----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Date: Tue, 8 Nov 1994 12:20:04 CST From: James Tichenor <[log in to unmask]> I saw it last night and was very disappointed. I wanted so much to love this movie, but found myself distant and uncaring by the end. I'm not sure why, although I think the acting and script was comprimised by the music running through some of the most important scenes. I thought the acting was fine: Branagh *really* dominates, though; John Cleese was fine (but rather humorless; why Cleese?); DeNiro good (makeup was exceptional). But I couldn't really get "into" the whole "creature" thing; it was much *less* to me than the reviews hinted at ... And I agree the soundtrack was overwhelming at times. I also found Branagh's use of multicut scenes jarring - ie: the creature's first steps and Liz's re-animated dance with Victor. DeNiro was good, but something was missing. I wish I could figure out why I felt so emotionless for the majority of the picture, especially since the friends I was with generally loved it. I quite agree. I couldn't maintain much interest at all; the NYTimes review was pretty critical, and I found after seeing the movie, then reading the review, that I agree with much of that criticism. The "big point" was that Branagh wasn't up to this, which was supposed to be Coppola's followup to _Bram Stoker's Dracula,_ which was, imo, much better done. Coppola "couldn't" do it (direct, though he produced), so he gave it to Branagh, whose _Henry V_ and _Much Ado About Nothing_ were *much* different kinds of movies than _Frankenstein_. Maybe had to do with the people constantly talking behind me. Is it my imagination or is this getting to be worse. The last few films I've seen have included running commentaries from the crowd in the form of whispers and extremely loud popcorn eating. Has TV destroyed the theatre experience? Do people forget they are in a theatre and think they are back home on the couch, able to blabber on at the the most inopportune moments? Don't get me started ... :) Brian New to the list ... :)