I, FRANKENSTEIN is a new twist on the classic tale of Frankenstein as it briefly touches on the original source material throughout the film while spinning in new directions.  The film begins with Frankenstein’s monster (Aaron Eckhart) carrying the body of Victor Frankenstein to be buried at the family cemetery (Frankenstein froze to death in his pursuit of his monster).  Demons attack and want to capture the monster at the cemetery due to the fact that he represents the opportunity to animate dead bodies to be possessed by the souls of descended demons.  The monster is rescued by the Gargoyle Order and their spiritual leader Leonore (Miranda Otto) gives the monster a name of Adam.  Adam decides not to work with the Gargoyles and sets out to remote corners to evade the demons.  He kills the demons for the next 200 years before he decides to bring the fight to the demons.   The leader of the demons, Prince Naberius (Bill Nighy), wants Adam brought to him, but the demons manage to get hold of the next best thing- the journal of Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

 

I, FRANKENSTEIN is the same type of movie for the same fans who like the UNDERWORLD films, but the characters are less developed and the most interesting characters beings played by Aaron Eckhart, Billy Nighy, and Kevin Grevioux (who wrote the graphic novel the movie is based on and co-wrote the screenplay) while the most two likeable Gargoyles get killed off and Miranda Otto sleepwalking through her performance.  The action is great, but I wish you actually cared for the characters with an anti-hero in search of a soul not as great as other anti-heroes like Riddick or Selene.  I think the movie should have been longer if it meant inserting some much-needed character development.  In the end, I, FRANKENSTEIN ends up being a movie you rent or watch on cable TV and forget afterwards.  It is not even close to the greatness of the first two UNDERWORLD films (maybe the fault lands at the feet of director Stuart Beattie who writes unremarkable scripts which end up being popcorn entertainment you can forget afterwards or complain about how much better it could have been).

 

The Blu-ray has the film available to view in 2D or 3D (on 3D compatible players and TVs).

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio commentary with co-writer/ director Stuart Beattie

Audio commentary with Producers Gary Lucchesi, Richard Wright, James McQuade, and Kevin Grevioux

 

CREATING A MONSTER- a look at the prosthetic makeup. Visual effects, wardrobe, and production design of the movie

FRANKENSTEIN’S CREATURES- interviews with cast and crew about the characters and the story

 

Also in this combo pack is the film in standard definition on DVD and a code for a Digital HD Ultraviolet Copy of I, FRANKENSTEIN for streaming and downloading for TV, smart phones, tablets, and computers/ laptops.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:   I, FRANKENSTEIN is entertaining and yet so forgettable due to lack of character development and a story that could have been fleshed out more. 

 

This review is ©5-20-2014 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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