Talkie Zoo: THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU

I recently watched this H.G. Wells based film, but was a bit disappointed with it. The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996: PG-13) had the potential to be a great film version of the Wells sci-fi story, but fell short in a number of ways.

To me, it lacked the real mystery and excellence of character present in Wells' stories. Marlon Brando held up his role pretty well, but some of the other actors were weak in their parts. It was easy to see that directors were changed midstream as the movie went downhill from the fairly good start and wound up being not much more than a third rate film from there on. Acting was stilted and forced, and certainly overdramatic even given the story line.

The story centers around a scientist who combines human and animal DNA in an effort to produce a race of people who will love peace, behave perfectly and in the best interest of others at all times, and who will not question Dr. Moreau's authority and god-like ruling over them. We soon discover that he is actually using implants that cause pain to maintain control of what seems like a caring and peaceful race of beings. Maintaining the mostly human aspects of his "children" is accomplished through injections. Much like anti-rejection medicines for transplant patients, without the medicine, the "children" revert to their more animal origins. As with all beings who are under the iron rule of another, revolt ensues as they discover the cause of their pain and they lose their human qualities. Even his "children" turn against him.