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Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1994
In this adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley tale, Kenneth Branagh stars as Victor Frankenstein, a man possessed by a mission to create life but painfully unaware of the consequences of his actions. He succeeds in his quest to create a man, but his creature (Robert De Niro) is both revolting and tragically aware of the effect .. Read more
| Starring | Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham-Carter |
|---|---|
| Director | Kenneth Branagh |
| Genres | Horror |
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Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
In this adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley tale, Kenneth Branagh stars as Victor Frankenstein, a man possessed by a mission to create life but painfully unaware of the consequences of his actions. He succeeds in his quest to create a man, but his creature (Robert De Niro) is both revolting and tragically aware of the effect he has on others. His creation escapes, and Frankenstein eventually gives him up for dead. The creature, however, is very much alive, tormented by his plight and plotting a horrible revenge. Shelley's novella is given a lush and lurid treatment by Branagh in this epic Gothic tragedy of a man who dares to play God. The film features a cast of strong supporting actors, including Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Hulce, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm, and John Cleese.
| Starring | Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham-Carter, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm, John Cleese, Richard Briers |
|---|---|
| Director | Kenneth Branagh |
| Studio | UCA |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 58 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Horror |
| Language | English |
| Subtitles | Czech, English, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Polish |
| Released | DVD: 08 Mar 2004 Production year: 1994 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Kenneth Branagh's version of the much-filmed story is as pompous as it is perverse in the way it wastes not only his own talents (as Victor Frankenstein), but also those of Robert De Niro (who boasts a few moving moments as the man-made monster) and Helena Bonham Carter. The creation of the creature is undoubtedly spectacular, but the rest of the movie is not a fraction as frightening or funny as the 1931 classic with Boris Karloff. In attempting to keep faith with the original novel, Branagh concentrates too much on design and content, and loses the heart and soul of the story in the process.
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A bold and brash attempt to be true to the original novel, but which, like its monster, gets lost in the Arctic wastes and then confuses the narrative by focusing the attention on its over-production; it fails to dislodge the original film from folk memor
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Most helpful member's review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Branagh Creates an Abomination
From Branagh's half-baked performance through to the totally ludicrous and altered ending this film is a stinker! Some of the sets are impressive and, at times, suitably chilling but even they and De Niro cannot resurrect the clunky screenplay.
Key elements of Shelley's morbid but fascinating story are completely overlooked, Frankenstein's fight with his morality and the monster's eloquence and sensitivity for a start. The less said about Helena Bonham-Carter's ill-fated Elizabeth, frazzling head and all, the better.
Frankly, Mary Shelley's masterpiece deserves far better. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Should have been great
Adding the Author's name to the title suggest they were trying to restore the real story over the Hammer style hatchet jobs. I went to see this with very high hopes. Very pleased to begin with, but what is this at the end? Having gone all that way trying to remain true to the story, they go all Hollywood and totally ruin the end. The most horrific aspect of Shelley's novel gets removed and replaced with a tame, predictable and unnecessary modern ending.
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News and features
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Goldblum sees red
- 15 Feb 2006
The Fly and Jurassic Park star Jeff Goldblum is set to feature in a US TV drama entitled Seeing Red. The Hollywood Reporter reports that the TV pilot will tell the story of a police officer, played by Goldblum, who cracks cases by using his uncanny ability to talk with dead victims. Keeping up the high calibre of the project Goldblum will be directed by Frank Darabont, the man behind the camera for The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile and writer of the script for Mary Shelley's... Read more
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In this adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley tale, Kenneth Branagh stars as Victor Frankenstein, a man possessed by a mission to create life but painfully unaware of the consequences of his actions.... -