Frankenstein Unbound
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bridget Fonda, Catherine Rabett, John Hurt, Nick Brimble, Raul JuliaBrand: TCFHE
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.1
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 82 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-09-05
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Frankenstein Unbound
Movie Review: "The madness of possibility"
Summary: 5 Stars
Corman's "Frankenstein Unbound" is a masterpiece; as such, it will always be misunderstood, thus underestimated, by cultural illiterates. The title itself presupposes familiarity with Romantic literature: it is an ironic reference to P.B. Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound"--a major verse drama that expressed visionary optimism, the poet's belief that mankind's future would be incomparably bright (liberated from tyranny, superstition, and all manner of age-old errors). In contrast, "Frankenstein Unbound" paints an extremely bleak picture of the future--presenting a world that is dominated and eventually wrecked by misguided (or unguided) science. In brief, the future resembles the past--only worse!
At the center of this pessimistic world-vision stands Dr. Joe Buchanan (ably played by John Hurt)--a brilliant scientist who develops an atrocious weapon that can tear open the fabric of time and space. Inevitably Buchanan becomes a victim of his own creation, which transports him from 2031 Los Angeles to 1817 Switzerland. There he meets his natural counterpart--Victor Frankenstein (Raul Julia), an archetypal scientist being victimized by his own ungovernable creation. Cold, amoral intellect seems to unite past and future, Frankenstein and Buchanan--thus suggesting the speciousness of "progress."
The film's pessimism would be unmitigated if it were not for the presence of Mary Shelley (splendidly portrayed by Bridget Fonda). The author of "Frankenstein," Mistress Shelley appears as a young unpublished writer drawing inspiration for her great novel from her shrewd observations of Frankenstein himself. She deduces that the man has created an inhuman murderer. Further, as a true visionary she helps guide Buchanan to a proper understanding of things. She intuits that divine purpose, not accident, brought Buchanan to 19th century Geneva: his mission is to stop Frankenstein, whose monstrous experiment she terms "an abomination in the eyes of God." Enlightened, inspired, fascinated by the sheer insight of Mary Shelley, Buchanan follows her directive; he confronts Frankenstein and his creature in a fantastic duel set in the remote future's frozen wasteland. This battle makes for exciting, beautifully atmospheric cinema, which cries out to be seen! Descriptions can't begin to do it justice.
Romantic vision is likewise evident in the film's two monsters--Frankenstein's creation and Buchanan's time-space warp. The latter manifests as a freakishly shaped storm-cloud; Mary's husband Percy Bysshe Shelley (Michael Hutchence) is shown to be fascinated by the thing: no doubt he is using it as a model for his poem "The Cloud." As for Frankenstein's monster--played by Nick Brimble, he is ghastly, nightmarish. This macabre rendering is clearly in sync with Mary Shelley's original novel, rather than the overrated productions of 1930's Hollywood.
The musical score of "Frankenstein Unbound" is also outside provincial/Hollywood traditions, though well within the mainstream of serious music: it is a relentless orchestral dirge composed by Carl Davis. In its overwhelming power this score recalls the symphonic style of Gustav Mahler. Well-crafted, infinitely expressive.
To recapitulate: as a superb work of film-art, "Frankenstein Unbound" constantly refers to other works of art that occupy the same universe of Romantic imagination. While its depth and subtlety will repay many viewings, the film's greatness will never be accessible to culturally deprived dunces. "Frankenstein Unbound" is simply beyond the powers of the Many, for whom I've some invaluable advice: stay focused on network TV.
Summary of Frankenstein Unbound
Synopsis:Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: R
Street Date: 09/13/11
Wide Screen: yes
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
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