Stephen McGuckin

Dracula: Prince of one-liners. An overstuffed abomination of an adaptation. Despite some creepy moments in episode one, this is smug and smarmy and the writers clearly think they're smarter than the source material. It's a shame because Bang makes an imposing Dracula but his constant gags divest him of any diabolical power. Characters are hopelessly underwritten and the plot is unnecessarily convoluted. The writers also never miss a chance to assault viewers with their political agenda. Don't trust the gushing critics on this one - they seem to have gotten drunk on the gallons of virtue seeking from the writers. How a critic with an understanding of character and plot can praise this is scandalous. The third episode is jaw-droppingly bad. It makes Dracula AD 1972 look like the work of a master. Dracula fans like me will have to watch it. Be prepared for the worst. Non-fans, don't waste your time.

A dark and powerful origin story for Gotham's most iconic villain. It's a welcome departure from the CGI heavy bubblegum cheesefests we've been forced to endure from recent DC offerings. Phoenix is a revelation in the role, bringing humanity to a character whose descent into madness is as plausible as it is disturbing. This is also a triumph for director Todd Phillips. His thoughtful, character-driven movie stays long in the memory after the credits roll.