Mary Shelley's Frankenstein on DVD (1994)

Branagh Creates an Abomination

coolhandjim from London , 17/01/2005

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.

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A customer from CARDIFF , 31/10/2004

A wonderful film, superbly acted and directed by kenneth Branagh and with the best ever creature, played by Robert de Niro. This sticks closely to the novel and brings out the pity of the creature. He is not a monster or a two-dimensional cvharacter, as in so many second-rate horror movies. The sets, costumes and camerawork all create a chilling, dark atmosphere and the reality of early medicine is seen in all its filth and gore. Fabulous!

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Should have been great

A customer from Billingham , 05/09/2008

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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A lot of fuss over a rather mild monster

David Kelly from Somerset England , 03/06/2004

It seems to those who are expecting a terrifying scare this film does not deliver. However, it has a watchable quality and a new twist on the familiar story.

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Should have been great

A customer from Billingham , 05/09/2008

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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TOP MOVIE !!!

A customer from GLASGOW , 04/03/2006

Director Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of Mary Shelley's classic horror novel stars Robert DeNiro as a terrifying monster created in an obsessive attempt to defeat death and stretch the limits of medicine in the early 19th century. With the use of flashback, a dying Dr. Viktor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) divulges a tale of gruesome terror to a sea captain (Aidan Quinn): As a medical student, the rebellious Frankenstein elaborates on the work of a brilliant scientist (John Cleese), successfully bringing to life a 'man' assembled from the body parts of corpses. Upon realizing the destructive consequences of his experiment, Dr. Frankenstein abandons the creature and attempts to return to a normal life with his medical partner, Henry (Tom Hulce), and his fiancée (and adopted sister), Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter). In the meantime, the nameless creature struggles with loneliness and rejection from society until he sets out to track down his creator in search of one of two things: a bride to keep him company or revenge. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) was produced by Francis Ford Coppola, who previously directed and produced monster-drama Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992).

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