The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

Don't be fooled by all of the (positive) reviewers saying not to be fooled by all of the (negative) reviewers. This movie absolutely sucks. If the horrible casting doesn't run you off and the horrible directing doesn't run you off then the horrible wannabe monster-esque voice-overs will definitely run you off. Otherwise you have horrible taste in movies. Press delete on this movie and go for the documentary about the making of it: "Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau". The story about how horrible this movie turned out is much better than the horrible movie itself. Oh, btw... this movie is horrible.

One needs to have a serious sense of humor to watch this epic disaster of a movie which I luckily have about this film.This reboot of H.G. Wells's classic mad scientist tale maintains its roots in the original material. The story is straightforward in staying relatively faithful to the novel on which it is based. As with every book to screen adaptation there is of course Hollywood changes such as adding in a love interest for the hero. Sadly that lowers the quality of the story a bit, but does not derail the plot.What does hurt the film is its horrendous miscasting of the lead roles. The story of switching cast members around on this project is highly infamous. In particular is the switch of star Val Kilmer from the film's hero to the film's secondary antagonist; this was at the actor's request due to his on- set rampage over personal issues that he took out on his fellow actors and the crew. Kilmer is not convincingly villainous as Montgomery, rather a crude caricature of a wannabe baddie. Taking Kilmer's spot as the hero, Douglas, is a terribly miscast David Thewlis after actor Rob Morrow bowed out due to the chaotic nightmare of the film's delaying production. Thewlis is visibly uncomfortable in the lead role that it shows during the entire film. And finally in a disastrous turn as the mad Dr. Moreau was the infamously uncooperative Marlon Brando (he won the Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor over co-star Val Kilmer for the film). Brando clearly demonstrates his lack of preparation for the role as he recites dialogue just as someone reading it to him; one of Brando's infamous tactics in all his later work. Chemistry between all members of the cast is absent and is completely evident from the start.I do recommend seeing this film more for the notoriety of the production process. It's one bad "B movie" though like a "D movie"

A misunderstood DNA tinkering scientist performs human-animal vivisections, but things go wrong when his creations begin to regress.The Island of Dr. Moreau is the third major film adaptation of H. G. Wells and plagued with production issues (later extensively covered in Lost Souls: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr Moreau) and unfairly (debatably) panned by critics. Director John Frankenheimer offers plenty of visual treats and along with the writers injects enough double crosses, surprise deaths and story twists to hold interest. The themes of nature, law, religion and society simmer behind the strained wacky nature of the characters. Edward Douglas (David Thewlis) survives a plane crash in the Java Sea and is eventually rescued by a passing boat which arrives on an Island, soon he finds that the inhabitants are human-animal hybrids. Writers Richard Stanley (the intended original director) and Ron Hutchinson offer a disciplined enough script. Referred to as "The Father" by the mutants, Marlon Brando gives an outlandish performance as the mad scientist. Val Kilmer, particularly makes the most of it as Montgomery - at one point mimicking Brando's Dr. Moreau with his best impression.Thewlis looks confused throughout, either due to the production or because of the character, either way his performance is fitting as perplexed Douglas, a U.N. agent who is in the middle of the warring mutant animals who are being controlled through fear using implants to exert pain. There's some entertaining moments between Brando and the world's smallest man, Nelson de la Rosa. Rosa's silent role as Majai, a miniature version of Moreau would inspire Austin Powers' Mini-me. Notable is Fairuza Balk as Aissa, Douglas' love interest. Sadly, Ron Perlman's extended cameo of sorts is wasted as the Sayer of the Law, a blind goat-like hybrid. The makeup and costumes are very good, but the CGI elements are '96 primitive and unnecessary as the cat-like creatures unconvincingly bound about. The action scenes, quieter tension filled moments are well executed and are at times menacing. The island's buildings, lush greens and sea blues of the on location shoot coupled with Gary Chang's music creates plenty of atmosphere, especially during the night-time scenes where the hybrid faction revolt, rampaging through the compounds huts shooting guns and blowing things up. Even though Richard Stanley never got to realise his darker version his DNA (no pun intended) is all over this. And while this film may have been made for the masses and less art house the late Frankenheimer's 1996 offering is arguably the most entertaining version of Wells' classic to date.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996): Dir: John Frankenheimer / Cast: David Thewlis, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, Fairuza Balk, Temuera Morrison: Remake of the 1977 classic about authority and power over a powerless medium. David Thewlis is boarded onto a ship where Val Kilmer takes him to an island populated by creatures that are half man and half animal. A device is planted within their system that controls them. Concept still works with much suspense but the climax is an ongoing battle that never seems to end. Director John Frankenheimer succeeds in the film's mood but he is hardly matching his work in The Manchurian Candidate. Thewlis fares well amongst the cast as a drifter becoming a prisoner but upon learning the process involved he sets his sights on survival. Marlon Brando is an interesting case as Moreau but his concluding scene was perhaps a tad premature. Val Kilmer is confusing towards the conclusion and unreadable before that. He locks Thewlis in a room and becomes like a different person. Fairuza Balk plays an animalistic female who attempts to help Thewlis but unfortunately her role is nothing more than a romantic tease and a violent dismiss. Whether viewers will prefer this over spending all day watching Animal Planet is up to them. The theme still works regarding our animalistic behavior that traumatize our society. Score: 7 / 10