Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005)

awesome movie

buy this wonderful movie if you a huge tim burton fan you wont be sorry August 28, 2008

A Technical Acheivment for the Ages; This Corpse Grows on You

Well people, there are plenty of reviews here to let you know what this is all about; the story, the feel, the emotion, etc., etc. However, most only make a passing remark concerning the "Claymation". Though I have not read all of the reviews here, I have not found one that really makes it clear what an artistic achievement this film really is. "Oh it's a kid's film that's too scary for kids"; is a fairly common criticism. Complaints of its brevity have come from lovers and haters alike. Some criticize the music's lack of "hook". But I have not read the review that exclaims what brilliant art this really is (I apologize to those reviews I may have missed). So, I'm adding one here to ensure that it is not beyond reach so late in the game (300 reviews can be daunting). Let's get on with it...

-TECHNICAL ACHEIVMENT
Many people have made mention of the "making of" featurettes on this DVD. They may have told you what they saw but never explained its significance (or really understood it). In simple terms, this is digital animation. With off-the-shelf software, a good digital camera (still camera) and a decent posable doll, you could do the same thing in your basement. However, what was done hear technically rivals anything done before it. Not even Ray Harryhausen, THE visual FX master that influenced generations of those in the art ever achieved anything of such explicit detail and subtlety. We can marvel at the technical complexity and brilliance of the "puppets" but totally miss why they are complex; expressive motion.

-WHAT MAKES GREAT ANIMATION?
Some mistakenly assume that if the animation is smooth and fluid, then it is good animation; particularly when it comes to stop motion animation. Well, that's partially true. Making something move smoothly certainly helps convince us that it has life. Yet, organic life isn't always smooth or regular; we bounce and stumble and jerk and shake. We have weight and we create momentum and everything else physics brings to bear. The animators in Corpse Bride understood this as much as any Disney animator ever did. I think Ray H. understood this too but never had the technology and backing to ever get this level of detail with Stop Motion Animation. Stop Motion fans adore and appreciate What Ray Harryhausen accomplished, but surely should recognize what's been achieved here. These characters bounce and wiggle and exhibit weight and emotion. Facial ticks and expressiveness only dreamed of in the past are taken for granted in this film simply because it is completely unobtrusive and natural. Yet, we may never see this level of art in stop motion ever again.

-IS SIMPLE BAD?
I think a film that can turn the concept of a man accidentally marrying a corps into a 75 minute story is commendable. This film never seams too short for me. Some stories are as long as they need to be. There is nothing complex about this film other than the emotions of the characters. It's all too clear; the mundane existence of the everyday life is drowned in a sepia grey tints and superficial existence. The enlightened existence of the pain free underworld is lavished in color, friendship and merriment. Despite and because of this, true love will blossom; nothing wrong with that. Simple can be bad if you don't like the concept to begin with. I like dark stories that teach us something about ourselves and this does that in spades.

-"EMOTIONLESS, SHALLOW CHARACTERS."????
Sorry, I read that somewhere here at amazon.com. Well, I obviously could not disagree more. To be fair you can't watch this film once and know all the characters; it's not that easy. Some of the characters are emotionless and shallow by design, so I have to give a sideways nod to that statement, but I don't think the criticisms were aimed at those characters. The first time I saw this at the theater I was very conflicted. I criticized many of the same things others did. I didn't get the characters. It had a strange mood to it. The music was completely unexpected. But a good film proves itself in repeat viewings. After a couple of viewings, I felt that I knew all the characters personally. I thought all the voice actors proved perfect. I actually enjoy the songs now. Perhaps this film isn't as simple as people say?

-MY RECOMMENDATION
This is a fairly simple concept which is complex in its subtlties and may not satisfy everyone. The music takes getting used to but can grow on you. If you don't like dark fables told in animated films you should avoid this. If you don't give a care for animation one way or the other then you probably won't think much of this. If you are a fan of Stop Motion Animation then you really need to see this; if for no other reason than to appreciate the artistic and technical achievement, it will have been worth it. The DVD has ample extras and a beautiful picture. This film is one that grows in depth and enjoyment every time I watch it. As a fan of Stop Motion Animation I now revel in it.
August 8, 2008

More Burton brilliance.

I'll say it now, I LOVED THIS MOVIE.
I've never seen The Nightmare Before Christmas so I wasn't sure what to expect from a Burton animation.
In a word, brilliant.
Dark, humorous, all the strangeness we've come to love and expect from Burton.
A cute, somewhat macabre cartoon.
The animation is awesome, the voice acting is awesome, there really isn't anything bad to say about this movie.
I'll say it one more time, brilliant.
Another Burton masterpiece.
A must see for Burton fans and fans with a darker sense of humor.
Recommended.
June 26, 2008

'Til Death Do Us Part

It's odd that Tim Burton's Corpse Bride should be released the same year as Wallace & Gromit - The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Perhaps it was just an unfortunate coincidence that the two films, both are stop-motion animation, came out during the same time. Both films are great and award-worthy (W&G won the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar). Too bad this film wasn't held back until 2006 when it almost would've been guaranteed the award.

Johnny Depp voices the prim and proper Victor who is to be married to Victoria (voiced by Emily Watson). Their scheming parents who hope to exploit each other's fortunes, both of which are already spent, arrange the marriage. But on the day of the wedding Victor loses the wedding ring. He finds it in a dark foreboding forest... on the finger of a corpse. Now he must marry the Corpse Bride who is voiced by Helena Bonham Carter. Meanwhile Victoria is being courted by the wealthy (or is he?) yet morally bankrupt Lord Barkis. Soon Victor and the Corpse Bride go to the Land of the Dead to find out how to end their engagement but things become even more complicated when she develops feelings for him. All of this leads to a climactic confrontation between the living and the deceased.

The voice cast also includes Tracey Ullman in two roles, Joanna Lumley as Maudeline Everglot, Albert Finney as Finis Everglot, Christopher Lee as Pastor Galswells and Danny Elfman as Bone Jangles. Although not quite the masterpiece that The Nightmare Before Christmas is, Corpse Bride is a cult classic in its own right. It utilizes Tim Burton's gothic sensibilities and his love of macabre humor. It's a stop-motion world of wonder and horror. June 18, 2008

The Corpse Bride

Don't let the title of this movie turn you away. It's a wonderful movie for kids! They won't want to miss a second of it. June 2, 2008

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