Young Frankenstein (1974)

This movie ages like a fine wine. Every time I see it, it just gets better and better. It’s almost like canon to me, which is why I included it in my mini Monster marathon. Combines all the best elements of the series, with a little bit of King Kong thrown in. Gene Wilder plays his manic bit to a T as Dr. Franken-steen, the grandson of the original inventor, and Marty Feldman's eyeballs remain as swoon-worthy as ever. It's such a simple idea and that’s why this spoof works. Doesn’t try too hard to outdo the original, but instead has fun with the source material and allows the actors to have a blast with it.

5 enormous Schwanzstückers out of 5

The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)

Lon Chaney takes over the role as monster in this sequel that deals with the aftermath of the earlier films. It took them three movies to realize to give him a new brain! Superior to the previous (he gains back a bit of a will of his own), but still growing wearisome by this fourth entry.
This is the last of the solo Universal pictures, but there is much more to the series; it branches off into crossovers, team-ups, the Hammer Films “reboot,” sequels, modern remakes and endless spin-offs. I think I've had enough for one night...I'm in the mood for some lighter fare now.

3 Monsters love little girls out of 5

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Boris Karloff reprises his role as the big guy in this second sequel to Frankenstein. Features the first appearance of Ygor (as portrayed by Bela Lugosi). The Monster is even duller and more devoid of personality here than in the earlier installments and is reduced to being Ygor’s lackey. This feels like a step in the wrong direction, and of course both the movie and monster suffer for it.

2.5 let the poor bastard die already out of 5

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

“Alone…bad. Friend…good!”

Forget The Empire Strikes Back or The Godfather Part II…this is still the greatest sequel ever made. Picks up right at the end of the original, where both creator and creation are given a new lease on life. The Monster is much more developed this time around; he's refined and articulate and actually given a conscience and his first words. I love how at the end, even the bride rejects him. Poor fucking monster.
“I love dead…hate living.”

5 bad hair days out of 5