Anyone see Danny Boyle's Frankenstein at the movies? Worth it?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:42pm

It has repeat showings this week and I am tempted but I havent heard much about it. Just wondered for those of you who saw it, what were your thoughts? Also who should I see playing the monster? I guess there are two different versions. Thanks.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:47pm

I went to a screening at Skirball last night with Miller as The Creature. It is definitely worth seeing. Very interesting staging. I went to that particular screening because a few people on ATC said that Miller as the Creature and Cumberbatch as Victor was the better version.

[Ejm105989]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:53pm

It's playing in my area this week (hopefully, I'll be able to go) My friends have seen the actual stage version and they say it's amazing. I'm a big Cumberbatch fan so I'm a little bias, but overall I've been hearing both versions (creature and Frankenstein) are brilliant.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 4:58pm

Couldn't tell you which might be "better" since I only saw Cumberbatch as the Monster.

But this is definitely worth seeing.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 5:54pm

Still dying to see this! We're getting The Tempest starting June 14, but no Frankenstein. Even tried to get tickets in London during the run, but no luck.

[Idiot]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 6:11pm

Agreed. Enjoyed the heck out of it. I don't think it much matters which cast rotation you choose -- it's a great presentation.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 6:13pm

I saw it a year and a half back or so when it first aired--the cast with Jonny Lee Miller as Dr Frankenstein and thought it was fantastic--best thing Doyle has done in a long time. I hope I can make one of the encore showings, preferably with Miller as the monster.

[abitoftap]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 6:30pm

It's worth seeing with either actor in the monster/Frankenstein role.
Having seen several shows at the Olivier, the presentation really captures the atmosphere of a show there.

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 7:39pm

I saw this on cinema last year. It was a great production.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 6/4/12 at 10:29pm

I saw the screening at NYU on Sunday evening and highly recommend it. It was engrossing on screen and imagine it was amazing on stage.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/5/12 at 12:08pm

Found a couple of locations WAY out in the suburbs to catch a screening, so I'll finally be seeing it this week, but have to rent a car to do it. I think it's very odd that it's showing in the burbs, but nowhere in Chicago.

[mpd4165]

Posted: 6/5/12 at 1:42pm

Mister Matt,

The Music Box is doing a showing of both Frankenstein and One Man, Two Guvnors in a couple of weeks.

http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/comingsoon

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/5/12 at 2:17pm

Oh, that's even better! I was searching the Fathom website and I didn't see those on the list. Thank you!

[Wynbish]

Posted: 6/5/12 at 2:43pm

From several reviews, both are phenomenal as the Creature, and Benedict has a slight edge over Jonny in playing Victor (Jonny's wig does not help).

Driving an hour there and back to see it this week. Cannot wait.

[willep]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 10:57pm

Just got back from seeing it, been wanting to see it ever since they told us about it during the backstage tour at the National when I was in London a year and a half ago.

SO WORTH IT.

It was Cumberbatch as the Creature. A stunning and captivating production, I can only imagine what it must have been like to see that show in person. I am tempted to go back and see the reverse casting this weekend.

[fiesta1]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 7:59am

My city has been showing NT Live performances for the past 3 years, and I have caught most of them. I think the Frankenstein is the best of them.

I saw BC as the Creature when it was broadcast in my town earlier this year. I am going back next weekend. They are showing it only once and I do not know who is playing which role. I want to see the show again regardless of casting.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 9:23am

Saw it last night in the Jersey 'burbs. To my delightful surprise, the theater was not only crowded but filled with teens and 20-somethings, which bodes well for the future of theater, I think.

Saw Cumberbatch at The Creature. I love him in SHERLOCK and he did not disappoint as the lonely, wounded "monster." Miller was also very effective at Dr. Frankenstein. Whoever plays The Creature must undoubtedly undergo lots of physical therapy--what contortions (which go on and on, too long, actually; the show's only real flaw) they put their bodies through! In sum, a captivating piece of theater and very much worth seeing. Plus, the theater is gorgeous. I've got to get to London one day and see it in person.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 10:53pm

Just got back from a showing where Cumberbatch plays Frankenstein and Miller plays the Creature. It was absolutely mesmerizing.

What I would give to pick Jonny's brain about what he watched/studied to develop his interpretation of the creature. As a Sherlock fan, I'm used to Cumberbatch spouting off intellectual jargon like it was the alphabet, but his performance as Frankenstein was very layered.

Some of the supporting cast were not as strong (Naomie as Elizabeth, for example). Loved Karl Johnson as de Lacey. I view his character as a co-creator of the creature, having taken Frankenstein's work and teaching it to be a man. So, he was a great opposite to Frankenstein.

There was a great turn-out at the theater. I don't know if many came last night for the reversed roles or if many, like myself, listened to the reviews that said that this particular pairing was slightly stronger.

One unfortunate instance: Some very distracting snoring from someone in the theater.

[fosca3]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 7:21am

I saw both versions over the past 2 nites (I've been excited about this for WEEKS)

And I've been trying to decide ever since which combo I liked better

I preferred Cumberbatch as the creature, definitely. His creature was more awkward and halting, while I thought Miller's was more self-righteous, and moved like a dancer

Their Frankensteins were very different -- Miller's was very haughty and disdainful, like he 'got' other people but just didn't care. Cumberbatch's was more like the 'science geek' -- uncertain socially, but lighting up whenever there were scientific challenges. He was in his own world, more human, more vulnerable

One thought -- there was a scene with Cumberbatch as the creature where I felt like I was watching Ralph Fiennes (I guess cuz of the makeup for the creature and Voldermort?) -- even the VOICE and inflection and diction. It was weird

I think one thing I decided -- I didn't *LIKE* either character when played by Miller (didn't feel sympathy for them), while I DID 'like' both characters when played by Cumberbatch

I guess I preferred the version with Cumberbatch as the creature, because caring about that character was a richer experience (for me anyway)

To me it's just FASCINATING how switching the characters like that makes such a change in the feel of the whole story

[Wynbish]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 12:06pm

To those who saw the performance where Jonny was Frankenstein and Benedict was the creature, how was the little boy who played William? I assume that since they had two little boys in that role, they would swap as well.

[Zoot]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 12:15pm

Yes, the two little boys also swapped. I didn't think either was all that great but I liked the boy who played William in Benedict as the Creature version better.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 12:38pm

I didn't really understand the necessity of the scene where drunk? Frankenstein sees him in the lab until the last line about whether or not the new creature would be good or bad. Still, part of that scene could be cut.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 12:46pm

I saw it last night with Miller as the creature. STUNNING all around. Please Lincoln Center, bring this in! the only problem I had was with the man who played Dr. Frankenstein's father. He was dreadful.

Wish I could see the other version.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 12:56pm

Also saw last nights screening and thought it was genius all around. Superb performances from Miller (as the Creature) and Cumberbatch. I only wish I could have seen it again with them alternating roles.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 1:01pm

I definitely wish I could see the reverse. There were times when I just wondered how Jonny would play that scene as Frankenstein and how Benedict's creature's mannerisms, physicality, and speech differed from Jonny's.