NOTE: 65 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures for Patrons are available HERE.

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: The Shallows (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bridge on the River Kwai (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Deer Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Elephant Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Quiet Place (software uniformly simulated HDR), Easy Rider (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspiria (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pan's Labyrinth (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Wizard of Oz, (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Shining, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Batman Returns (software uniformly simulated HDR), Don't Look Now (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Killed Killed and then The Bigfoot  (software uniformly simulated HDR),,  Bram Stoker's Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucy (software uniformly simulated HDR), They Live (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Shutter Island (software uniformly simulated HDR),  The Matrix (software uniformly simulated HDR), Alien (software uniformly simulated HDR), Toy Story (software uniformly simulated HDR),  A Few Good Men (software uniformly simulated HDR),  2001: A Space Odyssey (HDR caps udated), Schindler's List (simulated HDR), The Neon Demon (No HDR), Dawn of the Dead (No HDR), Saving Private Ryan (simulated HDR and 'raw' captures), Suspiria (No HDR), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (No HDR), The Big Lebowski, and I Am Legend (simulated and 'raw' HDR captures).

Universal's 4K UHD track offers an incredibly robust and immersive DTS-HD Master 7.1 track (24-bit). Effects are rife from shrieking demonic harpies - to Frankenstein and werewolf growls - explosions, laboratory zapping electrodes, lightening, disgruntled villages and much more. Wow - it carries intensity in this lossless track.  The score is by Alan Silvestri (Shattered, Romancing the Stone, Flight, Forrest Gump, Predator, Contact, The Fifth Floor) and it supports the film kinetic action sequences with creepy overtones of Dracula's castle. There are a few optional foreign language DUBs and subtitle options including English and English (SDH) and as with all 4K UHD discs, this Universal package is Region 'Free' (Blu-ray too!) playable worldwide. 

Universal's 4K UHD disc has the same two commentaries as the original Blu-ray (which is included) and Leonard has reviewed it HERE, so I quote his comments; "Universal has imported the extra features previously found on the 2-Disc Collector's Edition DVD: starting with the same two commentaries by the director & editor (lively, informative and entertaining observations about production details) and the actors that play Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster and Velkan (funny and irreverent). "Van Helsing: The Story, The Life, The Legend" at nearly an hour (with a Play All option) reveals the actors discussing their characters in legend and as they appear in movies over the decades, including this one. "Track the Adventure" is a half-hour segment that covers the locations used and some of the set design that created their versions of them. " Bringing the Monsters to Life" is just what you'd expect: a look at the CG, mattes and miniatures that created the monsters in their context.

"Dracula's Lair Transformed" is a clever piece that employs time-lapse photography to show how the main set morphs into the various sets required for the movie. "You Are in the Movie" is another clever piece wherein a videocam is mounted on the main frame of the shooting camera so that we can get a view of things from the point of view of the camera. It's a trick that quickly outlives its point, since the perspective is always ultra wide-angle.

"The Masquerade Ball is Unmasked" is one of the more interesting pieces here in that it soberly follows the creation of the ballroom scene from inspiration ("I'm thinking of something like Cirque du Soleil") through the choreography and rehearsal to set design. Composer Alan Silvestri discusses his music in "The Music of Van Helsing." "The Art of Van Helsing" is a varyingly presented series of drawings and paintings of the monsters and heroes for the movie. There's also a little piece titled "Monster Eggs" consisting of a few gags and candids.

U-Control permits PIP access infrequent, clear, but brief cast & crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

The weakness of these Extra Features (save the U-Control PIP) is that, though they cover the territory, they are generally murky in their 480i/p presentations. There are no HD features."

Van Helsing is unfortunately over-produced, and too long. I think the entire Jekyll/Hyde comic-looking segment could have been removed. But I loved the black and white opening - and there are plenty of desirable homage(s) to the Universal monster flics that we all love. It is such a dynamic presentation - that the almost 2.5 hours is draining. This builds its serious side well and I found it very inventive. There is a lot to like - hence why I am keeping my 4K UHD package. If this sounds like something you might gravitate towards - you won't be disappointed by the film's dynamism, dramatic monsters and wildly active presentation. I think if they parsed it down - it could have been a good start to a sequel. The 4K UHD a/v is 'wow-factor' - more kudos to the extensive CGI but the Ultra high resolution just exemplifies it in your home theater. Guaranteed if you put this on for friends - they won't stop watching.

Gary Tooze