Rating: 
Summary: Probably The Best Monster Movie Of All Time
Review: In terms of being a slick, well made and well put together production which you can tell the studio put a lot of effort into, it does not get much better than Bride Of Frankenstein. The story in a nutshell follows the return of the Monster immediately following the first movie (eventually we all learned how hard the Frankenstein Monster was to actually kill), realizing his ultimate loneliness in being the only one of his kind in the world, his brief humanization through a quick friendship with a lonely blind hermit (who teaches him how to speak!) and his eventual harrasment of Dr. Frankenstein (who also looked like he may have been a goner at the end of the first movie, and definetely looked like one at the start of this movie in a beginning inconsistent with the original movie's ending) into creating him a synthetic feminine mate- the monster in a roundabout way enlists the help of a truly nutty professor, evil Dr. Pretorious, who is determined to work with the reluctant Dr. Frank and partake in the experience of creating artificial life. The story moves along at a steady, rapid pace which is very unlike other movies made in the '30s; there are very few if any 'slow spots' in the film. Director James Whale, returning from the original movie, loses a little bit of the pure eerie atmosphere that he had in the first movie, but nonetheless the entire package is so well put together and executed that we forgive him. Karloff's Monster is given a little more personality this time through - even before he learns to speak, although he does have a couple of memorable lines (my personal favorite; talking to the mad Dr. P about having been brought back to life, the monster reflects, looks distant and in his monotone voice, makes the deep statement 'I love dead. Hate living.' ). Also Colin Clive returning as Dr. Frankenstein gives an even more manic performance than he did the first time through - it is easy to believe that this is a man who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. And of course, the real show stealer is Ernest Theiseger as batty, effeminate old Dr. Pretorious, Frankenstein's adversary and probably the maddest of mad doctors to ever cross the screen in this golden era of horror films. Many call this the best monster movie ever made; I've seen spookier movies and I've seen more fun movies, but when it comes to an all around well put together package, 'Bride Of Frankenstein' is nothing less than completely satisfying. A true 'can't miss' movie - for fans of the horror genre and any fan of movies in general.
Rating:
Summary: closer to the book and better than the original
Review: this movie is great. it's even better than the first one which is not easy to do. it really makes you feel for the monster. it's much closer to the book than the first one which was a good idea considering it was one of the best books ever.
Rating:
Summary: "Heres to a new world of Gods and Monsters"
Review: The greatest horror film of all time and by far Universals best horror film if not film of all time. It unites its greatest star of that time Boris Karloff and its greatest director James Whale in a sequel that surpasses the original, a rare thing with horror sequels. Elsa Lanchester plays a dual role in the film as mary Shelley in the prologue and "The Monsters Mate" created by Frankenstein and the wonderfully bizarre Dr Septimus Pretorius ( a scene stealing Ernest Thesiger ) and perhaps the most memorable mad doctor in screen history apart from Frankenstein himself. Karloff is excellent throughout both invoking pity and horror. The scene with the monster and the Hermit is one of the most touching sequences in screen history in my opinion. Only the great Karloff could carry this off and this film goes to prove he was more than a model for Universals make-up master Jack Pierce. This is another one of those classics that is more than a horror film. It makes me cringe to even class it as horror because it says so much. This was sadly James Whales last chiller and although he only made four horror films including the original "Frankenstein" in 1931 he was Universals greatest director. A wonderful film what more can I say?
Rating:
Summary: A Unique Vision
Review: Although this film is technically a sequel to "Frankenstein," Whale does a masterful thing by taking Bride in a totally different direction. I wouldn't even compare the two, although if you could only see one, Bride is it. Another reviewer used the word "hoot" describing James Whales attitude with this film. It's exactly that. Ernest Thseiger, as Dr. Praetorious, steals the show, although everyone else does his or her part to make this a terrific masterpiece. Of course, the one sacrifice, is Karloff's monster. The gaunt, tortured, unearthly being of the first film couldn't exist in this script. He had to become Costello to Praetorious' Abbott. "Bride of Frankenstein," with a superb musical score by Franz Waxman, is absolutely as fresh today as in 1935. This is a completely original motion picture. Watch it first and then watch "Gods and Monsters."
