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A long-haired, humorless, unrecognizable John Cleese plays the professor with
whom Victor boldly discusses the alchemist Paracelsus, and whose brain Victor
winds up borrowing for research purposes

it seems clear cut that someone who rips the heart out of an innocent person
must be evil.

add a lot of back story, boost the romance, try to bolster the "pioneering
scientist" theme by introducing such elements as acupuncture, and present a
monster (Robert De Niro) who looks like a punch-drunk boxer after he's been
tossed into a wheat thresher.

The creature, as typified by Boris Karloff with outstretched arms, flat-topped
head, and ubiquitous neck bolts,

Several movie characters bear little resemblance to their book counterparts
beyond having the same name (Dr. Waldeman, Frankenstein's mentor, being a chief
example), and there is a significant alteration in the last act. Surprisingly
enough, although it reflects nothing written by Shelley, this scene is effective
in underlining the weaknesses and strengths of both Victor Frankenstein and his
creature.

In Branagh's version Victor's mother dies giving birth to William;