Is this Frankenstein?

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein has been the story of numerous adaptations to the big screen. Having seen three of them, I must say that they all fail to deliver the true meaning of the story as well as uncover the complete depth of the characters. In the particular case, “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” directed by Kenneth Branagh once again leaves the audience unsatisfied with the picture. In fact, this latest adaptation only suggests that there should not be any more adaptations of the novel. It is hard to imagine that such fine filmmakers like Francis Ford Copolla can produce a picture so grotesque. If it were not for Robert DeNiro the movie would be completely unbearable. When watching the film, it seems, that the director had some kind of life crisis and needed a boost for his ego. Although, from the beginning the story promises to correlate with the book, after about thirty minutes it suddenly swings in a different direction.
Starting with characters it is evident how the original story is modified. Although, some characters remain pretty close to the novel, the character of Dr. Waldman is completely different. While in the book, Dr. Waldman is more of a liberal thinker, in the movie; he is the original “Dr. Frankenstein.” As to Dr. Frankenstein, portrayed by Kenneth Branagh, it is hard to compare him with Frankenstein in the book, since he seems so ridiculously different. Never in the book Frankenstein realizes that he is God, even though analyzing his character, it is evident how Frankenstein acts as God by creating life. But even before the completion of his experiment in the film, Frankenstein assumes the role of God, by dressing up in a robe and frantically running around and screaming with electric currents sparkling behind his back. Throughout the whole movie Kenneth Branahg in love with himself that it makes the audience wonder if the director made a movie just for himself to enjoy when feeling down or for the audience as an adaptation of the classic novel.
An obvious mistake by the producers was hiring Kenneth Branagh as the director and the leading man, so I guess as the contingency plan for the picture Robert DeNiro was hired. And of course, he did not disappoint his audience. After so many portrayals of Frankenstein onscreen, it is hard to come up with something original, but after creating a new image of the monster DeNiro was able to compensate for the incompetence of everyone in the movie by giving a top-notch performance. The character of the creature is acted in the way closely resembling the behavioral patterns of the character in the book, although, the character in the book is much more positive than the one portrayed in the movie.
Another fact that struck me as ironic is the whole love story depicted in the movie. Obviously, it seems comprehensible for the viewer the fact that a scientist in the early 19th century using electricity can create live, but the fact that two cousins can have romance seems completely inappropriate for the modern audience. Branagh spends a great of time showing how two unrelated people have fallen in love, thus trying to standardize the picture by having a love story following along the main plot and thus adding more drama.