Dracula 2000

I guess I was surprised to discover that I ended up enjoying this latest incarnation of the prince of darkness more than I was expecting to. Granted, Dracula, as played by Gerard Butler is more rock star (and therefore right at home in the modern, media-saturated, sexually liberated world) than Gothic count, but hey, he's immortal, he can change with the times, right? Christopher Plummer plays the latest Van Helsing, still determined to discover the secret to killing the immortal, living dead. Much of the movie is set in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, which as I mentioned before, makes evil feel right at home. In a way, it's almost an amusing satire of today's culture when you know that Dracula can blend into a crowd. The most interesting element is the twist on the legend where he is revealed to be none other than Judas Iscariot, wandering the earth for his damnation -- which explains his aversion to Christian iconography. And while its religious aspects are far from profound, they are treated with respect, and it is even implied that even Dracula is not beyond forgiveness and the power of grace, but his selfish pride will not allow him to repent. Like I said, it is interesting.