A True Return To Burton-Style

Rating: 5/10 (15 May 2012)

Don't be fooled by the trailers, this film is a genuine Tim Burton product. If you are a fan of anything Burton has done, this is definitely worth checking out... possibly not full price, as sometimes it does seem like a film made by someone who is trying to make a Tim Burton film, but trying really really hard! Definitely not his worst, (Planet of the Apes), and at times seems more like an extension of the Harry Potter universe design wise, but it has all of the unique Burton traits... twisted trees on hills (Sleepy Hollow, Alice in Wonderland), creepy mansions (Beetlejuice, Big Fish, Edward Scissorhands), daddy issues, lonely misunderstood 'different' people, so, it is a smorgasboard of Burton, yet at the same time, very fresh and different. The Danny Elfman score is actually quite downplayed, it has good moments here and there, but takes a backseat to the music of the 70s (Knights in white satin, at the top of the world), and actually has a cameo from one real life vampire/music legend that is pretty cool... reminiscant of Tom Jones in Mars Attacks. In summary, this movie is really not that bad, but more of a drinking game of Tim Burton references than an actual Tim Burton film. (References to "big Fish" are less subtle.