Frankenstein has a long standing history throughout film and culture.. There are many variation of the tale of Frankenstein, one of the more legendary monsters out there. I, Frankenstein, the new film from director Stuart Beattie (Tomorrow, When the War Began) is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Kevin Grevioux. Unfortunately the film doesn’t do it justice. There’s no doubt that the graphic novel and the creature itself deserve better than this
Back in 1975 Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Aden Young) creates a human-like monster in his laboratory. The Dr. experiences a change of heart that causes him to reject the monster. Only the monster hunts revenge and ends up killing the Dr.’s wife. The tables turn and the Dr. is the one seeking revenge on the monster, but during the chase the Dr. is killed. While burying his creator (out of respect..I guess), the creature finds himself surrounded and attacked by demons. During the attack a pair of gargoyle’s save the monster who they give the title of Adam (Aaron Eckhart).
We find out that these gargoyles are created by a higher up power to battle demons on earth in order to protect the humans. The gargoyle angels, who are led by their Queen Leonore (Miranda Otto) and Gideon (Jai Courtney), want Adam to join their battle against a demon creature named Naberius (Bill Nighy) who is trying to capture Adam. Naberius wants to find a way to resurrect dead corpses of his fallen army, and hopes that figuring out how Adam was created will give him his answer. The end goal? To revive the army so he can end the world (of course). Adam is stubborn and rejects the gargoyles help, preferring to work alone in the hunt for Naberius. He spends the next hundred or so years hunting demons across the globe by his lonesome self.
Many years later he turns up again and comes face to face with Naberius, who will do whatever it takes to figure out the secret to creating a creature like Adam. In order to prevent this, Adam must find a way to work alongside the gargoyles, but he quickly learns that they aren’t quite what they seem either. He ends up all by himself yet again, not sure of what to do. During his search, Adam ends up befriending a doctor named Terra (Yvonne Strahovski) who works for the rich businessman Charles Wessex, who is really Naberius disguised in human form. Adam fills her in and they team up to try and bring and end to the on-going war that they are thrown into.
Considering the creature that we’re dealing with here in Frankenstein, it’s quite ironic that this film has no life to it at all. Aaron Eckhart is certainly better than this, but his presence is completely lost in a film as disastrous as this. I guess he just wanted an easy paycheck. As a fan of the TV series Chuck, I was happy to see Yvonne Strahovski have a major movie role but just wish it was for something of quality. The great Bill Nighy is only involved because of his connection with the producers who also produced the Underworld films that he took part in. He certainly deserves better.
The CGI is tolerable at parts, but mostly looks cheap and cringe-worthy . The script (which was written by Beattie) is about what you expect from a film of this sort, giving its actors wooden lines that are as bland as this concept. Considering how the film is almost all action, it’s amazing how dull and bland this whole project came out to be, but I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised. I, Frankenstein is a forgettable January film that will be stuck drowning in the bottom of bargain bins for the remainder of its miserable existence.
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