1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Frankenstein

#61- Frankenstein (1931)
Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Mae Clarke
Directed by: James Whale


Plot Summary: Dr. Henry Frankenstein's latest experiment is to piece together a body from various sources and re-animate it, creating life from death. While his experiment is a success, Dr. Frankenstein discovers that the brain he used in his experiment was an abnormal brain. With his creation declared a "monster", Dr. Frankenstein realizes that the creature must be destroyed.  But the unthinkable happens when the monster escapes and finds his presence felt in the local village.


One of my favorite film genres is horror. I can't entirely explain why I enjoy it. While I know that most horror movies (especially modern horror movies) are not usually successful with the critics, there is something about the cheesiness and cult followings that many horror films have that I am entertained by. When I was younger, I didn't have the biggest appreciation for the older horror films. I always thought that the characters didn't look scary, they looked a little goofy to me, so I figured the movies probably weren't that good. That opinion changed when I was able to actually sit down and see Frankenstein. Once I saw Frankenstein, I could see why it is one of the most famous horror movies of all time. It's a movie that really helps set the standard for what horror films would later become.

The first thing most people think about when talking about Frankenstein is Boris Karloff's performance as The Monster. Karloff has a difficult task in playing the role. The Monster is only allowed to show emotion through facial expressions and body movements, as well as only being able to communicate in grunts. Despite the amount of make-up that is used to create the look, Karloff is still able to add a surprising amount of depth and emotion to the character. The audience can tell when he's happy, scared, angry and sad, as well as being able to see why he feels that way based on his actions. Karloff's look of the monster has now become the look most associated with the Frankenstein brand name, making Karloff's performance of the monster iconic not just for horror characters, but movie characters in general.

Colin Clive also deserves credit for playing the titular character, Dr. Henry Frankenstein (despite a common misconception that many people have thinking that Frankenstein is the name of the monster). Clive's portrayal as Frankenstein is one of the true highlights of the film. While most people would watch the movie to see Karloff, I enjoy watching it for Clive. As much as Karloff sets the standard for movie monsters, I feel Clive also sets the standard for mad scientists on film. Most moviegoers are familiar with the scenes in the laboratory. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you are probably familiar with Dr. Frankenstein shouting "It's Alive!" None of the equipment in his lab is ever fully explained, but I don't think that it needs to be. The audience believes that Frankenstein knows what he is doing in terms of being a brilliant scientist. 

Frankenstein also creates a haunting atmosphere that helps set the horror tone. I was pleasantly surprised that a movie that came out in 1931 could have such a visual style with its sets and props. Some moviegoers that are used to movies in color might be turned off by seeing a movie in black and white, but I really feel that it helps the give the film a classical look to compliment the horror tone being set for the film. I feel like if the movie was in color, and I saw Karloff in green make-up playing The Monster, I would not be able to take that film as seriously as I can with version we have. The sets are also filmed in a way that helps give the film a chilling look and atmosphere. The film starts with Dr. Frankenstein digging up corpses in a graveyard helps set the tone for the rest of the film.

Does the movie have some flaws? Of course it does, I think its biggest flaw is that it needed more time on-screen. The movie is only an hour and ten minutes and could use about 20 extra minutes to flush out some issues and questions that some audience members would have. My biggest question, and possibly the most obvious continuity goof up, is something along the lines of "If Dr. Frankenstein is a brilliant scientist studying the human body, how would he not notice that the brain he used was an abnormal brain? I mean, the audience saw a scene where the differences between brains was discussed so WE would know, but wouldn't he be able to tell the difference?" Questions like that could be answered with a longer movie to help the pacing of the story. That's my only real gripe with the film, and it really is a positive note, that I like the film enough to say that it needed more time.

When looking at Frankenstein, it is easy to see that it serves as a prototype for the horror genre. Even if people have not seen the movie, they know of the scenes that help paint the modern picture of Frankenstein in media. For example, Dr. Frankenstein has a hunchbacked assistant named Fritz (not named Igor, he is introduced in Son of Frankenstein and spelled Ygor), which is now a common element when telling the Frankenstein tale, either through parody or modern adaptations. From the electrifying creation of The Monster in the laboratory, to a mob of angry villagers chasing The Monster through the woods, Frankenstein has iconic scenes and story elements that have been incorporated into the horror genre, making it a film that deserves respect from all fans of horror.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

While it may not be the scariest horror film ever made, the film industry owes a lot to Frankenstein for helping horror become a mainstream genre. If you consider yourself a fan of horror, I recommend owning it in your collection. If you are a casual moviegoer, still check it out as a rental, particularly in October to get in the mood for the Halloween season.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Frankenstein and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Back to the Future

#756- Back to the Future (1985)
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis


Plot Summary: In 1985, Dr. Emmett Brown (also known as "Doc") invents a time machine out of a DeLorean and his young friend, Marty McFly, accidentally uses the car and travels back in time to 1955. Marty accidentally interacts with his parents and actually prevents them from meeting and falling in love. Now Marty has two objectives, to help his parents fall in love (because if they don't, he will never be born and be erased from existence) and to find the 1955 version of Doc to help him get back to 1985. 


