soulless film

Rating: 4/10 (25 January 2013)

Tim Burton managed to leave me totally void of any emotion through the entirety of this movie. I didn't like it or dislike it, just totally middle of the road. It looked real nice as Burton has a flair for the Gothic but it was as if he just didn't care about the material enough. Frankenweenie is testament that when the work is personal he can produce wonderful idea's and marry them to film with ease. Nobody springs to life and aesthetically the film looks decent but without the small details that set his notable works apart.
There is no firm plot. The family have money troubles, Depp turns up and reveals a hidden treasure room. Money troubles gone. Seriously, that quick. The movie avoids any real interesting plot devices such as the recent string of killings upon Depps return. Or the story of the boy who can apparently see his dead mother. How about the secret around Moretz troubled teen, no we'll just address those in the last five minutes. The love interest also has a back story summed up in a matter of moments. The tumultuous relationship between Depp and Green opens this movie and delivers for the small part. Overall though it plays out exactly as you would expect. You'll be left wondering why the manner in which they deal with the witch didn't just happen right off the bat.
Considering the eclectic talent filled cast you'd think there would at least be some interesting performances. There isn't. All actors deliver the bare minimum, totally due to the script issues. This just leaves the meat for Depp and Green. Green just mails it in and Depp plays his role like Jack Sparrow dressed for Halloween.
I will never watch this again.