The Least of Burton's Bunch

Rating: 5/10 (11 November 2006)

PRE Oscars REVIEW: Okay, I'm not with consensus and I will say that Corpse Bride was not the great masterpiece I expected. Although I will say this.If Danny Elfman does not get an Oscar this year I will be boycotting the Oscars for five minutes. Those might be the worst five minutes of my life but it will be all about principle. Elfman's score and songs are mind blowing and save the film from being a bad Burton film.
The thing that killed the film for me was the script. The dialogue was just a bit bland and boring. It couldn't keep my attention. My attention was restored when the clay-mation characters would break out into a song and dance. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson give their characters life respectively but the screenplay is just not fresh enough. Tim Burton's last effort at clay-animation was the no less than masterful "The Nightmare Before Christmas" but sorry to let you down folks that this is no where near it. More than likely in March you will find "Corpse Bride" in the Animated Feature category but not too sure what will happen after that. But I am almost positive that this will not follow the path of "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles" and grab a screenplay nod along with it.
I still love Tim Burton with his eye and quirkiness of film but this might be near the bottom of his list of work. Sound Editing, Sound, Original Score, Original Song, and Best Animated Feature are the film's chances. Better luck next time Burton.