The Wolfman: Great Remake

I typically hate remakes, especially horror ones. Very few live up to the original and some like Psycho or Nightmare on Elm Street are just exercises in pointlessness. I had heard horrible reviews for this movie and was settled into hating it. I'll admit, the beginning is slow. But Joe Johnston of Jurassic Park 3 fame and Andrew Kevin Walker's screenplay are done quite well. Both of the aforementioned name had taken long sabbaticals before returning to their craft, Johnston was gone 6 years and Walker was gone 9. His screenplay for Seven is still one of my favorites of all times. So to get these talented guys back proved to be worth it because once Benico Del Toro wolfs out the film gets awesome. They keep the same look as the original, which I just watched for the upteenth time recently, with Lawrence Talbot once again being bitten by a wolf and turning into a monster. Emily Blunt is effective as the love interest and Anthony Hopkins does a great turn as Lawrence's father. Hugo Weaving gets a beefed up role as a Scotland Yard inspector looking into the rash of murders, all of which are of course blamed on poor Lawrence Talbot. The screenplay is not a shot for shot remake and the changes are actually quite good, including a fantastic scene with the Wolfman terrorizes London. The best part is the Wolfman isn't some stupid CGI nonsense and looks a lot like the original version. If you like horror movies, especially old ones from Universal in the 30's, this is quite the film.

4 stars out of 5