FilmOtaku

18 May 2013

Mel Brooks greatest film

Young Frankenstein is a bizarre film because it is a hilarious farce ofclassic horror films, but is presented to us with a beautiful cover. Thefilm is on part comedy classic and one part admirable film in an aestheticsense. The crisp black and white cinematography is really quitegorgeous.Co-written by Brooks and the film's star Gene Wilder, Young Frankenstein is(in this viewer's humble opinion) Brooks' greatest film to date. Not onlydoes it have some of the funniest lines of any film I've seen, (`Whathump?') but showcases some of the most brilliant comedic acting seen indecades. Gene Wilder, who has woefully all but disappeared from cinema thelast two decades, is at his peak in this film. His `Dr. Frankenstein' is attimes both serious and completely spastic. Teri Garr's `Inga' the labassistant, is hilarious as a German sexpot. Cloris Leachman's role as `FrauBlucher', the caretaker of Frankenstein's castle whose very name inspiresthe `whinnying' of horses is small, but incredibly memorable. And MartyFeldman practically steals the show as `Igor', Dr. Frankenstein's henchmanwho has a wandering hump and a funny way of walking. These characters are just a few examples of the outstanding cast who executethe brilliant lines in such a manner that thirty years later we are stillrepeating them and acting out various scenes. There truly are not enoughgood things to say about Young Frankenstein, and certainly nothing thathasn't already been said. If you have not seen this film, it is one ofthose films that one should see in their lifetime – not because it is an`important' or `socially relevant' film, but simply because it is a GREATfilm. --Shelly

Charles Saint-Pierre

18 May 2013

One of the best comedies of all-time.

Frankenstein is one of the best horror stories ever told in the history ofmankind. The story of a mad man who was able to bring a dead person back tolife has shocked nations and generations and will shock in the future aswell. This is probably one of the reasons why Mel Brooks' movie is sogreat. He was able to take a serious story, almost traumatising and make aclassic comedy out of it. His movie is a pure satire from beginning to endand this is where you can see how hard he must have worked on this movie. His more recent movie Spy Hard (1996) was quite disappointing because thehumor there seemed much more sexual and the parody wasn't all that great. The only interesting part of that movie was the variety of different scenesBrooks mixed in although they didn't really blend welltogether. In most movies in which you have a very rich man and his butler, thebutler is quite often very funny and delivers some of the best jokes. Thebest example for that would have to be John Gielgud's role in Arthur (1981)which won him a best supporting actor Oscar. He played a wise-crackingbutler who was able to be snide to his master without being too impolite. However, I seem to find that Martey Feldman as Igor in Young Frankensteinwas even funnier than John Gielgud was in Arthur. This is the second partof Young Frankenstein. Finally, the third part of Young Frankenstein has to with familyreputation. Gene Wilder plays Fredric Frankenstein and does not like hisname because of the reputation it was given by his crazy grandfather. Hewants nothing to do with his past family but when his great grandfather'swill is found and asks him to return to Transylvania, he sees no choice butto go out of respect for his predecessor. Upon arriving in Transylvania, hequickly meets Igor and is taken to the Frankenstein castle. There, he soonbecomes obsessed with the idea of bringing a dead human being back to life. This obsession is provoked by a woman who works at the castle and who wasthe mistress of Fredric's grandfather. The rest of the story is developed in a very similar way to the originalterrifying classic only in a highly comic manner. Gene Hackman has a cameoas a blind priest and his scene is one of the funniest ones in the movie. Mel Brooks smartly directs this movie letting the viewer hope some thingshappen and others won't. Gene Wilder's contribution to the script isanother plus and he delivers his role very well. The scene in the classroomis highly comic. Also noticeable is Teri Garr who plays youngFrankenstein's "assistant" in the laboratory room. But Martey Feldman walksaway with the movie as the snide and hilarious butler Igor. He plays therole of one those people who make you laugh just by appearing on thescreen.You won't want to miss this one.

