No Such Thing (the 2001 movie)

The movie 'No Such Thing' was an interesting movie. It wasn't what i was expecting but after watching it, it still is making me think more and more about it.  I thought this movie had some similarities to both the story of Frankenstein and a little bit of Beauty and the Beast. The reason I say that is because we see this monster that was maybe created my this scientist called Dr. Artaud and he is the only one that can kill this monster. The monster has been alone for a long time, the only one of his kind. he's on a island in iceland and the local people leave him bottles of liquor to satisfy him (and to probably keep him busy from wanting to kill them). But you can see that he's tired of this and he wants to die. He angry and has full knowledge and speech (better than most monsters).



  

     When we see our other main character Beatrice, (who is in Iceland to find her fiancee, but is killed by the monster) she's not screaming in terror of the monster, even when he is acting rude and breathing fire. She seems like a kind person, but she forgets that kindness when she is overwhelmed with the fame and attention she is getting for finding this monster and bringing him back to the city (I think it's New York City). Beatrice (and her fiancee) work for a news company, and her boss (played by Hellen Mirren) uses the monsters looks to get media attention and doesn't care how she gets it. Even if it mean torturing him (with all kinds of test to see what he is) and humiliating him in the streets (having the people of the city beat him down to ground, making him weak). Finally getting out of the spot light and seeing what's more important, Beatrice gets the monster and brings him back to Iceland and the scientist (and other doctors) are setting up the experiment that kills him.

      This is where i'm thinking of Beauty and the Beast. From beginning to most of the film, the monster is mean and rude, he doesn't end up killing her. Because he thinks she can help him find the scientist. She helps him but he has to promise her that he won't kill anyone. Even if he really wants to, he keeps his promise to her. Just looking at them (to me) seems like they are Beauty and the Beast. At the end where he is about to be gone from the world that he couldn't stand. Beatrice goes to him (while the process of the experiment is going) and without saying anything, is just standing there and getting a last look at him before he's gone. At this point the camera is giving us a view of what the monsters last images are. We see flashes of light and different images in between the flashes. And then we see Beatrice just looking at him, like a person she's has come to care about (have some feelings for). She has a sad look in her eyes that this monster is finally getting what he always wanted. But I think at this point (right when the movie is about to end), she might have fallen for him.



  (even this poster could be something that came out of Beauty and the Beast)



      This movie was good, but it could have been better. From seeing what this monster looked like, I was hoping for some more of what I mentioned before. The Beginning part is kinda boring and we don't really get a good introduction of who this girl is. Half of the time the movie has more of her being selfish and less of the monster. If there was going to be a remake of this movie, I would say keep the make up artist for the monster (I really love his design. Thats what drew me in to wanting to watch this movie. I want to know more about this interesting monster), and Just work better on spacing/ editing the story. This doesn't need any special effects, no 3d glassed just a real story that brings you into this world and makes you feel for the characters, especially the monster and his pain.