Monster Effort but Fell Just Short
I, Frankenstein is a new twist on a very old story. Set in a dystopian present, this movie combines an unsual plot with traditional characters in a way that could either go really well, or incredibly poorly depending on the viewer.
In I, Frankenstien, we meet Adam (Aaron Eckhart) a creation of Victor Frankenstein, who is cursed with immortality. Adam fights his way across a dystopian landscape, facing demon and gargoyle foes who want to understand and harness his ultimate power; the power of immortality.
The film is kind of a revival of old gothic style movies. Done in an almost graphic novel style, along the lines of Underworld, it is a dark, action packed movie with a baffling PG 13 rating. [more…]
One thing you will notice while watching this movie is that it seems to take itself just a bit too seriously. Its dark and depressing, with no comic relief. Any kind of comic relief is necessary when you are dealing with a far fetched plot line like this one.
The storyline wasn’t developed enough and the plot was half baked and plodded along too long. There was a female love interest, played by Yvonne Strahovski, who was a clear attempt to humanize the character, but which really seemed to go no where.
Eckhart was one part manic depressive, and one part Rambo. The character was so completely one dimensional, that I wasn’t sure if it was bad acting or a poor plot line that resulted in the paper thin Adam. It might have been a combination of both.
The story itself was developed from a graphic novel created by Kevin Grevioux. The sternness of the movie probably won’t please fans of the series, while those who have never seen the series will likely be lost on the back-story and the motivations behind the characters.
While the visuals were decent, I had major problems with the makeup done for Adam, who is supposed to be a dude cobbled together from pieces. Instead, he just looks like a muscular Rambo with some stitch marks on him.
I wish the movie hadn’t been so incredibly somber and sullen. If there had been something to break up the tension, it might have been a much more enjoyable watch. A sidekick, a bumbling gargoyle, maybe even a few tongue in cheek moments would have really helped this movie out.
Going to this movie was kind of like thinking you were about to read a trashy novel, and then being presented with a copy of crime and punishment instead.
While interesting, with an enjoyable premise, and a good supporting cast, there seemed to be too much going on and not enough at the same time. Good scenery and attention gaining action sequences were enough to hold my interest. However, this is a movie that probably could have been great if a few things had been tweaked. Instead, it was an average effort that will probably disappear under the many new movies to come out this year.
Watch the Trailer Below!
