But what gets me is that the commercials use the classic versions (I suppose doing so is dictated by Universal's character style guide) while Universal often tries to reinvent their characters, straying from the classic interpretations everybody recognizes and loves.


Amen to that. Whenever they decide to 'improve' one of the character's appearance its a given it will fail. 

I've never understood the feeling the Gill Man in particular needs 'improving'. How great it would be to see a modern, intelligently realized version of the Creature utilizing the classic look - rather than some sort of deformed Predator/pig/fish.

One of the (I think) best and cleverest 'Classic Universal Monster' commercials came out just a couple of months ago: