THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (1996)

MORGAN'S RATING

Dr. Moreau is a brilliant genetisist on the brink of superseding evolution. When a U.N. diplomat visits Moreau's island labratory, he uncovers fantastic but brutal experiments turning animal life into human-like beasts. As Moreau and his assistant race towards their barbaric goal of creating the perfect life form -- the beasts revolt -- threatening not only the island but ultimately all mankind!

David Thewlis (Edward Douglas), Fairuza Balk (Aissa), Ron Perlman (Sayer of the Law), Marlon Brando (Dr. Moreau), Val Kilmer (Montgomery), Marco Hofschneider (M'Ling), Temuera Morrison (Azazello), William Hootkins (Kiril), Daniel Rigney (Hyena-Swine), Nelson de la Rosa (Majai), Peter Elliot (Assassimon), Mark Dacascos (Lo-Mai), Miguel Lopez (Waggdi), Neil Young (Boar Man), David Hudson (Bison Man), Clare Grant (Fox Lady), Kitty Silver, Fiona Mahl (Sow Ladies), Agoes Soedjarvo (Captain), Ron Vreeken, Lou Horvarth (Soldiers), Richard Stanley (Melting bulldog, uncredited).

THROUGH DNA EXPERIMENTATION, DR. MOREAU HAS UPSET THE BALANCE OF NATURE.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTORS: John Frankenheimer and Richard Stanley (uncredited). WRITERS: Richard Stanley and Ron Hutchinson, and based on the novel by H.G. Wells. PRODUCER: Edward R. Pressman. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Claire Rudnick Polstein and Tim Zinnemann. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Gary Chang. DISTRIBUTOR: New Line Cinema.

QUOTES

Hyena-Swine: There is no pain, there is no law!

Edward Douglas: Are you a doctor? Montgomery: Well, I'm more of a vet.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: August 23rd, 1996 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $9.1 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $27.6 million (USA) WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $42 million BUDGET: $40 million (USA) - Marlon Brando wore a small radio receiver to aid him remembering his lines. Co-star David Thewlis claimed "He'd be in the middle of a scene and suddenly he'd be picking up police messages and Marlon would repeat, 'There's a robbery at Woolworths'." - David Thewlis has vowed never to watch the finished product of the film, it was such a negative experience making it. He skipped its opening premiere. - John Frankenheimer was tapped to take over as director by New Line Cinema after the original one was fired after one day of shooting. - After being fired, original director Richard Stanley prevailed upon the makeup crew to turn him into one of the background mutants, so that he could at least keep tabs on the making of his dream project. He did not unmask himself until the wrap party, at which point Val Kilmer, who had Stanley fired in the first place, apologized profusely to him -- John Frankenheimer had proved to be a far harder taskmaster. - Winner of one 1997 Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor (Marlon Brando). Nominated for five more Razzie's for Worst Director, Worst Picture, Worst Screen Couple, Worst Screenplay and Worst Supporting Actor (Val Kilmer).

Montgomery: Animal rights activities drove him out of the States. Got so bad you couldn't cage a rat without reading him his rights.

Dr. Moreau: I have seen the devil in my microscope, and I have chained him.

Montgomery: What are you going to say? "Mayday. Mayday. I'm being held by a pig lady."

Sayer of the Law: To go on two legs is very hard. Perhaps four is better, anyway.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"The movie keeps switching focus without ever getting its bearings, and when Brando exits earlier than expected, there's little but mayhem to fall back on." -- Mike Clark, USA Today

"I'm sure it looked good on paper. That and Kilmer's frighteningly apt mimicry of Brando's voice are about the only positive things I can say." -- Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

"In it's final third, the movie goes to hell in more ways than Frankenheimer intended." -- Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald

"The most exciting characters are killed off too early, and what we're left with is a Satan's "Sesame Street."" -- Brandon Judell, Critics Inc / American Online