With over 1000 movies on this list, it is hard to pick a movie to start with. So I decided to start with one I was already comfortable with. I first saw Back to the Future when I was 9. My grandmother got the trilogy for me on VHS for Christmas in 2002. Since then, I have seen this movie dozens of times and have grown a deeper appreciation for it every time I see it, with my most recent viewing of the film being no exception. 

One of the main reasons to check out Back to the Future is for the characters. Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, and Doc Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, are a great on-screen duo. Despite their character differences (with one being a typical '80s high school student and the other being a wild eyed scientist), Fox and Lloyd have no problem convincing the audience that Marty and Doc are great friends. Even if they are a great duo, both characters are very enjoyable on their own as well. Marty is a very relatable character who has confidence, but also has doubts and fears of his own. Doc is intelligent but also neurotic, which the audience can understand once they've seen the numerous gadgets that Doc has invented as well as his brilliant but quirky behavior.

Another great highlight of the film is Biff Tannen, played by Thomas F. Wilson. Biff is often considered as the greatest on-screen bully and it is easy to see why. While he is not the smartest guy in school, Biff is still an obstacle for Marty because of his size and power. In fact, he is an obstacle to Marty's parents as well, played by Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson, as he picks on George McFly (Glover) and is always trying to hit on Lorraine Baines (Thompson). Biff is comedic, yet intimidating, which makes for an antagonist that the audience loves to hate.

When looking at the overall concept, Back to the Future takes an idea that has much more thought to it than simply going into the future, or going to a time period like the Wild West (which is by no means a knock at Back to the Future Part II and Part III). Instead of a "popular" time traveling scenario, you are stuck in a time period where you go to high school with your parents, and see what they did when they were your age. Marty's journey helps him see his parents in a different light that he and the audience are both used to based on how they were introduced in 1985. He is also able to figure out that high school can be an issue no matter what time period you are in.

Another reason to see Back to the Future is the effective use of pop culture. This film captures essences of both the '50s and the '80s. Through setting, props, costumes and even dialogue, the audience is taken in by the '80s atmosphere, then is transported into the '50s environment that they are unfamiliar with, making them feel just as much out of their comfort zone as Marty is. A good example is when Marty tells the '50s Doc that the President in 1985 is Ronald Regan, who was an actor in '50s, to which Doc asks if Jerry Lewis is the Vice President. Back to the Future also has an impact on modern pop culture. Thoughts of Back to the Future always come into my head whenever I see a DeLorean driving down the street, or even from just hearing "The Power of Love" in a public place. Many people still are able to remember scenes and quotes from Back to the Future almost 30 years later.

When looking at movies that I would consider to be some of my top favorites, Back to the Future might be a choice that surprises some people. After seeing it another time, I realize why I enjoy the film so much, because it isn't JUST a movie about time travel. It has elements of science fiction, romance, comedy and action throughout the entire film. The plot, characters and overall cultural impact are proof that Back to the Future is truly a movie that has stood the test of time (pun intended).


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Back to the Future is a movie that I feel I can recommend to almost anybody as it really does have something to offer for everyone. Not only would I recommend seeing it, but I would also recommend owning it in your movie collection.
 
Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Back to the Future and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Intro

I remember during my freshman year of college, I was in my local library and on display near the DVD department was a book, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. I had grown up my entire life with a deep love for film and when I saw that book I said to myself, "That would be a fun goal. I just wouldn't know how to start."

 As I was starting my sophomore year, I thought checking out that book would be a cool thing to occupy my free time during the school year. There were many online versions of the book, but I was most intrigued by http://www.filmsquish.com/guts/?q=taxonomy/term/53/9 because it not only had the list, but also had a section for people to make their own reviews on the same movie, which served as the inspiration for this blog.

Fast forward a year, and I am now in the process of starting a film club for my college campus. Our plan with the club is to watch film, discuss it and develop a deeper appreciation for it. The heads of the film club would pick specific movies for specific genres that we would label as movies that "everyone needs to see."

When realizing that I needed to expand my horizons on film, I decided to check out the list and see how many on there I had seen before. After seeing how many I actually watched on the list, I realized I had a LONG way to go. So I decided to start as soon as possible.

The way I went about viewing movies on the list was that I would go into each movie with a fresh mind and see why it is on the list and if it deserves to be on the list. Also, there are more than 1001 movies on the list, 1103 to be exact, as the list gets updated on a yearly basis. I've seen quite a few on the list since starting, but I'm open to suggestions and recommendations from those who want to check out the list at the link above. 


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