visually stunning, but the plot was skeletal (ha ha)

Rating: 7/10 (11 March 2006)

I thought Corpse Bride was visually stunning and really funny--I really liked the overall feel, and I think I fell in love with Emily, despite the maggot and all. But, and I feel horrible saying this, I felt that the story had some unforgivable holes. Why, for instance, does Victor care that much about Victoria in the first place? OK, let's accept that he does immediately fall totally in love with her, then why does he suddenly decide to sacrifice his life to marry Emily forever? Then why does she suddenly decide not to marry Victor? How did he free her? I feel like Burton got a little caught up in crafting the "experience" of Corpse Bride (which was superb) and forgot to pay attention to the story line. Perhaps one might argue that he should be forgiven since it's "just an animated movie for kids" but I think that writing for young audiences is no free pass--you still have to take care of the writing first, the oohs and ahs second (unless you're building a roller coaster).