Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Blu-ray) Richard Briers John Cleese Gerard Horan

Let's be honest: this should be titled Wretched Excess' Frankenstein. Swooping wild bloody and energetic this is bad moviemaking from the best which makes it all the more loveable. Kenneth Branagh plays Victor Frankenstein a man so obsessed with conquering death that he decides to create life. What he gets after a protoplasmic mud wrestle is a Mean Streets monster (Robert De Niro) that isn't particularly happy to be back from the dead or thrilled about all the stitches. Helena Bonham Carter may at several points in this film actually be channelling Ramtha. The supporting cast couldn't be peopled with better performers (Tom Hulce John Cleese Ian Holm) but they all look like they're ringside at some Ultimate Fighting competition. A must for any midnight movie collector for the shock factor alone. A hoot. --Keith Simanton