The All time classic: Coppola’s Dracula (1992) & Stoker’s Dracula (1897)

Given the fact that Coppola’s Dracula movie, which is based on Bram Stoker’s novel, is a classic collection, I am glad that this week’s topic allows me to watch this amazing movie again. In regards to Coppola’s Dracula, besides the elements of mysterious and horror in vampire movie, Coppola has added the element of romance and love in the movie. One of the romantic scenes that caught my attention the most is the vampire blood giving and blood-drinking scene, where Count Dracula is letting Mina Harker to drink his own blood and becomes a vampire. The line where Dracula said “drink and join me for eternal life” has reflected the true love of a vampire for an everlasting love. Moreover, for instance, you can find the element of romance that not only in the movie, but also in the movie’s trailer. There is a line in the trailer, which mentions “Love never dies.” Moreover, I personally really like Keanu Reeves; he is one of my favorite male actors. Comparing to Stoker’s original version of Dracula, the main difference can be spotted on the main female character. In the original novel version, she is more of a passive, and weak character. There is lack of romance element as well as sexual scenes in the original version of Dracula. However, in the 1992 Coppola’s version of Dracula, Mina is illustrated as more sexualized. Mina has more control over her life decision, including her love and body. There is such a succinct difference in both versions, it is mainly because of the factor that the times of each version were published are different. The societies in 1897 and 1992 have critically different views in regards to the ideas of gender, feminism, romance, and sex.