Rating:
Summary: The greatest "creature feature" of all time!
Review: Following a landmark film such as 1931's FRANKENSTEIN must not have been easy. James Whale himself felt as though he could not direct a sequel without doing something different with it. BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN was just what the doctor ordered. A meaty script filled with delicious dialogue, rich cinematography, perfect sets and one of the first great music scores for film, it is absolutely a perfect collaboration of great talent. From the beginning of the movie, with Percy Shelley and HIS future bride, Mary, along with friend Lord Byron the viewer knows he is in for a different film experience. Director Whale had a fantastic eye and ear for satire and he used them with an expert touch here. Because of the strict censorship rules of the day, certain things couldn't be done or shown. Still, Whale manages to slip in a few pieces of his own religious beliefs (or the lack of them) through the character of Dr. Pretorious (Ernest Thesiger). This is best exemplified by lines such as "To a new world of gods and monsters". Without coming right out and saying it, Jimmy Whale has managed to hit organized religion in the face with a sometimes well deserved slap. Scenes such as the often analyzed "creature's crucifixtion" also reflect a certain disdain for "bible stories" as Pretorious refers to them. After all, Jesus Christ was misunderstood by many as well. The comedy of Una O'Connor is a little out of place. More broad than most of the humor in the film, it does tend to stand out. But her character has enough Charles Dickens in her to be lovable if not also occasionally irritating. It works because it is only an occasional (and very brief) departure. The rest of the cast is terrific. The aforementioned Thesiger and O'Connor are basically eccentrics that are quite perfect for what they had to do. Colin Clive returns as Dr. Frankenstein in a performance that is basically a repeat of his original performance. The beautiful Valerie Hobson plays Dr. Frankenstein's bride with a great deal more spunk than Mae Clarke in the original. Elsa Lanchester appears briefly as both Mary Shelley AND the bride of the creature and excels in both roles. And Dwight Frye is back as Karl, a character certainly not unlike his character of Fritz in the first film. He even manages to get himself killed by the creature in an equally gruesome way. Of course, the performance to watch in the film belongs to Boris Karloff. While not his best performance in film (THE BODY SNATCHER, TARGETS and THE BLACK ROOM are performances that are all in my humble opinion, better), he manages to further his characterization by injecting even more humanity into the creature. The scene in the hermit's hut is one of the most unusual in a film of this kind. You understand, temporarily what it's like to be blind, not seeing the physical differences that make the "monster" so "horrible". And O. P. Heggie as the hermit conveys all of the emotions of one who only has his heart and mind to judge people by. And maybe Karloff, Heggie and Whale are trying to say that perhaps it might not be such a bad thing if we were all sightless. Superficiality would certainly not be a factor because we wouldn't be able to see. Only our feelings for another person or being would be a factor. Not such a bad concept at all! Frank Skinner's music score with all of it's themes is one of the first of it's kind. To this day it sounds fresh. And it's so alive in this film, it practically is a character in itself. But everything is nearly perfect here. It's as though everyone involved was of one mind-to create the best film in the horror/monster genre that had to that day been produced. They not only succeeded with that goal, but also managed to create the best film of it's kind of all time. Although, it has been said that Whale thought the film a bit of a lark, even he had to have realized that it represented his creative peak. Even his production of the first sound film of SHOW BOAT (which followed a year later), excellent as it is, couldn't hold a candle to BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. The DVD is quite good. There is a very wordy commentary by Scott McQueen that does tend to get a little pompous at times. His choice of million-dollar words to express his opinions simply do not add much. Of course, for the most part, these DVD's of the classic Universal monster movies are consistent in their commentary. They are often informative and almost always interesting in content, but the delivery leaves something to be desired. Only THE WOLF MAN's comments, so far, have a relaxed and spontaneous feel to them. Hopefully the company will continue this in future presentations and find commentators who know how to deliver their mostly fascinating facts and stories in a more enjoyable way. The documentary and photo display are also very good. The print used is fine, but I think an even better restoration might be in order, especially in the wake of the American Film Institute's decision to add BRIDE... to it's selective and impressive list of films to undergo extensive preservation techniques. In short, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN is perfect for anyone who has a stereotypical view of the horror/monster movie. The different style and content employed by Whale and co. has insured that the film will last forever in the memory of all who have seen it. To repeat Pretorius' exclaimation, "To a new world of gods and monsters".
