I, Frankenstein

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I, Frankenstein

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Stuart Beattie
Produced by Tom Rosenberg
Gary Lucchesi
Richard Wright
Andrew Mason
Sidney Kimmel
Screenplay by Stuart Beattie
Story by Kevin Grevioux
Stuart Beattie
Based on I, Frankenstein 
by Kevin Grevioux
Starring Aaron Eckhart
Bill Nighy
Yvonne Strahovski
Miranda Otto
Socratis Otto
Jai Courtney
Kevin Grevioux
Music by Johnny Klimek
Reinhold Heil
Cinematography Ross Emery
Editing by Marcus D'Arcy
Studio Lakeshore Entertainment
Hopscotch Features
Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release dates
  • January 20, 2014 (2014-01-20) (Buenos Aires premiere)
  • January 24, 2014 (2014-01-24) (United States)
  • February 27, 2014 (2014-02-27) (Australia)
Running time 92 minutes[1]
Country United States
Australia
Language English
Budget $65 million[2]
Box office $31,936,776

I, Frankenstein is a 2014 Australian-American fantasy action film written and directed by Stuart Beattie, based on the graphic novel and original screenplay by Kevin Grevioux. It stars Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Socratis Otto, Jai Courtney and Kevin Grevioux.

Plot

In 1795, Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Aden Young) creates a monster (Aaron Eckhart), and then rejects it. In a fit of rage, the creature kills Frankenstein's wife, Elizabeth (Virginie Le Brun), and Victor chases it to the Arctic to get revenge, but succumbs to the weather. The being buries its creator and is then attacked by demons before being rescued by gargoyles Ophir and Keziah, who bring it before the gargoyle queen, Lenore (Miranda Otto), and their commander, Gideon (Jai Courtney). Lenore explains that they were created by the Archangel Michael to battle demons on Earth, and names the creature "Adam", inviting him to join them, but he declines and departs after being given gargoyle weapons that allow him to destroy demons.

Throughout the centuries, Adam fends off the demons that pursue him. During a modern-day confrontation at a nightclub, a policeman is killed. While Adam is summoned by the gargoyles once more, the demon Helek (Steve Mouzakis) reports that Adam is alive to his leader, demon-prince Naberius (Bill Nighy), who is disguised as billionaire businessman Charles Wessex, and his right-hand man, Dekar (Kevin Grevioux). Wessex has employed scientist Terra Wade (Yvonne Strahovski) to conduct experiments with reanimated corpses, and sends a group of demons led by his most formidable warrior, Zuriel, to attack the gargoyles' cathedral and capture Adam so he can unlock the secret to give life.

Before Lenore can punish Adam for the policeman's death, the cathedral is attacked, and Adam convinces Ophir to release him. In the ensuing battle, a number of gargoyles, including Ophir and Keziah, are slain, while Lenore is captured and brought to an abandoned theatre. Adam and Gideon head there, where Gideon exchanges Lenore for Frankenstein's diary with the secrets of the experiment. Adam follows Zuriel to the Wessex Institute, where he learns Wessex plans to have demons possess reanimated corpses that cannot be destroyed. He retrieves the diary and escapes, and later confronts Terra before they are attacked by Zuriel, whom Adam manages to kill.

Adam warns the remaining gargoyles of Wessex's plan, and Lenore sends Gideon to kill him and retrieve the diary. After a violent fight, Adam is forced to kill Gideon and then decides to burn Frankenstein's diary and destroy its secrets before the gargoyles come after him. Adam evades them, leading them to the Wessex Institute, where they join battle with Naberius's demons, killing Dekar early in the fight. While the battle progresses, Adam ventures into the Institute to rescue Terra, who had been kidnapped by Wessex, who takes the form of Naberius and activates the machine. Naberious tries to have one of the demons possess Adam, but he proves immune as he does have a soul. As the gargoyles attempt to stop the reanimated demons, Adam battles Naberius and carves the symbol of the Gargoyle Order on him, banishing him to Hell alongside the other demons, and causing the entire building to collapse.

Recognizing Adam's bravery, Lenore rescues him and Terra and forgives Adam for Gideon's death. Adam retrieves his weapons and, after bidding farewell to Terra, departs to continue his immortal quest to rid the Earth of demons, embracing his role and his true name "Frankenstein".

