Film Review - Island of Dr. Moreau, The
OH! MY! GOD! These were our first thoughts as we stepped out of the theater. This is a movie that crams its message down our throats, and makes us unbelievably sick. It wasn't so much the message, but that the producers decided to treat the audience like idiots and actually spell out the message in the last 30 seconds of the film. There was some sort of a time warp feel to the film also; some sets felt like it was the 1930s, and others showed technology from the 1990s. Make up your minds!
And then there were the other obvious questions:
The DUH questions:
Of course, there was the stiff performance by a buck-toothed Marlon Brando playing Dr. Moreau, offset by the great performance by Kilmer playing Brando. David Thewlis gave a brilliant performance as Gilligan, I mean the reporter. For those who are fans of the series Beauty & the Beast, Ron Perlman stretches himself to play a disfigured man/beast. The special make-up effects were superb, as always when Stan Winston is in charge. Mr. Frankenheimer certainly created a monster with this film.
If you feel you still want to, we recommend seeing this movie during a matinee. Some of the scenes need the large screen perspective. This movie took in $9 million the first weekend, and we respectfully suggest the makers feel indebted to viewers for that.
Film Facts
Directed by John Frankenheimer
Released in 1996
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Reviewed by Smiley