Another Animated Classic From Tim Burton

Rating: 8/10 (11 October 2005)

Tim Burton is a genius at animation. While all major studio's such as Disney/Pixar and Dreamworks thrive on computer generated animation Tim Burton goes back to a style that Hollywood has forgotten about. Stop Motion. Stop motion animation is great. I grew up as a child watching ninety percent of Christmas specials being filmed in stop motion. The first stop motion film I ever saw on the big screen was Tim Burton's The Nightmare before Christmas. I remember being blown away by it. Years later Tim Burton (The director responsible for Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks, Sleepy Hollow, Planet Of The Apes, Big Fish, and this summers hit Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake) decides to make another animated film and Burton fans rejoiced. Corpse Bride is very similar to Nightmare with the animation as well as the songs. Yes it is a musical, although Burton doesn't go overboard the way Disney used to in making eighty percent of the film all song and dance. Corpse Bride has about five songs in it that are all about the afterlife. The plot is interesting. Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp, making this 5 Burton films he's been in now) is arranged to marry Victoria Everglot (voiced by Emily Watson). The two fall in love after they meet at their dinner rehearsal. The Van Dort's are rich beyond people's wildest imagination. The Everglot's however are broke and are arranging their daughter Victoria to marry Victor so her parents Maudeline Everglot (Joanna Lumley) and Finnis Everglot (Albert Finney) can get their hands on The Van Dort fortune. Victor is a bumbling idiot who is so nervous at their wedding rehearsal that he can't get his vows right. This angers the minister (voiced by the legend Christopher Lee)and he calls off their rehearsal. Victor so upset, goes for a stroll in the woods and places his wedding ring for his bride on a tree limb as he practices his vows. The problem was it was no tree branch but a finger of a rotted corpse that was sticking out of the ground. Enter Emily (voiced by Helena Bonham-Carter, Burton's real life bride to be)who falls in love with Victor at first sight. Now that Emily has the ring on her finger she is considered to be the wife of Victor. There is only one problem. Victor is alive and well, while Emily is dead. Victor is dragged to the underworld where people are having the time of their lives, always having one hell of a party in the taverns, while in the world of the living things are dreary and depressing. Victor longs to get back to his bride to be, Victoria however Emily will stop at nothing to stay married. Corpse Bride is a fun movie that is typical Tim Burton. The man knows eye candy like no other director. He has the best looking sets in all of Hollywood right now. If you don't believe me just watch Beetlejuice, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, or his first animated classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. Corpse Bride ranks up there with those films. As I said before the world of the living in the film is dark and depressing. It's literally shown in shades of gray, while the world of the dead is all happy go lucky. Everything is all bright and it's one big party. That's Tim Burton for you. Burton has created another Halloween classic, like Nightmare that will surely develop a cult following just like Nightmare. After ten years that film is considered an animated classic and most likely will continue it's reign. Corpse Bride will definitely follow in it's footsteps. Granted I am biased about Burton. I've loved all his films including his Planet Of The Apes remake (yes I'm the one). Corpse Bride is a great film that is fun from beginning to end. If you're in the mood for a good Halloween themed film then I highly recommend it. If not, then their is plenty of great slasher flicks out there for you to watch again and again till you fall asleep. On a scale of 10 I give Tim Burton's Corpse Bride an 8. Again a great time at the movies.