15 May 2013

Young Frankenstein

The son of Dr. Frankenstein is trying to find his fathers work and complete it. He travels to Transalvania and meets up with his assistant, Igor. Igor's father worked with Dr. Frankenstein's father a long time ago. One night when Dr. Frankenstein couldn't sleep, he heard a violin noise behind his wall. He found out that there was secret passageway down to a room. He followed the sound of the violin and it led him to a laboratory and in the next room was the violin lying on the table. He realized he was in his fathers secret library. He wanted to finish the work his father never finished, which was to transfer a brain into a dead body and bring it back to life. Dr. Frankenstein asked Igor to get the brain of a specific person. As Igor was in the lab, he dropped the designated brain and just took an abnormal brain thinking it was a person named "Abby." Dr. Frankenstein added the brain into the head and didn't realize that it was an abnormal brain until the monster had woken up angry. The monster ran out of the house into the village. The only sound that calmed down the monster was the violin playing. Dr. Frankenstein and Igor set up a trap and played the violin to lead him back to the castle. In the meantime the towns people are getting suspicions that there is a monster inside the castle so they come over. Dr. Frankentstein and the monster were set up to transfer brains and 3/4 of the way in, the towns' people raid into the castle and stopped the transformation. The monster had half of Dr. Frankenstein's knowledge and Dr. Frankenstein had half of the monster's knowledge. They talk the towns people into leaving and they leave. Later that day, Frankenstein gets married to Mrs. Frankenstein and Dr. Frankenstein gets married to his assistant.

madcardinal

15 May 2013

Mel Brooks Cast Hit One Out of the Park

An excellent achievement by Mel Brooks and cast. This film is steadilyfunny throughout with everything from slapstick to subtle innuendo to amusical number to visual and verbal puns. Of course it's all the moreenjoyable if you've seen the classic Frankenstein movies previously. Interms of cinematography, this black-and-white film is one of the bestexecuted, most beautiful films imaginable. The mise-en-scene isexquisitely adept with opulent room settings filling the frame to thebrim, a cobweb-strewn towering laboratory shot at oblique angles andeven the use of a circular convex mirror to reveal action. The contrastrange from the whitest white to the darkest black is incredible and thenight scenes are breathtaking. All this in a movie that is actuallyfunny! All the actors do a commendable job. Worth noting is GeneHackman's brief standout performance as the blind man. Needless to say,no spoof/homage to the classic horror film will ever come close to thisawesome achievement. This is probably one of the best films ever madeand Mel Brooks can rest assured that it will be the vanguard of hislegacy for generations to come.

15 May 2013

Do Not Use This Brain

Young Frankenstein is a cult classic that deserves a wider following. Director Mel Brooks co-wrote the screenplay with star Gene Wilder. Mel Brooks is known for satirical comedies such as Men In Tights (1993), Spaceballs (1987), and the Twelve Chairs (1970) among many others. In YF, Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) wants to carry on a quiet life as a college lecturer, but is dogged by the infamous achievement of his late father, Victor Frankenstein, of making a creature out of a corpse. Frederick travels to Transylvania, leaving his less-than-devoted fiancee (Madeline Kahn), and seeks to visit his father's estate. He meets the lovely Inga, who is to be his lab assistant (Teri Garr), and the outrageous Igor (Marty Feldman) who gives many of the laughs in the film. Despite his best self-conditioning, Frederick seeks to recreate his father's work. The result is a creature or monster (Peter Boyle). Yes, that is Ray Romano's Dad! The townspeople revolt, with disastrous and funny consequences.The movie starts out a little slow, but you will soon be in stitches. I asked my husband just to give YF a chance, and he laughed so hard, and is still quoting lines from the movie today.

14 May 2013

Incredible

The best movie I have ever seen.

Face_teh_Dark

13 May 2013

Its pronounced Fronkonsteen!

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN A Mel Brooks comedy Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) has spent his life trying tolive down the bad reputation of his name. When he inherits the castleof his infamous grandfather, Victor Frankenstein, he changes plans anddecides to make grandpa's dreams come true. Working after FrankensteinSr.'s notes, Frederick sets out to create life in his laboratory. Ifonly his assistant Igor (hilarious Martin Feldman) hadn't screwed up bystealing an abnormal brain for the monster...Mel Brooks truly is the king of spoofs. With SPACEBALLS, he spoofed theentire STAR WARS trilogy, while still managing to write a coherent plotinto the comedy. HIGH ANXIETY faced the hard task of spoofingHitchcock, one of the most revered directors in film history, andsucceeded brilliantly. Even the misfired Dracula: DEAD AND LOVING IThad some clever stabs at the vampire genre.YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is not as much of a spoof as it is an homage to theclassic '33 horror film. Shot in black and white, with amazingcinematography and gorgeous set design that perfectly captures thespirit of FRANKENSTEIN, the film is great to look at as well ashilarious.Gene Wilder is solid as Frankenstein, but it's Martin Feldman whosteals the show as the hunchbacked assistant, Igor. His wild facialexpressions and memorable lines ("what hunch?") make him one of thefunniest characters you're ever likely to see on film. The most classicgag in the film might be Igor's "walk this way" pun at the trainstation. Kenneth Mars is also a treat as the armed and dangerous policeinspector Friederich Kemp.Overall Mel Brook's movie is solid, beautiful to look at, consistentlyfunny and definitely worth a look. 8 out of 10.

