6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In this epic and romantic new version of the classic film, the creature (Robert De Niro) is driven to revenge when his master rejects him after giving him life.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham Carter, Aidan QuinnHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Indonesian, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Thai
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
No one need ever die.
The tale of Victor Frankenstein and his pursuit to create life from death represents one of the
great
tragedies of modern storytelling. It's a tragedy of life and death, of heart and soul, and of the
very
essence of man. It's of giving and taking away, creating and destroying, of gaining knowledge at
the expense of the soul. It's a tale of the human condition, of acceptance and rejection, of
perception and personification. Frankenstein's creation is both at once a sympathetic figure and a
beast to be reckoned with. He's not only of many physical parts but of two souls, a creature
struggling to find his place as a man in a world that rejects his very existence simply because of
his horrific
physical appearance. The creature's pursuit of both worldly knowledge and spiritual development
further broadens the schism between his ragged body and torn soul; with every step, every
learned
word, every bite of food, and every good action comes eventually an equally devastating reaction
that only reinforces his perception of the world as a place unsuitable for him, even though he
may
have plenty to offer not only to the scientific community but as a man with a thirst for knowledge
and a quest for the truth.
LIVE!
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein debuts on Blu-ray with a strong 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. The image retains a film-like look and a somewhat subtle layer of natural film grain. This transfer isn't the sort to dazzle the visual senses; Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a drab, lifeless movie, particularly in its Germany segments; it takes on a bland color scheme that's made up of shades of gray, reflecting not only the dismal living conditions and the plague that has stricken the city, but the film's very essence as an examination of the human condition. Though fine detail suffers as a result, the transfer renders what there is to see well enough. The brick-laden streets and the stone façades of Ingolstadt don't reveal much texture, but the soft shooting style and dim palette are the culprits, not Sony's transfer. There are a some splashes of bold colors, particularly in the film's Geneva sequences, and while there is little blood in the film, its red color tends to stand out from the rest of the image. Black levels are solid, and flesh tones retain a neutral shade, though faces are devoid of finer details. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein certainly isn't the stuff of 1080p bliss; nevertheless, the transfer does an admirable job of replicating the director's intended vision nicely, and by extension, this makes for another high-class catalogue release from Sony.
This Blu-ray release of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein features a subtle but clear and well-balanced DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This mix is decidedly reserved and, frankly, not at all aurally stimulating, but it gets the job done. The severe storm at sea as heard at the beginning of the film delivers a full, satisfying, room-filling attack. The surrounds are fully realized, and the listener is completely engulfed in the chaos. In a subsequent scene, a chilling breeze blows throughout the listening area to realistic effect. Once the action switches to Geneva and Germany, there's little sonic activity of note. Music and dialogue are rendered crisply and cleanly; the score sometimes seeps into the back channels, as does the occasional sound effect, and dialogue and footsteps reverberate nicely throughout the cavernous Frankenstein home in Geneva. Several claps of thunder deliver steady, and sometimes prodigious, blows of power through the soundstage. Otherwise, this one is about as standard as they come; it's by no means a bad or disappointing listen, but the track -- by design -- simply offers but a few moments that allow the lossless encode to stretch its legs.
This Blu-ray release of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein features only BD-Live functionality and 1080p trailers for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Da Vinci Code, Ghostbusters, and Men in Black.
Indeed, this tale captures the very essence of tragedy; it's the story of two men, both in search of their place in the world and meaning in their lives, and their pursuit only reinforces the grim reality from which they seek to break free. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the quintessential filmed adaptation of this classic story. Featuring two standout performances from Kenneth Branagh and Robert De Niro, Oscar-nomianted make-up, lavish if not deliberately dreary set and costume design, and an unflinching dramatic examination of the human condition from two radically different perspectives but of the same quest to find meaning and a place in the world, the film succeeds on every level. Sony's Blu-ray release does the film's technical merits justice. Featuring another quality film-like transfer from Sony and a good lossless soundtrack, the disc's sole downfall lies in its omission of film-related bonus materials. Nevertheless, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein comes recommended based on the strength of the film.
1994
1994
1994
1994
1939
1969
1933
1979
Collector's Edition
1964
1958
Collector's Edition
1967
1959
2012
Includes "Drácula"
1931
1941
1932
2015
Collector's Edition
2023
2015
Warner Archive Collection
1933
1956
1955
1953
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1977