Rating:
Summary: Ahh--horror of the rarest kind! Sublime....
Review: Perhaps the greatest of the classic horror films. Sophisticated, sly, campy, and downright creepy, James Whale created a masterpiece of post-Expressionist horror that far surpasses the creaky, stagey 1931 original. The lead actors, Boris Karloff and Colin Clive, repeat their roles to greater effect. Ernest Thesiger appears as Dr. Pretorious, an elderly scientist with the morals of an insect--perfectly repellent and likeable at the same time. Indeed, Whale was most certainly injecting some light-hearted homosexual humor with this character, as when he trills with glee, "The Brrrride of Frrrankenstein!" or makes his marvelous toast to Karloff over dinner in a crypt: "To a new world of gods and monsters!" Brilliant. Everything about this film is top-notch, from sets to plot to acting; having Elsa Lanchester play both Mary Shelley in the prologue and the Bride herself is a stroke of "post-modern" genius! And of course Karloff's portrayal of the Monster is nothing short of exquisite. Compare this performance with DeNiro's in Kenneth Branagh's version; you'll see how smart it was to have the Monster be practically mute; what works in literature doesn't work always in film adaptions. I watch this movie at least once a year and am always entertained--once I wrote a paper on it for a film class and was amazed at how much depth and complexity is here. Modern horror filmmakers could take a lesson!
Rating: 
Summary: The Greatest Horror Film Ruined by Bad DVD
Review: I was waiting with great anticipation the release of The Bride of Frankenstein DVD. I ,like many others, consider this movie to be the greatest horror film of all time. I already own the movie on VHS but I couldn't wait to see the sparkling, crystal clear picture that I know the DVD format can deliver. Unfortunately, Universal decided to dig up the worst print they could find to put on DVD. The worst thing about it is the horrible grainy look of the film. There are so many tiny little black dots on the picture that it is almost impossible to concentrate on the actors. It is a terrible looking picture. And somehow or other they have managed to mess up the framing of the picture even though it is a 1.33:1 image. You only get to see about 85% of the picture compared to the VHS. Universal....how could you? The extras on the DVD are quite good but it's the movie that counts! Other titles in the series of classic Universal horror movies are better but none of them so far are what true DVD enthusiasts and real movie fans want to see. I really hope that Universal quickly decides to remaster The Bride of Frankenstein DVD and then allows us poor souls to exchange our current copies for a new one.
Rating:
Summary: KARLOFF!
Review: This is by far the best of the Frankenstein films. I watched this as a kid and now my daughter watched it with me and she loves it! Her favorite part is while the Monster roames the country side and encounters the blind hermit. This is a MUST for your collection!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: one of the best of the old universal horror films and probably the best of the boris karloff frankenstein films. the movie is great on dvd..great sound and picture for a 65 year old movie. also,the documentary included with it is first rate and informative. highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Sequel to Frankenstein
Review: This Movie continues the haunting tale of Doctor Frankenstein and his misunderstood creature.The movie was fast paced and errie. The only bad parts were the sequence in the beginning with Mary Shelly, and the part where the new mad scientist reviels his "frighting"creation little people living in jars.
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