The Island of Dr. Moreau (Unrated Director's Cut)
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Movie Reviews of The Island of Dr. Moreau (Unrated Director's Cut)
Movie Review: A poorly constructed nightmare
Summary: 2 Stars
It has been a long time since I read the novel upon which this book is based, but I do clearly remember it making sense. This movie doesn't even make sense (to quote a chicken I know). Marlon Brando somnambulizes his way through the film and, instead of coming off as sinister, menacing, and dominating, he makes Dr. Moreau into a joke. Val Kilmer's portrayal is vacuous and silly. Is the character supposed to be under the influence? I guess he wanted it portrayed that way. The script? Is there one? Moreau talks about having almost reached his goal. Where? His one "son" and his "daughter" do have some fine traits, but both are also pretty ineffectual.
Several reviews have mentioned the special effects. I actually saw very few special effects. The rat-people on the boat were creepy and well-done, and some of the characters did make some superhuman moves, but mostly I saw people in very elaborate, well-done costumes, using well-distorted voices.
The central character, played by David Thewlis, should have been the focus of the movie, as he is the narrator. He kept getting lost in the shuffle, and I kept waiting for him to see things that I saw, and to ask the questions that I would have asked. I like him as an actor, but this is certainly not a memorably good performance. It is somewhat ironic that he is the witness to animal-human hybrid horror here, but is the werewolf in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."
The film does create a sense of the nightmare. Several of the characters do show glimpses of depth and genuineness, most notably Ron Perlman's preacher, but then he's well-practiced, from his "Beauty and the Beast" television series. That was what (barely) earned this film its second star. Let's vote them all off the island, and start over. Robert Duvall as Moreau? Replace Kilmer with Matt Damon? Casey Affleck replacing David Thewlis?
Movie Review: Bad Chemistry & Bad Film Making don't Mix
Summary: 1 Stars
This five-finger man gives this film 1 finger (guess which finger). Brando gives a performance unworthy of his oscar status, & Kilmer is either too stoned or too bored to even finish his lines. Not even Fairuza Balk's beauty or Stan Winston's exceptional effects could save this hairball of a flick. Someone call the vet 'cause this film deserves to be neutered. Bad doggy; the litter box is full; and yes the lion sleeps tonight - 'cause this movie put him into a coma. Movie Review: What I'm About to Say My Alarm Some of You
Summary: 4 Stars
The Island of Dr. Moreau is a great film. Dare I say it, a piece of underrated mastery. Yes. There I said it.
Let us begin with the genius qualities this film has within it: a brilliant turn by Val Kilmer (one of his best performances)
a decent stretch by Marlon Brando
dazzling special effects by Stan Winston
haunting score, one that resembles the original score for "Alien"
This film is often nightmarish and gripping. It delivers very very frightening moments, both in and out of reality. The genius of the late great John Frankenheimer truly runs through the spine of this film. Even the title sequence is reminiscent of Frankenheimer's abstract "Seconds" title sequence.
Here's what could get me bludgeoned by reviewers: It has a sociopolitical commentary worth sharing. A scary comment on human beings and their capacity for feverish violence and rage. Add that with its wondrous compositions (the film is incredibly shot -it is Frankenheimer, folks) poses a notion about what truly separates us from the animals, is it our ability to reason which we often neglect or is it simply nothing?
One of the most underrated, stylish gems of the 90s.
Movie Review: NOT SCARY ENOUGH
Summary: 3 Stars
Overall the movie was ok, But i were expecting it 2 be a little bit more scary than that. I wanted 2 see this altimate monster that he was trying 2 create, that i thought was surly just around the bend in the movie, & the big finish with everyone trying 2 kill this altimate monster, never came about. I thought marlon brando & val kilmer did there part in the movie, It just that the writers didn't do theirs.Movie Review: Col. Kurtz IF he had survived "Apocalypse Now"
Summary: 4 Stars
Ever wonder where Col. Kurtz would've ended up if he had survived the end of "Apocalypse Now"? Well, now we know: He exiled himself to a deserted island to create humanimals -- the horror, the horror.
In light of all the bad press one would really think this is a lousy movie. And I can see WHY some people don't like it, the main portion of the flick is really INSANE. However, if you're a sucker for lost-on-an-island type yarns and appreciate the heavy mood & insanity of "Apocalypse Now," you'll probably like it. I'm not saying it's anywhere near as great as "Apocalypse Now" but Marlon Brando and the jungle insanity make the comparison inevitable.
WHAT WORKS: The title sequence is great, perhaps one of the best in all of cinema (another Amazon reviewer noted this, so I'm not alone); the soundtrack is phenomenal ('nuff said); the plot is intriguing; the humanimal make-up is fine ('Hyena' looks especially horrific); the film possesses an undeniable creative pizzazz (i.e. it's moody, atmospheric and insane); and Marlon Brando's 35 minute stint in the film is as captivating as always (you can probably tell I'm a huge Brando fan -- in particular, "One-Eyed Jacks," "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962), "The Young Lions," "Superman" and "Apocalypse Now" [not "Redux"]).
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: The third act of the film is almost total insanity, except for the final ten minutes or so; as a result the story will lose the interest of those who have no appreciation for such artistic flair.
CLOSING THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed seeing Brando in his old age in this flick; it proves he had his magnetic charm until the end. If you enjoyed Brando as 'Kurtz' in "Apocalypse Now" you'll appeciate him in "Island;" in fact, as already noted, Dr. Moreau is a variation of Kurtz in his old age (i.e. nutjob in the jungle).
If you're predisposed for such a flick, "Dr. Moreau" is weird, but certainly worthwhile.