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.
Kenneth Branagh has indeed created a monster, but not the kind he originally envisioned.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
20 Jun 2008
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:
Not frightening, just silly.
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
26 Jan 2006
rotten:
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.