Regular Price $9.95

Starring: George Asprey,  Alfred Bell,  Helena Bonham Carter,  Richard Briers,  John Cleese, 
Directed By:
Rated: R (Restricted)
Release Date: 1994-11-04
Studio: Sony Pictures
Format: AC-3,  Anamorphic,  Closed-captioned,  Color,  Dolby,  Dubbed,  DVD-Video,  Full Screen,  Subtitled,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Amazon.com
Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham Carter, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm and John Cleese star in Branagh's acclaimed adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. True to the original, here is the story of a young doctor whose obsession with death leads him to create a life. But his "creature" crafted from the bodies of convicts and the brain of a brilliant scientist, is a hideous mockery of humanity. And when the creature realizes he will never be accepted by men, he seeks revenge on Dr. Frankenstein and his family. An inspired adaptation that's emotionally complex and truly terrifying.

Amazon.com
Let's be honest: this should be titled Wretched Excess' Frankenstein. Swooping, wild, bloody, and energetic, this is bad moviemaking from the best, which makes it all the more lovable. Kenneth Branagh plays Victor Frankenstein, a man so obsessed with conquering death that he decides to create life. What he gets, after a protoplasmic mud wrestle, is a Mean Streets monster (Robert De Niro) that isn't particularly happy to be back from the dead or thrilled about all the stitches. Helena Bonham Carter may, at several points in this film, actually be channeling Ramtha. The supporting cast couldn't be peopled with better performers (Tom Hulce, John Cleese, Ian Holm) but they all look like they're ringside at some Ultimate Fighting competition. A must for any midnight movie collector for the shock factor alone. A hoot. --Keith Simanton

Customer Reviews for Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Artistically true to Shelley's classic!
Although this movie was critically and publically panned, I honestly think that it is the BEST film adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel. Critics complained about the film, saying that it was too grotesque, too melodramatic, too epic. What critics failed to realize is that THAT is exactly what a Gothic Romance story is: melodramatic, epic, exaggerated, but still wildly poignant. I am not a huge Branagh fan, but I love this film. The cast is excellent, the period setting is done beautifully, and the exaggerated sets and bright colors (especially the wide use of the color red)perfectly capture the scope of Shelley's novel. Yes, there are changes, but many of them I liked: Henry Clerval (the wonderfully quirky Tom Hucle) is not murdered by the Creature (played wonderfully by DeNiro) as he is in the novel, and Victor reanimates his dead wife after she is murdered by the Creature, but she ultimately sets herself and the Frankenstein mansion on fire. Purists of the novel hated this sequence, but I loved it - it brings the mega-loss of Victor full circle, and it fits perfectly into the spirit of the novel - I think Shelley herself would approve. Also, because Branagh himself also has a huge ego, he plays Frankenstein perfectly: as a prideful man-child who wants to play God because he thinks he is that good. Watch this version! The Hallmark version, although true to the text is NOT a better adaptation - weaker cast and lacking a powerful visual style - it definately doesn't ressonate with the Gothic feel of Branagh's version. However, I must warn you that this is one of those films that you eiether love or hate, but you'll never know unless you give it a try!Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Branagh is a Genius, plain and simple.
There is a grand mad excess that triumphs in this film, overriding any of its faults. I go back to it again and again to revel in the brilliant acting, the dazzling photography, and the deliberate and bold intensity. It is very true to Mary Shelley's masterpiece, very true, indeed. And it is also cinematically magical and very simply beautiful. Highly recommended. The great moral of the tale comes through, of course. Artistically, this particular film will probably live as long as films are made and viewed. ---- Things you might have laughed at the first time around, you soon forget. It's the kind of film that haunts you. It's rich and intoxicating. Branagh really is a great genius and this is one of his finest accomplishments.Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Dissect this beast
If we were to improve on this beast, first we would have to remove the incessant score which permeates every minute of this film. Can we the viewer be left to trust our own emotions without having the score "tell" us how to feel? Secondly, De Niro as the creature is visually good, but we need him to talk less. When he's asking "Do I have a soul, too?" with a slight Jersey accent, it kind of blows it for us. Thirdly, Ken, Cut back on all the camera trickery. I bet you spent good money for all the camera tracks, but we're getting motion sickness with all the circling.
I am a big Ken B. fan, but lost a lot of credibility with my friends when this dreck came out. He really hasn't regained his directing abilities since this, and to take a roll in Wild, Wild West hints at desparation.Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Not at all like Mary Shelley's novel.
Do not be taken in by the statement on the cover - "true to the original." This is a poor action film with none of the sentiment of the book.Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

this gets crapped on too much
not everybody likes the book, which i can understand (it took me some effort to get into), but if you're a fan of shelley's frankenstein i dont see what's to hate about this movie. personally i like it a lot.Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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