Movie Review – “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride”

While we didn’t have time to put together the kind of countdowns we’ve managed in the past, we did manage to get this one up in time. Additional titles can be found alphabetized here.

Cast and Crew

Johnny Depp is Victor Van Dort
Helena Bonham Carter is the Corpse Bride
Emily Watson is Victoria Everglot

Tracey Ullman is Nell van Dort
Paul Whitehouse is William van Dort
Joanna Lumley is Maudeline Everglot
Albert Finney is Finish Everglot
Christopher Lee is Pastor Galswells
Michael Gough is Elder Gutknecht

Written by John August, Caroline Thompson, Pamela Pettler, Tim Burton and Carlos Grangel.
Directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson

Complete information is
available from this IMDB
page
.

Buy from: Amazon.com
or Amazon.ca

Past movie reviews can be found here.

Synopsis

A nervous groom practices his vows using a dry, old tree branch. Unfortunately for him, the withered old branch is actually the finger of a withered old corpse, who accepts his proposal immediately.

High Point

“Remains of the Day.” That little musical number tells a story, drives home the clear point that the dead are more lively than the living, and exhibits some of the most complicated puppetry in the film.

Low Point

SPOILERS:
Not since Starship Troopers has the hero so blatantly ended up with the wrong woman.

The Review

I can honestly say that I’ve never run across a plot like this before. Throw in the remarkable new puppetry challenges, and you get a mighty original final product. I give it 6 out of 6.

The effects are based primarily on the great animation. Puppetry is far from dead. Candles, fire, wind, and smirks abound and look great. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story has some predictability, but not in any way that reduces enjoyability, until the low point comes up. I give it 4 out of 6.

The voice acting is excellent. Once again, hiring great actors with distinctive voices pays off better than hiring known voice actors. Lee and Gough were brilliant in their small roles. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response was fantastic for most of the film, but the low point leaves enough bad taste in the mouth to drag the whole picture down. I give it 4 out of 6.

The production is excellent. With animation, you don’t really have the chance to go back for reshoots because of tight schedules and high costs, which means you need remarkable planning right from the start. They did it, creating a world and filming it remarkably well. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a nearly perfect experience. Had the Low Point gone the other way, it would have received a six here as well. Instead, I can only give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride receives 34 out of 42.

2 replies on “Movie Review – “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride””

  1. Low Point
    I disagree strongly with the low point.

    Spoiler: I thought both women were well suited and proved their love, and how that tension was to be resolved was the heart of the movie.

  2. it doesnt even matter
    this movie wasnt the best of all time but i loved the "clay-mation" involved. plus it had johnny depp in it so it doesnt even matter! loved it

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