In this image released by Universal Pictures, Luke Evans appears in a scene from "Dracula Untold." (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Jasin Boland)

“Dracula Untold” (Action/Fantasy: 1 hour, 32 minutes)

Starring: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon and Charles Dance           

Director: Gary Shore

Rated: PG-13 (Violence, gore, and sensuality)

Movie Review: Every scene feels the same in this retelling of Dracula. It boasts some good concepts, but the story is not an intriguing one. It should have remained untold.

Vlad the Impaler (Evans), a prince of the House of Draculesti and fierce warrior, becomes a vampire in order to save his family from Sultan Mehmed (Cooper), a Turk warlord. After becoming a vampire, Vlad must try to resist dark forces, which now reside inside him.

This version of the mythical character is weak and uninspiring. It adds nothing new worth observing to the vampire genre.

Evans fits this role, but he has little with which to work. He is a man with god-like power, but his onscreen persona uses that ability for only defense. Vlad could have easily gone straight to the top and killed his enemy. Instead, he waits for his foe to attack.

On the other hand, the sultan, Vlad’s archenemy, decides to blindfold his entire army to have them march against the man they fear, Vlad. This action and the visuals in scenes are asinine. A blind army is a ridiculous military strategy. It is laughable.

Gary Shore directs this, his first full-length feature film. The results are dismal. The writers construct a story that consists of mainly violence and characters quipping lines with all the subtlety of unpersuasive conmen.

Grade: C- (It bites and sucks.)

 

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” (Comedy/Family: 1 hour, 21 minutes)

Starring: Ed Oxenbould, Jennifer Garner and Steve Carell  

Director: Miguel Arteta

Rated: PG (Crude humor, mature themes and language)

Movie Review: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is a long title for a modern movie. At least, that is impressive. Otherwise, the film is mild and similar to “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” (2010).

An 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) has terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day. He feels no one, including his family, is sympathetic, so he wishes everyone could experience his terrible day. The next day, his mom (Garner), dad (Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) have their own terrible day. They do not need a bad day because jobs, a prom and a school play are on the itinerary.

“Alexander” delivers a few moments that are worthy, but it is a mild comedy for mature families. It is enjoyable enough to make it easy to sit through, but it never feels quite powerful enough to warrant remembering.

Grade: C (His day is about like this movie.)