Great animation, razor thin plot

Rating: 7/10 (8 October 2005)

Tim Burton has to be one of my favorite directors of all time. It's not just his talent but his sick and twisted imagination that makes things interesting to watch. Things don't just come to life , they are elaborate and pop out at you, dragging you into the world he creates. Such is the case with Corpse Bride. It's a delight to watch but unfortunately, is only able to hold itself together with a razor thin plot that keeps the mess from falling apart - just like a real corpse.
The plot holes in the movie are many and its only fair to list a few. For one, all the characters in the film are one-dimensional and its very difficult to sympathize or know any of them. Why is Emily so desperate to wed? Why is Victor such a wimp? What is his background? The characters might as well have been labeled character A and B, for the film never bothers to answer them. Then again, the film was too short anyway.
Another big plot point that ruins the film is the love between Victor and Victoria. Funny how their names are similar isn't it? Both characters suffer from what I call the Titanic syndrome. I remember when the Titanic first came out in theaters, everyone cried when Leonardo Dicaprio's character died. I thought it was stupid because the two hadn't met for more than 3 days and nobody in the real world ever falls in love that quickly. It's the same thing with Victor and Victoria, both characters have NEVER met and yet in their first encounter they swear eternal love for each other. I don't know about you but I don't find prearranged marriages very romantic, nor can I understand why Victor falls for Victoria when he spends all of his screen time with Emily, the Corpse Bride.
Still another point to be considered is the world of the dead which Emily comes from. For one, how is it that Victor is able to live for several days down there without food and water? I also don't get how Emily knows everyone down there, when she says she spent all of her time lying under a dead tree, waiting for her love to free her. So which is it? Is it her spirit that inhabits the underworld or her actual physical body? She can't be in two places at the same time!
Now for some good points.
The animation itself is probably the best I've seen for a stop-motion picture to date. It flows much more fluidly and natural than anything I've ever seen before. Even the colors are good. There are also a lot of heart-warming and funny moments, all carefully crafted, which make it an enjoyable movie. Even the musical scores by Danny Elfman are good (well, not all of them). For the most part it seemed like a convenient way to explain things that should have been part of the plot. "So why are you dead Emily?", "Good question Victor, let's sing about it!"
All in all, I do recommend this movie and DID enjoy it despite it's flaw. It makes for a great flick for kids and adults for all ages. Just make sure to park your brain at the door when you watch it.
B