The Wolfman 15 bullets or less

My Spanish attempts at writing 'bout movies failed. Maybe is just that I don't feel like writing in Spanish about this one, on fear of disgorging a never ending ramble.

I really, really wanted to love this movie. The fact that I just plain liked it instead of hating it completely furthers more the sense of disappointment.
It's a full moon out on Hollywoodland, gather round your rifles and load them up in silver boys and girls....

The following disclosure ensues. I hate werewolves as much as I love vampires. I guess it all started with THE HOWLING, back in 1982, wrong, movie, wrong time to watch it; and the frail psyche of a nine year old girl was torn forever. Perhaps is because, psychologically, I like my monsters subtle. I rather plot my sweet revenge with words that cut deep than rip your heart to shreds literally. However, it is not the gore that drove me away from the film. The gore is in fact, the expected amount out of a flick about a guy that turn into a beast every 28 days. I was bothered by other type of furry, horrid creatures: plot bunnies.

I had all needed to love this movie: a glorious Gothic setting, a haunting score, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Benicio del Toro... yummy. What went wrong, you might wonder:

• The elements of the original are all there, they even have props straight out of the Universal lot (hellooooooooo cool silver tipped Wolf cane) they have the elements of what is perhaps the best put together mythos in Hollywood history, the wolfsbane, the full moon, the silver, the gypsy curse, the mark of the beast AND THEY DO NOTHING WITH IT. Who ever penned this movie, gave honor to the fanboys and fangirls of Universal Horror by not going into details all of them know, however, they are pandering to an audience whose only affection for the werewolf lore is sporting "Team Jacob T-shirts." If you are going to give me the real Gothic sense of a tortured soul, put some background to it. Do not assume I understand, make me!!!
• One other thing, Benicio del Toro is a juggernaut of an actor. Sir Anthony Hopkins is a force to be reckoned with as well, it is not Emily Blunt's fault at all, that they just chew her up, - all puns intended- she just disappears between the two. I never bought it, the angle on Gwen, and there is no point of a love interest if it's not going to be pivotal. They point to a certain rivalry between father and son that sparks out of this character, and yet I am not convinced enough she was worth it. It all felt too rushed and kind of confusing.
• I loved the score, although I could swear I hear a bit of Bram Stoker's Dracula in there.
• Hugo Weaving was nothing but a plot device and badly placed of all things. I just hated the way things turned out for his character.
• NOT ENOUGH GYPSIES!!!!!!!! I've had my say

I loved the construction of Talbot's character in general, that ability of Del Toro to emote, even through layers of make up. I loved the old school feeling of it, you know, the prosthetics instead of the over the top CGI. I loved they used that haunting rhyme that sounds ancient although it never existed prior to Curt Siodmak "Even a man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms and the Autumn moon is bright." That little lines says more about human nature than anything else.

Better than I expected, not as much as I would like it to be. I'll watch it once more out on DVD, and that is all I can promise.