Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyAfter reading the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, then seeing several adaptations made for the big screen, the films make changes to the book. The most obvious change that jumps out at me is the portrait of Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The common element missing from all the film versions of the classic novel is how they treat the character of Victor. The films all tend to downplay what a "monster" Victor is and emphasize how much of a monster the creature is. The films seem to place less emphasis on the responsibility and guilt Victor feels towards his creation, as shown in the book. Instead of taking a stand on "an unnatural crime" for trying to play God, the films present the film as "a science experiment gone wrong." Reading the book Frankenstein and looking at the character of Victor, one can't help but think that this is a science experiment gone wrong. but see his character defects. Dr. Frankenstein is portrayed as a selfish, ego-driven maniac, determined to bring his stitched-together creature back to life, and doesn't stop to think about the consequences. But it is only later in the book, when Victor and Elizabeth are to be married, that his true selfish nature reemerges. Victor believes that the Creature is coming to take revenge on him, without thinking for a single moment about the well-being of his future wife, Elizabeth (144). In the novel, everything revolves around Victor and his selfishness, while like in the film versions, it seems that Victor is trying to protect Elizabeth. Whether it's an outside noise or the quick movement of a shadow, in the movies it seems like Victor is trying to protect Elizabeth. A place in the book where he couldn't be more obvious of his guilt and shame towards his creature. it is after his ascension, the birth of the Creature (35). Instead of feeding off this power scene and the theme of the book, the makers of the films missed this opportunity. In the 1994 film Frankenstein, directed by Kenneth Branagh, Branagh changes this scene in the film by making Victor believe that he accidentally killed the creature and that all his guilt would be gone. By changing this scene, Kenneth Branagh failed to capture the feeling of exclusion and lack of feeling that Victor shows towards the Creature as he did in the book. The biggest change between the novel and the film adaptations is undoubtedly the Creature. Obviously for time constraints......middle of paper......for good. However, he tries to use the knowledge he gains for good, trying to help the family in the woods, but because society rejects him, he turns on them and his creator, Victor. Most film versions of Frankenstein have chosen not to take the theme of "the acquisition/abuse of knowledge" as a major theme. They have mainly tended to focus on the "monster movie" theme aspect; this less intelligent monster terrorizing the countryside and stalking its creator. However, the most recent Frankenstein film, made by Hallmark Pictures, is the closest depiction of Mary Shelley's original novel. This film tends to add elements that aren't in the previous films, such as showing insight into Elizabeth and Henry's positive use of their knowledge. The monstrous nature of the creature is amplified in my opinion by showing its superior intelligence in the Hallmark version of the film. He appears more sinister due to his high intelligence level. Although the Hallmark version of Frankenstein is one of the best to date, none of the versions..