The return of the monster movies

If you coolly regard the just-released "Monster Legacy Collections" as Universal's attempt to cash in on their new creature-feature update "Van Helsing," you're right to do so. The sleekly packaged box sets -- one each for the Frankenstein, Dracula, and Wolf Man series -- even boast promotional stickers with the "Van Helsing" logo, lest we miss the connection.

But don't go reaching for those torches and pitchforks just yet. Blatant timing or no, these sets have much to recommend them. Consider, for one thing, that the studio hasn't had its monster classics in print on DVD for some time. A fan's recourse has been to seek out the discs online at substantial markups.

And for whatever fright value they've lost, the films are worth a fresh look -- in large part to flash back to childhood and see just how fuzzy some of our recollections are. Who knew that director James Whale's bigger-louder-loopier approach to "Bride of Frankenstein" had so much in common with the way sequels are made today? Chances are you'll also find that your memory of Dr. Frankenstein's henchman is pretty suspect. It was actually henchmen: first Fritz, then creepy Carl, then crooked-necked (not hunchbacked) Ygor. The last is played by Bela Lugosi, branching out to the extent that Universal's horror franchise allowed him. Again, who knew?

The collections also include some not-so-classic past attempts to mash the monsters into one story, a la "Van Helsing." Check them out and see if those cynical feelings about the new movie don't fade away like the Wolf Man's little electrolysis problem at sunup. (Universal, $26.98 each)