I’ve always been a huge fan of Tim Burton. His films (with the exception of “Planet of the Apes”) have consistently pleased me, especially “Ed Wood” and “Edward Scissorhands.” I guess Burton’s twisted, semi-Gothic sensibilities just click with my own aesthetics. So, it’s no surprise that I greatly enjoyed Burton’s latest work (co-directed with Mike Johnson, by the way), called “Corpse Bride.” It is a wonderfully mad stop-motion animation extravaganza, which at once recalls both Burton’s own “Beetlejuice” and his recent “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Despite its settings (the dreadfully dour streets of Victorian England, and the colorful jazziness of the Land of the Dead), the film is wonderfully cheery and fun – a great way to cap the summer blockbuster season.
Like many of Burton’s films, Johnny Depp plays the protagonist, the shy Victor. He has, much to his horror, been betrothed to a woman he has never met, named Victoria (yes, that’s her name – make all the jokes you need, then rejoin me). Victor and Victoria’s parents have arranged the marriage for mutual gain – Victor’s folks will gain court influence, while Victoria’s mother and father will gain a portion of their new son-in-law’s family fishmongering business. On the day of their wedding rehearsal, Victor finds it quite difficult to concentrate on the task at hand, and runs away into the nearby forest to practice. Victor finally gets his vows right – only to find himself wed to Emily, the Corpse Bride. Poor Emily was murdered by her husband, and robbed of her jewels and money, left to rot in the forest for all time; Victor’s accidental marriage has set her free. The resulting madness makes for one damn fun ol’ time!
Although the film’s acting is superb, I need not spend time talking about it; after all, this is a cartoon, and voice acting isn’t quite as difficult to accomplish as the “real” thing. Besides, with a cast including Depp, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Albert Finney, and Helena Bonham Carter, you know you’re in good hands from the get-go. The real star of the film is, to my own personal joy, the music. Composer Danny Elfman has done it again, crafting a good musical score, along with many wonderfully catchy songs. My personal favorite song is “The Wedding Song” – seriously, give it a listen (just head over to Amazon.com and click on the sample link), and tell me it isn’t fun as hell.
Gas-prices got you down? Hurricanes depressing the hell out of you? Movies have always had the power to lift us out of our collective funk, and carry us off to fantastic, unique places – to help us forget about our troubles. A mere five minutes into Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride,” you’ll forget about all the trials and tribulations in your life. You’ll laugh, you may cry, and you may even have to resist the urge to get up and dance. It certainly isn’t the greatest movie ever made, but “Corpse Bride” is just the kind of film we need more of right now – damn good fun, no strings attached. Check it out!
– Isorion
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
