Frankenstein

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I found the original Frankinstein to be one of the best old, annoying to read, books. What I hate is how later adaptations ruined the best part of the book: The character of the creature. In the original story he was a tragic villain. He was intelligent, strong, and at first he was benevolent, but it is the cruelity of other people, fearing him because of his appearance, that turned him against humanity. It's a tragic story about the descension of the creature, and the story plays out to be a wrenching, self-destructive tragedy. Now the story has been all but ruined by just portraying him as a dumb monster, taking away all of his personallity and turning it from a beautifal tragedy to a dumb monster flic. The only modern adaptation that really gives the original justice that I've heard of is a musical adaptation of the book, the movies just ruin everything. So, has anyone else read Frankenstein?

I think the movie Mary Shelly's Frankenstein tries to undo some this. I've only seen parts of it but the creature is played by Robert Deniro as an actual person.

But yeah I feel some similar irritation about Dracula who oddly enough was more of a creature to start with and then romanticized for being an immortal vampire.

Yes, it's a brilliant book. The "monster" is a very interesting character. I like the idea of his not being able to function in the world because of his very nature.