The Bride

Rating:
Summary: MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME!
Review: This film is actually two-in-one! The first film is a very good one, the second, a dull, lifeless (no pun intended) one. The first ten minutes of THE BRIDE are fascinating and magnificently staged. But it is when the monster leaves Dr. Frankenstein's castle that the film takes on its split personality.

The first film, the good one, tells the story of Rinaldo, a dwarfed circus perfomer, who meets up with Frankenstein's creation. Rinaldo christens the creature Viktor and the two become close friends. They make their way towards Budapest to join the circus. Their story is excellently told with humor and pathos. It's the kind of pathos that made the original BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN such a memorable film.

However, the film zig-zags back and forth between this story and the tale of the good doctor's efforts to create the perfect "modern" woman. In mind as well as body, he "teaches" her in an incoherent and completely uninteresting series of scenes, that give the film a choppy look. For nearly two hours we go back and forth between good filmmaking and bad.

Sting does what he can with his poorly written scenes, but quite frankly I expected more. At least he tries. Jennifer Beals, on the other hand is atrocious, going through her dialogue like Hulk Hogan doing Shakespeare. She proves once and for all that not only can't she dance (most of her choreography in FLASHDANCE was done by somebody else), she can't act either. Geraldine Page, a magnificent actress, looks like she wishes she were somewhere else.

But David Rappaport as Rinaldo and Clancy Brown as Viktor shine in their roles. In fact everything in THE BRIDE that is good is in their half of the film. Everything that is except the sets, costumes and music score. In these areas the entire film is excellent.

If you watch the film you will stick with it until the finale so I won't give away the ending. But unless you like your coffee with Half-and-Half instead of whole cream stay away from THE BRIDE.

Rating:
Summary: Two movies in one!
Review: This film is actually two-in-one! The first film is a very good one, the second, a dull, lifeless (no pun intended) one. The first ten minutes of THE BRIDE are fascinating and magnificently staged. But it is when the monster leaves Dr. Frankenstein's castle that the film takes on its split personality.

The first film, the good one, tells the story of Rinaldo, a dwarfed circus perfomer, who meets up with Frankenstein's creation. Rinaldo christens the creature Viktor and the two become close friends. They make their way towards Budapest to join the circus. Their story is excellently told with humor and pathos. It's the kind of pathos that made the original BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN such a memorable film.

However, the film zig-zags back and forth between this story and the tale of the good doctor's efforts to create the perfect "modern" woman. In mind as well as body, he "teaches" her in an incoherent and completely uninteresting series of scenes, that give the film a choppy look. For nearly two hours we go back and forth between good filmmaking and bad.

Sting does what he can with his poorly written scenes, but quite frankly I expected more. At least he tries. Jennifer Beals, on the other hand is atrocious, going through her dialogue like Hulk Hogan doing Shakespeare. She proves once and for all that not only can't she dance (most of her choreography in FLASHDANCE was done by somebody else), she can't act either. Geraldine Page, a magnificent actress, looks like she wishes she were somewhere else.

But David Rappaport as Rinaldo and Clancy Brown as Viktor shine in their roles. In fact everything in THE BRIDE that is good is in their half of the film. Everything that is except the sets, costumes and music score. In these areas the entire film is excellent.

If you watch the film you will stick with it until the finale so I won't give away the ending. But unless you like your coffee with Half-and-Half instead of whole cream stay away from THE BRIDE.

Rating:
Summary: For fans of Frankenstein, Sting, or Jennifer Beals.
Review: This movie is hard to review. I guess it's for fans of Frankenstein and/or Jennifer Beals. I can understand why some people won't like the picture. I enjoyed it. The relationship between the monster and the midget is very entertaining and touching. Jennifer Beals is so beautiful that who couldn't take your eyes of this picture for her alone! I do have to slam the comentary. The director rambles on about things that are not interesting. Directors should watch their movies and take notes and then record the comentary. This guy doesn't get to the point and changes topics while in the middle of sentences. Aside from that I am glad this film is out on DVD. The scenery is beautiful and it's a great escape from reality. Imagine if you can make yourself a bride that looks like Jennifer Beals. What a fantasy!!