Why aren't more films this original?

Rating: 8/10 (1 July 2008)

This is one of the most imaginative, creative and unusual movies I've ever seen. Yes, even for Burton. I mean, the man is a cornucopia of ideas. I'm not sure what I expected this to be like, but I could easily not have gotten it right even if I had countless guesses. The plot is marvelous, and develops nicely, always retaining interest. The pacing is spot-on. I never really wanted this to end, and it somehow both left me satisfied and hungry for more of the same. The characters are magnificent. The "feel" of one of his productions is definitely there, and without it seeming too much like one of his others. The acting is great. The music, both Elfman's scoring and in general, all excellent. The humor varies, and I, personally, did not find everything funny, but quite a bit of the material that worked had me laughing an awful lot. The visuals, as we know they will be, when Tim is helming it, are invariably well-done. The effects are perhaps outdated today, but they still work and do so well. And honestly, as I watched this, I was far too entertained to care if I could tell how they did this or that. The dialog is well-written, with several clever lines. The designs are rich. The details... wow. There are some grotesque images in this, a little language, moderate and strong, and a suggestive thing or two. The DVD features a theatrical trailer and a music-only track. I recommend this warmly to any fan of Tim Burton and his style. 8/10