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I saw this film when it came out and had very high hopes for it,

having seen the trailer for it at Comicon I believe 2 years prior.


The beginning, minus the introductory gore, was quite compelling

and mysterious. Then, however the film took a very sharp turn

for the worse, losing all its mystery in one scene and plummeted

toward an ending reminiscent of War of the Gargantuas (a film

which, by the way, never forgets what it is).


The problem with most remakes is philosophical. When the tone of

the original is completely changed the connection is lost. The Hammer

films accomplished this departure through an original approach. When

their own films changed their tone, they also lost connection with

what made them great.


In the Wolfman, the difference is monumental but the approach

pedestrian; in the original, no one believes Larry Talbot. He doesn't

believe it himself at first. Between Maleva and Sir John, we are

given two ways of perceiving truth in the tale and it retains its

mystery right up to the end. In fact, even then the mystery

remains.


In the new film EVERYone believes in werewolves from the start and

any remaining sense of mystery is abandoned during the asylum scene.

This is far more the approach of newer films and has no philosophical

connection to the old. Everything is shown in realistic detail, in

full light until there can be no doubt that werewolves exist. The

magic is thereby undone. In fact, the beast himself is more like

Superman than the Wolfman. Unfortunately, the terrific make-up

by Rick Baker is misused by over-exposure.


I must add that the film has its moments, however, its strengths

are simply swept away by its overwhelming weaknesses. The

conception of Sir John, his estate, his mysterious servant are

very compelling elements. The moment where we first recognize

the truth about Sir John is quite eerie, though it comes after

the film is irretrievably lost. The titanic battle at the end, had

it followed a remarkable movie and had it been done with any

cinematic artfulness could have been fantastic.


As it is, it was ridiculous.









JBS