Author: aykang98

Although it seemed like Frankenstein in Baghdad was not the class favorite, I did enjoy the novel very much. I found the plot-line of a monster seeking to avenge the innocent people who died to make up his body very intriguing. I viewed whatshisname more as a heroic admirable figure until the later half of the text, as his morals changed to make him out as more of a villain. For example, he has few qualms in murdering anyone, good or bad who got in his way. However, as much as I enjoyed the plot and whathisname’s development, I didn’t agree on the ending as I felt Hadi deserved better as Ahmed Saadavawi wholly mistreated Hadi. In this adaptation of the original Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Hadi is drawn from the original character of Victor Frankenstein. However, unlike Victor Frankenstein who deserved a cruel ending, actions did not necessarily warrant his suffering in the end.  Though Hadi was not the most pleasant person in the novel and he repeatedly demonstrated many selfish intentions like when he tried to trick an poor senile lady into selling her house, Hadi was never purely cruel like Victor Frankenstein. I do not necessarily believe that Hadi deserved a wholly happy and fulfilling ending, yet  the mutilation of his face as well as the false accusation that Hadi is Whatshisname all seemed overly cruel. The primary reason I believe Hadi deserved a better ending than Victor Frankenstein is that he did not intend to build Whatsitsname so it would come to life and wreak havoc in Bagdad. Victor on the hand thought that he could play a god-like role and create a new being. Furthermore, Victor could have prevented his creation numerous times from becoming a monster had he been  more accepting and nurturing. This was not a possibility for Hadi as whatshisnames morals were already set when coming alive therefore making Victor and Hadi objectives differ.

Dear Hayao Miyazaki

   

      I believe I have found your next upcoming film that will surpass all your previous iconic films. Titled in Japanese as 復活 (Resurrection), this film will be an adaptation of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. However, this Frankenstein will stray away from the original storyline. When people think of Frankenstein, there minds envision a lab, a mad scientist, and sparks buzzing through bolts of a monster’s head. Forget all of this, this new Frankenstein film will be about a dead man’s journey for vengeance during a time where the world is filled with chaos from the Second World War. Resurrection will be animated by your studio, Studio Ghibli.

    Taking place in Hiroshima and Seoul during the final stages of World War 2, Resurrection will be a two-part film. The first part will take place in Hiroshima before the Americans drop the atomic bomb, where the main character Matsumoto Yoshihito (Victor Frankenstein) is introduced. Matsumoto Yoshihito is a brilliant Japanese designer, that designed the infamous Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter plane which was the number one plane used by the Imperial Japanese Air Force during the Second World War. Engaged to his childhood sweetheart, a Korean girl Pak Ji-woo (Elizabeth Lavenza), Matsumoto lives a reasonably comfortable life with a silver-spooned childhood. Park Ji-woo, on the other hand, suffered during her early childhood for her whole family has been killed by Japanese soldiers during the colonization of Korea. Just as how Victor’s family adopted Elizabeth, Park Ji-woo is adopted by Matsumoto’s family after being found wandering the streets of Seoul alone. Thankful for Matsumoto’s family’s kindness and all the support they have given her, Pak Ji-woo forgives the Japanese people for the hideous crimes they had committed towards her family. Despite the war going on, and the Matsumoto family being forced to make certain sacrifices such as giving up half their food rations to the local hospitals to help the Japanese Empire, Matsumoto still puts a smile on his face for two reasons. The first reason is be because his wedding is about to take place on August 6, 1945. The second reason is that he is on the verge of making a new type of jet plane which will turn the tides of the war. However, Matsumoto’s life turns upside down the night before his wedding as a mysterious man with a white lotus symbol tattoo to his forehead that symbolized he was part of the righteous army, a Korean freedom fighter group invades the Matsumoto house hold. During the house invasion, the mysterious man shoots Matsumoto in his chest five times, kidnaps Park Ji-woo, and takes Matsumoto’s design for his new airplane. After being found by his best friend Yamauchi Nobuharu (Henry Clerval), Yamauchi does his best to nurse Matsumoto back to health, but sadly Matsumoto dies the next morning August 6th on his wedding day. This is also the day American B29 drop the first Atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This will be the end of Part I.

   In Part II, after the bombs have exploded in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hiroshima looks like a wasteland as Matsumoto finds himself resurrected from the radiation of the nuclear bomb with new abilities like super speed and super strength. Seeing his village being burned by crimson flames Matsumoto’s eyes are filled with tears as he is filled with emotions of anger and hatred. Matsumoto a once happy boy filled with light is now a man filled with only Darkness as he is a man on a mission to find his wife and murder all that gets in his way. During his search for Pak Ji-woo, he realizes that his body is deteriorating and doesn’t have much time to live. He journeys to Seoul after finding out his wife is still alive and is held up in the main righteous army hideout. As he arrives, he goes on an all-out killing spree wearing out his body killing every righteous army soldier. He finally finds Pak Ji-woo and collapses in her hand as he smiles once again like he did when he first met her taking his last breath before drying.