Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageMary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
In returning to Mary Shelley's novel, Kenneth Branagh presumably intended to give his version of the much-told tale authenticity and depth. But the finished film, regrettably, for all it's romantic bombast, lacks the poetry and pathos of James Whale's 1931 classic, let alone the wit of the later Bride of Frankenstein. De Niro, as the hapless creature, is dependably sympathetic, eyes expressive beneath Elephant Man-style make-up. The rest of the cast, however, are pretty dismal: chest-baring Branagh, too earnest and dashing, as the obsessive Victor; Helena Bonham Carter, an inappropriately modern miss, as the doc's beloved Elizabeth; Cleese, ever the Python, a morose medical lecturer with a murky past; Briers as a blind peasant devoted to the good life. Equally uninspired is Steph Lady and Frank Darabont's often gratingly modern script and Branagh's far from light direction. Continuity seems all over the shop. Not frightening, just silly.Author: GA
User reviews of this film
-
- devil said...
- Posted on Sep 03 2009 10:44 Film was boring lacked enthusiasam and exitment best bit was when he is makiong the creation and the end credits not the best film (boy from boro studying it aged 14
- Report as inappropriate
-
- devil said...
- Posted on Sep 03 2009 10:44 Film was boring lacked enthusiasam and exitment best bit was when he is makiong the creation and the end credits not the best film (boy from boro studying it aged 14
- Report as inappropriate
-
- angel said...
- Posted on Dec 02 2008 11:37 the film was a bit boring as well but the bst part is when the monster got hit on the head with the pole
- Report as inappropriate
-
- angel said...
- Posted on Dec 02 2008 11:33 the film was ok there is a lot of kissing
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Producer: Francis Ford Coppola, James V Hart, John Veitch
Cast: Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Hulce, John Cleese, Richard Briers, Aidan Quinn, Ian Holm, Robert Hardy, Celia Imrie, Cherie Lunghi full cast
Duration: 123 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade
Ten years, thousands of movies and millions of dollars in international box office, and it all boils down to this
Martin Provost discusses 'Séraphine'
Trevor Johnston talks to the director of 'Séraphine' about bringing a little known French painter back to life
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now