DVD : Mary Shelley's Frankenstein [1994]

Rating: - Awful
This is an awful adaptation. It bastardizes the essence of Shelley's novel. While the novel nurtures a moral dilemma at its heart, this destroys it. (This cannot be demonstrated better than when the monster rips out Elizabeth's heart, serving as an apt metaphor for the film ripping out the heart of the text). The sympathy for the monster which Shelley really draws on is completely undercut in the film by the monster's portrayal as a cold blooded murderer wanting an unjustified amount of revenge...it ignores the reasons behind his sadness, ignoring the carefully crafted manipulation which Shelley plays with the reader's own preconceived ideas.
Among the monstrosities are the changing of the monster's final speech when Victor had died, which should have been a real climax and silent moral questioning put forth for the viewer, but instead it fell absolutely flat...was the breaking of the ice meant to distract us from the abysmal interpretation of what could have been a brilliant ending? ...and then saying how he enjoyed the murders he committed, such as William's fatal end...where has his remorse, his self-hatred, his sadness, which is so poignant to the novel, gone? Such a portrayal removes the central question of where our sympathies should lie, either with the man or monster! A question central to the brilliance of the text and instead replaces it with a more than unconvincing interpretation, if you can call it that. Furthermore, what were they thinking when they added this scene with Victor bringing back his wife from the dead???? It's Frankenstein's monster...not monsters! ...I just think it was purely unnecessary, and many changes serve just to destroy the text's value rather than elaborating upon it. The only triumph to the film is the way it shows the vulgarity involved from constructing a dead human and bringing him back to life. Other than that it falls incredibly short and in fact really strains under its use of the title Frankenstein.

---

Rating: - A brilliant film
If you have recently seen the BBC's poor attempt to modernise this classic then you simply have to see this...or even better read the book.

PS: Wyne Redheart definately needs to read the book as "the Creature" or "Frankinstein's Monster" is never called "Frankinstein" in it. Frankinstein always refers to Doctor Victor Frankinstein, pillock.

---

Rating: - A sombre and thoughtful adaptation
Having studied Mary Shelley's book quite closely at university, I was interested what Kenneth Branagh (of Shakespeare renown) would make of the material.
The result is a brooding film that focuses heavily on the act of creating the monster and birth in general, but plays down the violent and horror elements of the story (only towards the end do they burst to the fore). It is therefore all the more surprising and out of key when Frankenstein's bride immolates herself and we are shown extended footage of a blazing inferno.
Branagh has changed the novel quite heavily in parts, but this is not to the detriment of the film or his message. Quite on the contrary, they underline just how unhealthy and abnormal relationships and birth are in the world of Frankenstein. The setting is stark and bleak, except where scientific apparatuses are involved and the acting good (although I just couldn't get myself to like Helena Bonham-Carter).
All in all a multi-faceted and multi-layered film that rewards further exploration either alone or in combination with the novel.

Oh, and just for the records, Frankenstein (or more properly: Victor Frankenstein) is the name of the monster's creator; the monster itself does not have a name.

---

Rating: - Chilling horror
This is a particularly dark adaptation of the Frankenstein story, with a chillingly gothic sense of atmosphere. Branagh also succeeds in bringing a Shakesperian level of tragedy to the drama, rather than falling into the trap of focusing too exclusively on the macabre. De Niro makes a particularly fine re-animated creature, offering a suitable sense of pathos and frustratation at the lack of acceptance which ultimately provokes furious belligerence. His monster is one to be pitied as much as feared. The performance is far superior to Luke Goss' effort in the more recent adaptation (although it's hardly surprising that the veteran actor has rather more to offer than a man whose greatest achievement is former-membership of the band 'Bros'). Branagh takes us back to the gritty roots of Mary Shelley's literary classic. His obvious in-depth knowledge of the story lends a real air of authenticity, with none of the external clichés that are so frequently tacked-on by those who are blissfully ignorant towards the original text. His only glaring error comes in the reference to the monster's creator as 'Frankenstein'. As everyone knows, Frankenstein is the monster's name.

---

Rating: - It's Aliiiiive!
Sorry I couldn't resist! I have got to say I loved this film. I was really worried about De Niro playing the infamous creature Frankenstein but he played him amazingly. I've never seen frankenstein portrayed as a confused new being. Usually he's a rampaging, bolt-necked monster being pursued by villagers with pitchforks and torches. It is atrocious that the Frankenstein legend has become such a cliche. Thankfully this film brings it back to earth even though it is a VERY gothic horror! That's enough from me, just buy it and find out for yourselves!