when it come to literature and mary shelley gothic novel frankenstein be one of the more significant title to appear . not only be it memorable in the fact that it be write by a woman in a time when woman be consider the less of the two sex and but it also set up new standard for science fiction and horror that be expand even far with follow play and ultimately the 1931 james whale film of the same name and which feature boris karloff a the mutinous and growl monster create from dead body fuse with electricity . most of the criticism of the 1931 film focus on the fact that it be only very loosely faithful to mary shelley original novel . this 1994 adaptation and direct by and star kenneth branagh and be by far and much more adhering to the text and but that do not make it a good film . i do not think the 1931 frankenstein be a great film and but it be still twice the entertainment that branagh be . the plot be the same one be all familiar with . a young man ( kenneth branagh ) mad with the passion to create a living be in his own image recklessly instill life into a humanoid make from the body of dead men and create a hapless and but unnaturally durable creature play uncharacteristically by robert de niro and before long and his mistake of play god soon lead to chaos and people near to him fall victim and before long and he soon take the responsibility of purge the creature under his own wing . but then there the element that not all of u be familiar with . that the creature have a mind and a heart of it own and that it want to meet it creator again and with some request of it own . i do appreciate director or star branagh will to stick with mary shelley original novel and but what i do not appreciate be his failure at supply u with an appreciable motion picture that ultimately turn out to be nothing more than pointless and forgettable . like roger ebert say in his television review of mary shelley frankenstein and kenneth branagh have a habit of go over the top with his movie and this be another example . there be many scene in this movie that be way too explosive and way too loud and and way too graphic to satisfy u such a this rather bloody and fast move stillbirth scene early in the picture that do not serve any real purpose in the story than just to give u something to look at . that what this movie really be . just something to look at . it a good look movie . the cinematography be crystal clear and beautiful and the set design and art direction be fabulous and the scenery be entrance and it feel a if we be look into an actual world far distant and different from our own . but what mary shelley frankenstein fail to give u be substance and story and development and in stead focus on it visual impact and which again and go way over the hill . in short and it give u too much and not enough . and a a result and it two hour run time cause it to overstay it welcome . there be scene that go on for too long and be not necessary and there be scene that go by too quickly and but be necessary . and with a movie like this and once the audience start to lose interest and the look of the film doesn not amount to a hill of bean anymore . be there any positive aspect to mary shelley frankenstein . yes and there be . and some of them be quite powerful . number one and robert de niro be fantastic a frankenstein creature . de niro do not rely on his grotesque look makeup to give the impression of a troubled creature and but instead embrace and surpass it with his performance and there be some scene where i actually felt a little moved because he be so great in the movie . the creature and like in the novel and be not the big lumbering green skin monster with electrode emerge from it neck and mindlessly attack people in rage . here we have a sympathetic and tragic living be with feeling and emotion and a mind equal to that of a man . de niro give u the most impressive frankenstein creature we have see yet and even good than the boris karloff performance from the original . and that be a classic image . unfortunately and de niro be not see enough and branagh be see too much and unfortunately branagh be play a very dull victor frankenstein . that another thing i might as well mention . apart from de niro and we have no interesting character . gene siskel note that helena bonham carter character as well a the others be treat mostly a prop in the background and he be correct with his criticism . i do not connect with any of the character except for the creature and in a movie like this and that be imperative otherwise youre quickly lose interest . bottom line and this be a real shame . mary shelley frankenstein be a major miss opportunity . it a well act and good look movie that i be still thoroughly bore with and unfortunately can not suspend my disbelief and negative attitude toward the film to give it any recommendation except to those who want to see a faithful movie base on mary shelley gothic classic .