Reviewed by Chris McEneany, 11th October 2009
Cinema's most renowned and celebrated mad scientist cocks it all up in the laboratory once again but, this time, he does so with Wagnerian intensity and a hankering for cultural acceptance. Branagh took a bit of a bashing over this flamboyant and stylised production and, quite frankly, this is unfair. He makes a concerted attempt to translate Shelley's prose accurately and extrapolate her profound and morally astute observations – something that most other adaptors choose to ignore. His version makes up for in sheer drive and visual energy what it lacks in horror and traditional chills, but the end result is destined never to please those who crave a bit more diabolism, or those who like their narrative a little less fruity.
Personally, I think it is a film made up of great moments and of an atmosphere of fine tragedy. And, as such, it is a noble effort and one that certainly buries a great number of previous attempts to wrestle Shelley's darkly elegant tale on to the screen. Good performances battle through less successful ones, but the headlong momentum, as breathless and lusty as it is, ensures that Shelley's desire to “think of a story” that would “awaken thrilling horror” and “quicken the beatings of the heart” comes to the screen with a grand and blitzkrieg approach that I, for one, applaud.
Unforgivably shorn of extra material, but with a transfer that remains faithful to the original print, yet brings in more detail and a soundtrack that delivers more surround activity than I had expected and embraces that wonderful score, I can only recommend the release of Branagh's Gothic adventure on BD.
Read the full review... 
12-10-2009, 10:53 AM
Hope you haven't gone into character mode with this one and had some drastic plastic surgery...
E. & O.E.
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