drebin73

12 May 2013

Gene Wilders triumph

Gene Wilder will be known as two people Willy Wonka and Dr. FredrickFronkonsteen. Marty Feldman will be known as Igor and Teri Garr willalways be known as Inga. This is probably Mel Brooks' best picture.Blazing Saddles is nothing compared to this comedy farce. A lot of thecredit goes to Gene Wilder who wrote a majority of the script. This isone of Mel Brook' only pictures in which he does not appear himself.Mel Brooks is great comedy director and this is proof of it. He hascreated the most quotable movie ever. This movie stares Gene Wilder,Marty Feldman, Kenneth Mars, Cloris Leachman, Peter Boyle, Gene HackmanTeri Garr and the late great Madiline Kahn. This is probably one of myfavorite movies of all time. The greatest moment in film/comedy historyis the classic Puttin on the Ritz scene. Can you believe that MelBrooks protested this scene. The DVD has an funny commentary track byMel Brooks an interesting documentary and some funny deleted scenes.The movie is great the actors are great the DVD is great the wholething is great. This movie is funny from beginning to end. 10 out of 10

Son_of_Mansfield

12 May 2013

Old Friend.

I believe it was Gene Wilder who said that this was the perfect exampleof a perfect cast making everything come out right. Gene Wilder, MartyFeldman, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, andGene Hackman in a small role all seem so perfect that they make up forsome obvious and sub par jokes that are thankfully few and far between.I am thinking of when Igor tells Frederick to walk this way, the lookon Gene Wilder's face makes up for the obvious joke. All of theseactors are so perfect that I can't imagine anyone else in their parts.The touches made to make this movie look like one of the old UniversalFrankenstein films(Peter Boyle's makeup, comic variations on classicscenes, and the brilliant choice to make the movie black and white)push this movie toward greatness. Add in a performance by Boyle that isworthy of Karloff and you can no longer avoid this film when speakingof classics. Like all classics it has flaws, but the good aspects makeit forgivable, perhaps even more likable.*Until the day I die, I will continue to break out into this song atparties, "I ain't got nobody and nobody cares for me!"*

11 May 2013

A must have DVD

This is one of the best comedies of all time. The DVD is a must have. It's the kind of movie that you put on to show a specific scene to a friend and wind up watching the rest of the movie, constantly saying "this is a great scene". Mel Brooks does a great commentary.

06 May 2013

The ULTIMATE in Mel Brooks Humor!

This movie is fantastic! The fabulous Saturday Night Live crew do it again! There are countless lines in this movie that you will be quoting over and over and they never cease to be funny. Marty Feldman is a gas as Igor (that's pronounced EYE-gor!) and Gene Wilder plays a hilarious Frederic FRAWNkenstein. I recommend this movie to everyone who loves Mel Brooks unique sense of humor. This re-released version also includes some great scenes that were cut from the original version as well as a few "bloopers." My whole family loves this show!

TheGame2k2

05 May 2013

Cant Help But Like This Movie

When i first saw this film, i laughed my head off watching this film.Really poking fun of the classic story, which makes it a classic. In myopinion, this was Gene Wilder's best role, as good as he was in WillyWonka And The Chocolate Factory, i think he was better in this. PeterBoyle who is simply brilliant with this character, i loved it when hesaw the blind man and he sets his thumb on fire. Marty Feldman playsprobably the most liked character in the movie, the lump on his backmoving from one side to the other.It is all black and white which is really cool, i think black and whitemakes the picture more interesting. Comedy is great during the film,Gene Wilder when he first tries to bring the character to life andfails, acts like he is walking away and then starts choking him,getting stuck in the secret passage, all very funny.This will always be a classic, 10 out of 10.

03 May 2013

Young Frankenstein

This review is from: Young Frankenstein (Special Edition) (DVD) One of the most consistently hilarious films on record, the Brooks/ Wilder team creates a loving authenticity with actual Universal Studios props and use of black and white photography. Then, they add a rogue's gallery of top comedic actors: Marty Feldman, Kenneth Mars and Cloris Leachman (who portrays the infamous Frau Blucher). Just as hilarious the tenth time around.

