monster legacy
THE FLICKS: Universal seems to be suffering from a case of schizophrenia. Take the new release of Van Helsing, a methamphedamine-paced monster mash which goes out of it’s way to reject everything that made the classic films so wonderful. Even with all the pre-Memorial Day hype that made The Mummy such a success, director Stephen Sommer’s film died the quiet death so many soulless big-budget extravaganzas do, breaking $100 million mark on opening weekend and slipping quietly overseas to eek out a profit. Now premiering on DVD, the film still has no excuses. But it’s released concurrently with another wave of the Universal Monsters Legacy Collection, which makes for a Halloween trick and treat for fans. Do yourself a favor, skip the Hugh Jackman CGI flavor of the month adventure and pick up these packed to the gills sets featuring Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Invisible Man, and The Mummy. Originally released in 3D, The Creature is one of those rare features that succeeds even with...