes to DVD in this widescreen edition thanks to Universal Studios (the lesser-recommended full-screen edition is also available). Packed to the gills with extras, this disc presents the film in an anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen picture with both 5.1 and 2.0 tracks for your home theater to sink its teeth into. The multitude of extras includes an interactive tour of Dracula's castle, where the viewer is given the option to listen to Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) ramble on about the different sections of his homely abode. Other features include a ten-minute "Bringing the Monsters to Life" making-of that introduces the audience to the master effects technicians who brought the film's many pixels to life, while "You Are in the Movie" presents a look behind the scenes by an unprecedented amount of hidden cameras on the set. A blooper reel has also been included, as has a ten-minute "Legend of Van Helsing" special that delves into the character's lore from books to the big screen. Two commentaries are available for your listening enjoyment -- the first with director Stephen Sommers and producer/editor Bob Ducsay, and the second featuring actors Richard Roxburgh, Shuler Hensley, and Will Kemp. Finally, a playable version of the Van Helsing game can be accessed through an Xbox game console that allows you to play through the first exciting level of the game. If you're a pushover for Sommers' brand of over-the-top adventure antics, then this disc is for you. This movie is also available in the three-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition featuring an additional feature-packed disc along with another DVD that includes Universal's original Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wolf Man movies, which inspired Van Helsing.

This blend of teen comedy and vampire horror remains popular thanks to a willful placing of style over substance in making the vampires more cool than actually scary. Warner's DVD edition is pretty basic, but does at least emphasize director Joel Schumacher's visual flamboyance. The stylized lighting and shiny sets and costumes benefit from a seamless anamorphic widescreen transfer, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track ensures the brooding '80s soundtrack is crisp and clear. The extra features are slick but limited, consisting of the original theatrical trailer and some mildly interesting production notes. Thoughts from Schumacher or his teen heartthrob stars might have been welcome, but since the film plays like an extended MTV video, perhaps there is little insight or background to be discussed. Though this disc is nothing special, the feature itself is certainly improved by DVD technology, making it an interesting edition for '80s nostalgists.