02 May 2013

Walk this way

This is great! Perfect anamorphic video. Lots of extras. Every DVD should be as good as this one. Buy this disk! My daughter (age=12) loves this movie. I (age=50) love this movie. Mel Brooks is a terrific director. This is a movie to watch again and again to see the homages paid to other great flicks. The "I'll take the one in the turban" is pure Marx Brothers.

30 April 2013

Classic comedy at its best. A Side Splitter!!!

A comic masterpiece that has an air of the original. It mimics the feel of the old classics while parodying it just so. A great watch for any age and great for those that have never seen it before to get acquainted with Mel's older films. It should only be seen in Widescreen format so nothing is lost...

29 April 2013

Classic Mel Brooks

1974 was a good year for both Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. They both hitback to back home runs with "Young Frankenstein" and "Blazing Saddles" thatyear. "Young Frankenstein" as you would expect is a spoof on the classicUniversal Pictures horror flicks of the 30's and early 40s. Wilder developedthe original concept and Brooks was brought in later to direct and ended upco-writing the final script. Frederick von Frankenstein...pronounced "FrankenstEEn"(Wilder) the grandsonof the evil Victor von Frankenstein returns to his ancestral home upon thedeath of his father. There he meets the hunch backed dwarf Igor...pronounce"EYEgor" (Marty Feldman), his voluptuous "lab assistant" Inga (Terri Garr)and at the castle, the sinister Frau Blucher (Cloris Leachman). Afterhearing a mysterious violin, Frederick stumbles upon the laboratory of hisancestor. He then decides to create his own being which turns out to bePeter Boyle. The monster of course escapes and lampoons all of the clichesfrom the old movies including encounters with a little girl and a blindhermit. Later Frederick's fiance, Elizabeth (Madeliene Kahn) arrives andwell..we have a foursome. Investigating all of the surrounding mayhem isInspector Kemp (Kenneth Mars) in a hilarious send up of the Lionel Atwillcharacter from "Son of Frankenstein" (1939). The film was shot in black and white to give it that "classic look". All ofthe horror cliches are there. We have the dark shadows, creaking doors andthe classic original set pieces, the secret passage behind the revolvingbookcase, the whinny of the horses at the mention of the name "FrauBrucher", the graveyard sequence, the town people's riotetc. The film is perfectly cast. Wilder is hilarious in the lead role. Garr inher first major part, is sexy and innocent as Inga, Madeleine Kahn isfantastic as "The Bride of Frankenstein", Marty Feldman (with the bulgyrolling eyes) is unforgettable as Igor, Peter Boyle is equally funny as themonster (his musical number with Wilder is a hoot) and Kenneth Mars is greatas Inspector Kemp with the artificial arm. Watch how Igor's hump and Kemp'sarm change from one side to the other. If you haven't seen the film, you'll have fun identifying the famous actordoing a cameo as the blind hermit "Harold". This one is not to be missed. It's probably no coincidence that both Brooksand Wilder's greatest cinematic successes were in "Young Frankenstein" and"Blazing Saddles". It's a pity that they didn't collaborate on otherprojects.

28 April 2013

Mel Brooks, the genius at his finest.

Young Frankenstein is simply the greatest movie by Mel Brooks, includingSpaceballs. And this movie has not only a great script but a great cast,and Gene Wilder does a fantastic job.The classic is in black and white, but it only adds to the creepy effectthat the generates into tricking you into thinking that your watching justanother Frankenstein movie.The comedy in this movie is better than most other Mel Brook movies(Especially History of the world...) and Gene Wilder's charade skills aresecond to none.If you like Mel Brooks and you say that you don't like this movie then youmust need a sedative. (see the movie!)

jhclues

28 April 2013

Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder Deliver A Classic Parody

