Weekly Review -- In our own image

I, Frankenstein (2014) -- With all things supernatural taking over media, it was only a matter of time before Mary Shelley's classic tale got the big screen reboot, and this Stuart Beattie effort is a mixed bag of tricks. At its worst, the film lacks a depth of narrative and a cohesive script; at its best, it is a hit-and-miss popcorn flick.

Dr. Victor Frankenstein's forsaken creation (Aaron Eckhart) has roamed the Earth in self-imposed exile for 200 years. When he is rescued from a demon attack by a group of gargoyles, their queen (Miranda Otto) explains to him that he is now caught up in a centuries-old war between the two species. At the same time, the demons are about to become aware of the creature's existence, with their prince (Bill Nighy) wishing to study him in order to discover the secret to reviving the dead...

Let us start with the positives. The film looks GORGEOUS. As a sucker for all things dark and Gothic, I pored over every sequence and appreciated the blend of ultra modern technology and Victorian influences. The sets and effects are impressive; I loved the gargoyles' cathedral and those wings. The battle scenes are stunning, particularly the first one between the gargoyles and demons, which must have looked brilliant in 3D. The concept is intriguing, offering a fresh new perspective on the original story. The problem is that it is far from having been well thought out, which brings me to...

... the not-so-good and downright bad stuff. First off, I would have loved to see more of the gargoyle order and hierarchy. Where had they come from? How did they gain such power? How did the conflict start? Their appearance is angel-like and their relationships are intriguing, but this element is brushed aside in favor of other narrative aspects and tons of action. The demons are so two-dimensional that they feel interchangeable with any other supernatural creature. Power suits and over-the-top lines do not a villain make. There is a hint of trouble brewing in their ranks but, again, the surface merely gets scratched. The screenplay feels workmanlike, with lines such as "I thought he was wounded. I wounded him." The entire thing feels as though the filmmakers had wanted to replicate the principles behind the more entertaining Underworld, without putting too much work into it.

The acting leaves a lot to be desired. Eckhart sulks his way through the role, but does get major points for mastering the art of stick fighting, while Yvonne Strahovski does not have much to do except spew out quasi-science terminology and act helpless. Nighy is the best actor in the cast and I wish that we could have seen more of his character's motivation; hell, I wish that he had got a better character to play. The same goes for the fantastic Otto, who tries to find some nuance in the bland writing. On another note, does anyone else want to see Jai Courtney playing any role but the resident hard-ass already? I am not sure if this guy has done genres other than fantasy and action, but he seems to be stuck in them for now. 

Overall, I, Frankenstein feels more like a barely mapped out and barely finished attempt than anything else. I must not be the only one who hates seeing a good idea go to waste and I must not be the only one who hates seeing (admittedly cool) visuals covering up for a half-baked screenplay. The cast deserves better, the writers can do better and we all need better films. Contrary to Frankenstein's brainchild, none of us have 200 years and our lives just happen to be too short for bad cinema.  

5/10