Although I did enjoy this movie (and gave it a 7), I found the PG rating a major misstep by the MPAA. Cuss words, adult situations, more than cartoonish violence .. not that the movie is lessened because of it .. but at the beginning of the video I rented, there was an add for kids to call a 1-900 number and try to win prizes related to to the show - but this movie is in no way made with kids in mind. Howie Mandel hams it up, and an early movie appearance by Frank Whaley is five minutes of fabulous.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Gods and Monsters
(1998)
Terrific! (To A Degree)
27 January 2000
From the opening credits to the (mostly) predictable climax, Bill Condon's film is a technical masterpiece and an excellent bit of arthouse fodder to boot.
The title, which comes from James Whale's classic film Bride Of Frankenstein, refers to the gods and monsters living in our lives and vicariously in our close associates' lives.
Condon has done a remarkable job editing in flashbacks, and the sketchy oblique, often contrasted shots pay great homage to Whale's early Universal pictures.
The story is a simple one: James Whale (Ian MacKellan), famed director, has had a stroke and is slowly dying. He is a lonely man in need of companionship and inner peace. He tries to find this solace in Clay Boone (Brendan Fraser, in a rare serious role), his yardman. The blossoming relationship between the two is the plot focus of the film.
Carter Burwell's score is wonderful as always, and Lynn Redgrave's role as Whale's housemaid is superbly put on. A great movie for any fans of the late Whale, or anyone looking for a true human drama.
The title, which comes from James Whale's classic film Bride Of Frankenstein, refers to the gods and monsters living in our lives and vicariously in our close associates' lives.
Condon has done a remarkable job editing in flashbacks, and the sketchy oblique, often contrasted shots pay great homage to Whale's early Universal pictures.
The story is a simple one: James Whale (Ian MacKellan), famed director, has had a stroke and is slowly dying. He is a lonely man in need of companionship and inner peace. He tries to find this solace in Clay Boone (Brendan Fraser, in a rare serious role), his yardman. The blossoming relationship between the two is the plot focus of the film.
Carter Burwell's score is wonderful as always, and Lynn Redgrave's role as Whale's housemaid is superbly put on. A great movie for any fans of the late Whale, or anyone looking for a true human drama.
Bride of Frankenstein
(1935)
Perhaps The Original Dark Comedy
27 January 2000
James Whale's film touches all the bases of pathos: humor in the form of Minnie, the kooky house mistress; fear, in the monster's gruesome appearance (over 10 hours of makeup was required for some scenes); sadness, in the monster's dying wish, and even happiness, when the monster meets the blind hermit.
The movie is often flamboyant, but is easily brought back to earth with the low-key lighting and Expressionist sets.
And who can forget Elsa Lanchester's 5 minute claim to fame? The frizzled hair, the blackened eyes, the loose robes - what a dame!
10 out of 10 is the tiniest compliment I can pay this gem of a motion picture.
The movie is often flamboyant, but is easily brought back to earth with the low-key lighting and Expressionist sets.
And who can forget Elsa Lanchester's 5 minute claim to fame? The frizzled hair, the blackened eyes, the loose robes - what a dame!
10 out of 10 is the tiniest compliment I can pay this gem of a motion picture.
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