'Mayhew! Silence that blasted coughin'!!'

Rating: 10/10 (3 April 2020)

Breathtaking animated beauty! Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) is put under an arranged marriage by his parents with the similarly shy and sweet Victoria Everclot (Emily Watson). When Victor practices his vows alone in the woods, he inadvertently raises The Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) back from the dead, who believed he did in fact marry her. The idea was inspired by a 19th century poem and here there's a really fun contrast in the way the Land Of The Dead is represented in a vibrant party atmosphere and full of life as opposed the living who are dull and grey in comparison. Written by two of Tim's greatest collaborators John August (Big Fish, Frankenweenie), Caroline Thompson (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands) and Burton newcomer Pamela Pettler (9, Monster House) the script is beautifully kind-hearted and with a great balance of dark gallows humour and just plain funny lines delivered brilliant by the cast who are all distinctively grand! Visually it is astonishingly gorgeous, with trademark gothic sensibilities photographed by Pete Kozachik and a very talented film crew. The animation team are all individually very talented artists as seen in behind the scenes footage and the painstaking attention to detail is amazing. Most wonderfully, it features some of Danny Elfman's best work and a musical score that is heartachingly romantic and exciting; Victor's piano solo really struck an emotional chord for me at the age of 12 and it still does to this day