Tim Burton's finest hour

Rating: Null/10 (27 March 2004)

This tenth anniversary edition is sure to be a superb addition to any DVD collection. All of Tim Burton's films are worth looking at, but the fairytale qualities and heartfelt emotion in this film make it close to his best, second only to "Ed Wood". A simple fable of a boy, Edward (Johnny Depp) whose inventor (Vincent Price, in a beautiful finale to his career) dies before completing him, leaving Edward with scissors for hands. Edward lives alone in the inventor's gothic mansion until Avon comes calling, and he is taken in my Dianne Weist's hilarious Avon lady. In surburbia, Edward finds love (Winona Ryder as the ultimate fairytale princess) as well as prejudice - Tim Burton is always making films about outsiders who just don't fit into society. The performances are great - Depp is a revelation - the production design and cinematography are breathtaking, and Danny Elfman's best ever score envelopes and enriches the entire film. Outstanding