Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally! Now we don't have to read the book (lol)!!, December 21, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Frankenstein [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I had to read this story for my Senior English Class. Like any other high school student the first question on my classes mind was "Can't we just watch the video?" The teacher responded that there was no version out that was really truthful to the book (and let's face she's right, most are just remakes on Boris Karloff's version, which is pretty good too). It was a surprise then to see this movie. While scanning the horror section at Sigma Video (PLUG) I found this tape, just because one of the few movies in that section I hadn't seen. I expect the usual Igor, madman's brian, the usual formula. So I was happy to see the first scene took someone's complaints seriously and actually involved the story of Walton and his crew (however minimally) And story-line is just great from there. They faithfullness to the original story is a big relief; instead of Victor the genius madmen and his retarded monster that shares his name, we see the truth: that Victor is an idiotic jerk (which actually makes him kinda likeable, the one in the book was an idiotic irresponsible egotistical ostrich-headed jerk) who somehow managed to become a doctor and scientist. and that the monster (I mean Creature) ROCKS. That it was in a horror section seems unusal to me, if only becuase there's none of the blood and guts and gore and all that other good overdone stuff that I've come associate with horror. But I'm not complaining, somehow lack of gore just makes this movie that much better, don't ask me why. Even things they added aren't that unbelieveable, that Creature was made as a sort of Victor clone was pretty cool, that everyone knows about Creature makes the=ings sooo much easier, until Elizabeth offers herself to be cloned as the Creature's mate. And not-so li'l William provided some good comic relief (Victor propses to Elizabeth, she accepts, and he has nightmares ever since; William : I hope I never fall in love, I don't wanna get sick and have nightmares.)Hmmm....that's funny in the film than in writing oh well. And then there's that scene with De Lacey and Creature was pretty sweet too a kinda lull in the storm thing. So Mrs. M. and all you other teachers out there..if yer kids bug you to "just let us watch the movie" let them watch this.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Faithful to the novel, May 26, 2004
This review is from: Frankenstein [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I remember seeing this when it was first broadcast on TNT in 1993. I recently rented it and remembered how good it was all over again. My favorite film version of Frankenstein is the 1931 version with Boris Karloff. Of the modern versions, I like the Kenneth Branaugh (1994) version and this one. This version is more faithful to the Mary Shelley novel than most other versions. Randy Quaid was magnificent as the monster, and in my opinion did a better job than Robert De Niro in the 1994 version. This film shows what a serious and gifted actor Quaid can be. The major difference from the novel is the creation of the creature. Mary Shelley never actually said that electricity brought the creature to life but she did say that the creature was stitched together from corpses. In this film, Frankenstein constructs a tank filled with a liquid that is made up of the elements of life. He uses this as a sort of cloning machine to make a stronger, wiser, and better version of himself. Electricity makes it work. Something goes wrong during the creation. The creature is strong, but he wasn't exactly formed all the way, thus giving him a hideous appearance. The creators of this film touch upon a concept that was fashionable to put into Frankenstein stage plays in the late 1800s / early 1900s. Frankenstein and the monster are versions of the same character, like Jekyll & Hyde. Since the monster is a clone of Frankenstein, they feel each others feelings and pains. They are the yin and yang of each other. When the monster is shot with a gun, Frankenstein feels the pain of the shot and a strange bruise appears on his chest. I liked how they touched on this concept. There are a few other differences from the novel as well, but no more than there are in the Branaugh version. One of the major differneces in that version is that Frankenstein actually does make a bride for the creature (an event that doesn't happen in the novel.) I think that if the creators of both films collaborated together, then they could have made one hell of a Frankenstein film. This is a must-own for any fan of "Frankenstein."
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
great for viewing - not so good for replacing the novel, March 31, 2003
This review is from: Frankenstein [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This movie does a pretty good job at following the themes and ideas of the novel, but it seriously strays from the novel. As a teacher, I am constantly looking for video forms of the novels we read in my classes. I read a review that said that this version followed the novel very well. I was disapointed when I saw how much this movie actually strayed from the plot of the novel. The relationship between the creation and Frankenstein is incorrect, major events are wrong, sometimes the order of events is wrong. This movie can be used for educational purposes, but it comes nowhere near replacing the novel.
However, if you are looking for a fun and new twist to the story, this is the movie for you. It was very entertaining, and I enjoyed watching it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
