Tim Burton's Free Pass

Rating: Null/10 (18 January 2004)

Tim Burton seems to be one of a few directors who receive a free pass with many professional critics. I don't understand why this movie is being so universally praised. I had not read one bad review before going in. This is not one of his best efforts and I can't understand how this is currently rating an eight on imdb.
Sure, Big Fish has many of TB's usual whimsical and imaginative touches, but there are long stretches of this film that drag (old Edward Bloom) and other sections that don't make any sense (***Possible Spoiler*** What was the deal with the town called Specter? At first I thought he was supposed to have stumbled into the afterlife "You're early...blah.blah.blah", but these people are obviously still alive since they show up later on and interact with other characters. Later he goes back and buys up the town because it has fallen into disrepair. Why? Why would he care about people he spent less than 24 hours with twenty years earlier?).
Do yourself a favor and wait for the video release. Better yet, rent Edward Scissor Hands.
5 out of 10