Ever wonder about what might have happened to the journals kept by theinfamous Dr. Frankenstein, or the notes he must have made while conductinghis ill-advised experiments, attempting to reanimate dead tissue? And whatof his descendants? How would his legacy of horror have affected them a fewgenerations down the line? Well, ponder no more, because these questionsand many more are finally answered forevermore in `Young Frankenstein,' anhilarious parody directed by Mel Brooks. Dr. Frankenstein's great-grandson,Frederick (Gene Wilder), is a doctor and teacher whose research has gainedhim some renown in his own right, and he has done his best to disassociatehimself with the tarnished reputation of his ancestor (he even pronounceshis name `Fronk-en-Steen'). Then one day he is notified that he hasinherited his great-grandfather's estate, including the castle, in which theelder doctor's laboratory has been preserved. Frederick, of course, must goto Transylvania to settle his affairs; but the whole affair soon becomesunsettled when Frederick discovers that it is impossible to escape hisdestiny. And once he arrives, the die is cast and there is just no turningback, as he can no longer deny that his... name... is...FRANKENSTEIN!On his own, Mel Brooks is usually good, even great, but when he teams upwith Gene Wilder it becomes something extra-special, which first becameapparent with `The Producers,' in 1967. But the directness with whichBrooks approaches this material, combined with Wilder's understatedperformance makes this their all-time best. They co-wrote the screenplay,and with their differing perspectives of comedy they managed to capture thebest of both worlds and strike a balance that works to perfection here. Brooks hits you over the head and gets right in your face with a gag, butWilder steps aside, grabs it by the tail and hits the pause button(so-to-speak), just long enough to really put the joke across. Togetherthey're like the ying and yang of the comedic universe. The screenplay isclever and includes all of the elements that successfully evoke the essenceof the old B&W horror films that are such a part of cinematic lore today. What they give you with this film is the Frankenstein story withcontemporary sensibilities, while presenting a cast of characters that takeit over the top.As far as the performances go, nobody, but nobody could have playedFrederick better than Gene Wilder. He employs that prolonged, meaningfulpause of his (nobody does it better), which he usually accentuates with aslight shifting of the eyes-- just before he delivers a line-- that can makeeven a mediocre line hilarious. His subtle approach and staid countenanceplay this material perfectly, and complimented by Brooks' straight aheaddirection it allows the humor to flow naturally and freely and never failsto get the right kind of laugh at just the right time. The way they capturethe sense of the original `Frankenstein' (and the many sequels) is uncanny,from the overall look of the film to the reactions by everyone at the meremention of the monster, to the throng of anxious villagers led by theunfaltering and inarticulate Inspector Kemp (Kenneth Mars).Besides Wilder, who is clearly the star of the show, the supportingperformances turned in by this superlative ensemble cast are absolutelyimpeccable, beginning with Peter Boyle as the monster. Boyle has the gaitand the growl down pat, but also conveys so much with his expressions andintrospective comportment. Then there is Marty Feldman as Igor (that's`EYE-gore'), whose bug-eyed portrayal of the little hunchback who refuses toacknowledge his hump (mainly because he doesn't realize he actually has one)is hilarious. Teri Garr is a joy to behold as Inga, Frederick's labassistant, and Cloris Leachman practically steals the show as Frau Blucher(and don't say her name within earshot of the horses). Mars also creates amemorable character by putting a mumble and a wooden arm to especiallyriotous use, and last but not least is the wonderful Madeline Kahn asElizabeth, Frederick's intended who ultimately finds something grand to singabout. Also included in the supporting cast are Richard Haydn (Herr Falkstein),Liam Dunn (Mr. Hilltop), Danny Goldman (in a memorable bit as a medicalstudent who challenges Frederick during a lab demonstration), Anne Beesley(Little Girl), Michael Fox (Villager) and Gene Hackman in an uproariouscameo as Harold, the Blind Man. Often a parody of this nature wears thinafter awhile, and even the best rarely manages to maintain a level ofexcellence for even thirty or forty minutes, let alone for 105 minutes asthis one does. And without question, `Young Frankenstein' delivers on alevel to which few films of this nature can even aspire. Arguably one ofMel Brooks' best-- if not THE best he's ever done-- and with a definitiveperformance by Gene Wilder, this parody takes a place among the all timegreats in the history of the cinema. It's funny stuff that gets funnierevery time you see it, and that's the true magic of the movies. I rate thisone 10/10.

scottydawg

28 April 2013

perfect

Anyone who voted below a 10 on this film simply cannot see a perfect filmwhen it smacks them in the, er....slapstick. I cannot help but adore eachand every cast member, and Brooks staked his place in film immortality withthis one. Dying is easy; great comedy is miraculous.

holdenc-1

27 April 2013

The best comedy ever made

This stands as Mel Brooks masterpiece. Topping even the great BlazingSaddles. Every moment is planned to perfection and it has the most perfectcomedic scene in history as Gene Wilder lowers Teri Garr from the wagon asthey arrive at the castle. Marty Feldman is perfect asIgor.