Finally saw it, and couldn't get enough

Rating: 9/10 (20 December 2004)

I remember seeing a trailer, or a commercial, for this film in 2003, which turned me off and I saw it only after a recent recommendation from a trusted friend (with similar tastes). Score one for recommendations. Yes, some of the images are bizarre and look goofy taken out of context (as in a trailer). But on DVD, within one week I had watched the film, again with the director's commentary, again with intermittent trivia, and any other way possible. Probably one of my top 15 films of all time. Many scenes and dialog resonated like a handbell choir. Come to think of it, Tim Burton's films are always at least good, and I've liked them before (including Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands). As I get older it seems like I'm more and more jaded and am moved by less and less. But, I connected the dots in this film/story, and wept at the end (while more overtly sentimental movies leave me cold).