Based on Mary Shelley's novel, "Frankenstein" tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a promising young doctor who, devastated by the death of his mother during childbirth, becomes obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. His experiments lead to the creation of a monster, which Frankenstein has put together with the remains of corpses. It's not long before Frankenstein regrets his actions.
Mr. Branagh is in over his head. He displays neither the technical finesse to handle a big, visually ambitious film nor the insight to develop a stirring new version of this story.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
rotten:
Not frightening, just silly.
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
26 Jan 2006
rotten:
Watching the movie work itself into an operatic frenzy, one remains curiously detached: the grand gestures are there, but where's the music?
– David Ansen,
Newsweek,
31 Mar 2008
rotten:
Kenneth Branagh has indeed created a monster, but not the kind he originally envisioned.