Review of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) by Julie A — 23 Oct 2008

I get a nack for literary movies (as I said many,many times); even from the classic horror novels, with literature famous monsters : Count Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Phantom of The Opera, The Headless Horseman, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and...The Frankenstien Monster.

The original Frankenstein novel was written by a women named Mary Shelly in 1818 (she knows how to scare people with her masterpiece), and many versions HAD been made for the silver screen; but to me, this version with actor/director Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet, 1996) is the best (and the scariest) version ever! Kenneth Branagh also plays Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who is obsessed with conquering death, after his "Mommy Dearst" died due to complications giving birth to his little brother William (I mean HEL-LO! I'm SOR-RY you can't get over losing your mom, on the account of your little brother,but it dosen't mean you go all CRA-ZY! I was surprise Vic didn't blame Willy for their mother's death). In medical school, Victor makes friends with a fellow student, Henry Clerval, clashes with the hidebound Professor Krempe (Robert Hardy), and finds himself fascinated by the secretive Professor Waldman who, he learns, once fell foul of the authorities for conducting illegal experiments. Setting up a laboratory in a hired attic, Victor sets about achieving the ultimate aim of his research: cheating death�¢��¦. After another public argument with Krempe, Victor is almost kidnapped by Waldman, who shows the student his rooms �¢�� and his secret laboratory. Waldman explains to Victor the Chinese practice of acupuncture, and how it might affect the electrical energy of the body. Victor expounds his own theories on the overcoming of death. His words have a dramatic effect on Waldman, who reveals that he once came close �¢�� too close �¢�� to the artificial creation of life... During an enforced vaccination of the people of Ingolstadt, carried out by the staff and students of the university, a man objects hysterically to the treatment, and in his panic stabs Waldman to death. He is hanged for his pains. The devastated Victor breaks into Waldman's laboratory, securing the scientist's notebooks before anyone else can see them. Upon reading them, he discovers just how close Waldman did come to creating life�¢��¦ Inspired, and in defiance of Henry's warnings, Victor prepares to go one step further than his mentor. By rough and ready means, he acquires his "materials", including the body of Waldman's murderer and Waldman's own brain, and sets about creating an artificial man. Applying his knowledge of electricity, Victor sends a massive charge through the inanimate body that he has put together. Climbing up onto the metal tank in which his creation is housed, Victor cries out for it to live; and for a brief moment its eyes flicker open �¢�� only to close again. Victor turns away in despair �¢�� until a knocking sound comes from within the tank (this might sound disturbing,but that tank look like a giant womb/pressure cooker as they trying to go with in the film)...that's all I'm tellin' you; you will have to see the WHOLE film.

I was shocked and surprised by the negative reviews, this an awesome version of Mary Shelley's novel, with a great cast; with Tom Hulce(the scene where he fainted was funny), Ian Holm as Victor's dad, John Cleese as Professer Waldman (though many disagree, he did play a good role), Robert De Niro as the Monster, and Helena Bonham Carter as Victor's love interest Elizabeth (I think she was great for the role).