Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce

Synopsis:
A medical student experiments with life after death, creating a monster.

Impressions:
An adaptation of Frankenstein in the spirit of Bram Stoker's Dracula directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh? Expect enough ham and cheese to supply a (non-kosher) deli for a year. If you liked Francis Ford Coppola's take on Dracula and you like Kenneth Branagh's over-the-top theatrics, then this is the movie for you. Is it overwrought to the point where you can hardly take it seriously? Of course, but I honestly like Branagh's go big or go home approach to filmmaking. I'd only seen it once before many years ago but a lot of scenes stuck with me all this time, so I can at least say with a fair degree of confidence that this will leave an impression. The bombastic score by Branagh's frequent collaborator Patrick Doyle is a fine fit for the tone. You have a rare dramatic role for John Cleese as Dr. Waldman, which is an interesting choice to say the least. Branagh himself portrays the role of Victor Frankenstein with his usual aplomb and Robert DeNiro is pretty solid as a more contemplative take on the Creature closer in line with the original book. Speaking of the Creature, I rather like the design and also that of Frankenstein's laboratory. While there are quieter moments, on the whole this movie is about as subtle as a flaming brick to the head and if that's what you're in the mood for, it's well worth a watch.

Rating:
Watch It