Cast

Production

Kevin Grevioux of Underworld sold the original screenplay to Lakeshore Entertainment in 2010.[3][4][5] It is based on his Darkstorm Studios graphic novel of the same name.[6][7] Lakeshore, an independent Los Angeles production company which also produced the Underworld films, brought Stuart Beattie on board to re-write and direct in early 2011.[8] In November 2011, it was confirmed that filming would take place in Melbourne and that Australia's Hopscotch Features would co-produce the film with Lakeshore.[9]

Principal photography began on February 27, 2012,[10] based at Docklands Studios Melbourne.[11] Filming occurred in Victoria, Australia over a period of ten weeks, with multiple scenes being filmed at Ormond College.[11] The film created over 500 jobs for cast and crew.[11]

It was announced on October 7, 2011 that Aaron Eckhart would play the lead role.[12] Eckhart described his character thus: "Frankenstein is an intelligent, evolved man, and that’s how he is portrayed in this movie, for sure."[13] In November 2011, Yvonne Strahovski was cast as the female lead, a scientist working to reanimate the dead, while Miranda Otto was cast as the queen of the gargoyles.[14] Bill Nighy plays the film's villain, whom he described as a "Nasty piece of work; one of the angels descended with Satan."[15] Eckhart and Otto trained for three months with martial arts experts Ron Balicki and Diana Lee Inosanto in the Filipino martial art of Kali for their fight scenes.

The North American release was set for February 22, 2013,[16] but five months before then it was moved to September 13, 2013.[17] In February 2013, it was announced the film would be released in 3D.[18] In April 2013 the release date was moved again, to January 24, 2014.[19] On September 17, 2013, it was announced that the film would be digitally re-mastered and released in the IMAX format.[20]

Music

The film's score is composed by Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil.[21]

Marketing

There was a panel for the film at San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H on July 20, 2013.[22][23][24] The first trailer was released on October 4, 2013.[25]

Reception

Critical response

I, Frankenstein was heavily panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 4% rating, with an average score of 3.2/10, based on 68 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Loud, incoherent and dramatically listless, I, Frankenstein is a remarkably dull fantasy adventure that fails to generate much excitement or interest in its characters".[26] On Metacritic, the film holds a 30 (out of 100), based on 20 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[27]

Box office

On its opening weekend, it debuted at #6 with a box-office of $8.6 million.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "I, FRANKENSTEIN (12A)". Entertainment Film Distributors. British Board of Film Classification. January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014. 
  2. ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ifrankenstein.htm
  3. ↑ I, Frankenstein Lives at Lakeshore - ComingSoon.net
  4. ↑ Lakeshore Greenlights I, Frankenstein | /Film
  5. ↑ Kevin Grevioux reveals the secrets of I, Frankenstein | Blastr
  6. ↑ I, Frankenstein Franchise Coming At You From Lakeshore
  7. ↑ Lakeshore Eyes New Franchise With 'I, Frankenstein'
  8. ↑ Fernandez, Jay A. (March 28, 2011). "Stuart Beattie to Write and Direct 'I, Frankenstein' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 
  9. ↑ Craven, Jessica (November 9, 2011). "Gothic thriller I, Frankenstein to be filmed in Melbourne". Herald Sun. Retrieved March 4, 2012. 
  10. ↑ Frater, Patrick (February 27, 2012). "I Frankenstein starts shoot". Film Business Asia. Retrieved March 4, 2012. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Gothic thriller starts filming in Melbourne". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. February 27, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012. 
  12. ↑ McNary, Dave (October 7, 2012). "Aaron Eckhart to lead 'I, Frankenstein'". Variety (magazine). Retrieved March 4, 2012. 
  13. ↑ Radish, Christina (October 14, 2011). "Aaron Eckhart Talks I, FRANKENSTEIN". Collider. Retrieved March 4, 2012. 
  14. ↑ Kit, Borys (November 17, 2011). "'Chuck' Star Yvonne Strahovski to Play Scientist in 'I, Frankenstein' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 18, 2011. 
  15. ↑ McEwan, Cameron K (February 21, 2012). "Bill Nighy talks I, Frankenstein". Den of Geek. Retrieved March 4, 2012. 
  16. ↑ Another Glimpse at Aaron Eckhart in I, Frankenstein | Horror Movie, DVD, & Book Reviews, News, Interviews at Dread Central
  17. ↑ I, Frankenstein Moves to September, Snitch Takes Its February Spot - ComingSoon.net
  18. ↑ Lionsgate’s 'I, Frankenstein' to Receive 3D Release
  19. ↑ http://collider.com/i-frankenstein-release-date-austenland-release-date/
  20. ↑ http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1472300
  21. ↑ Johnny Klimek & Reinhold Heil Scoring β€˜I, Frankenstein’ | Film Music Reporter
  22. ↑ http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/20/comic-con-i-frankenstein-looks-crazy
  23. ↑ http://www.shockya.com/news/2013/07/21/i-frankenstein-queries-immortality-photos-san-diego-comic-con/
  24. ↑ http://www.fearnet.com/videos/exclusive-video-i-frankenstein-director-stuart-beattie
  25. ↑ http://www.slashfilm.com/i-frankenstein-trailer-what-if-mary-shellys-monster-was-in-an-underworld-movie/
  26. ↑ "I, Frankenstein". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 2, 2014. 
  27. ↑ "I, Frankenstein". Metacritic. Retrieved January 25, 2014. 

External links

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