The Island of Dr Moreau
| Year: | 1996 |
| Director: | John Frankenheimer |
| Writer: | H G Wells |
| Cast: | Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, David Thewlis, Ron Perlman |
In what must have been a nightmare to film (featuring two of Hollywoods reputedly most temperamental stars - Kilmer and Brando), Frankenhemier attempts the second screen adaptation of Wells' classic in the north Queensland jungle.
For such an old book, and before so many modern political and environmental agendas, we have no real way of knowing Wells' intent on writing about the demented Dr Frankenstein figure creating animal/human hybrids, and if there was a point Frankenheimer was trying to make, it's hard to see.
The whole thing is sluggish and weighty with overperformed characters but not enough meat in the story. It failed therefore as a visceral sci fi ride and a cerebral think-fest.
David Thewlis is insipid, Val Kimler doesn't seem to have any purpose but hang around acting weird, but the makeup and costumes on Brando's sunlight-allergenic Dr Moreau are fantastic.
Otherwise, needlessly rambling and with none of the tense buildup of seeing the creatures as there should have been, leaving the whole movie with no real focus.
For such an old book, and before so many modern political and environmental agendas, we have no real way of knowing Wells' intent on writing about the demented Dr Frankenstein figure creating animal/human hybrids, and if there was a point Frankenheimer was trying to make, it's hard to see.
The whole thing is sluggish and weighty with overperformed characters but not enough meat in the story. It failed therefore as a visceral sci fi ride and a cerebral think-fest.
David Thewlis is insipid, Val Kimler doesn't seem to have any purpose but hang around acting weird, but the makeup and costumes on Brando's sunlight-allergenic Dr Moreau are fantastic.
Otherwise, needlessly rambling and with none of the tense buildup of seeing the creatures as there should have been, leaving the whole movie with no real focus.