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Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
“Can a heart still break if it's stopped beating?” Richard E. Grant as Barkis Bittern
I have been counting the minutes until I could see this film. I am a dedicated Tim Burton fan, although I am still trying to forgive him for Planet of the Apes (2001). If you are a fan of Burton’s darker material, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, or Beetlejuice, your favorite director is back in fine form with this gorgeous stop-motion animated film.
Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) is about to enter into an arranged marriage with the lovely Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson). The Van Dort family has made its money as fish merchants and is considered to be successful. The Everglot family, once rich and successful, looks down on the nouveau riche Van Dorts but knows the union of their daughter and Victor could avoid a trip to skid row for the family.
At the wedding rehearsal, Victor stumbles clumsily over his vows. Pastor Galswells (Christopher Lee) sends Victor away to learn his lines. Victor walks through a nearby wooded area, practicing desperately to learn his lines before the morning. He finally says them perfectly and even places the wedding ring on what he perceives as simply a branch. However, he has not placed his ring on merely a tree branch nor has Victor been alone on this night in the woods. Victor has inadvertently placed his ring on the finger of the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter), who now considers them married and quickly whisks him away to the underworld.
And what an underworld it is! There is a chorus line of skeletons, lead by Bonejangles (Danny Elfman) that sing a few snazzy tunes to welcome new arrivals. The Corpse Bride even manages to find the skeleton of Victor’s favorite childhood pet; a dog named Scraps and magically brings the dog to life, albeit minus the fur. There are also a few rascally old pirates around to liven things up. Although The Corpse Bride has been dead for several years, she is still quite the looker and is quite charming and talented.
While Victor is overwhelmed at the insane atmosphere of the underworld and he finds himself becoming intrigued by the beguiling Corpse Bride, his mind and heart still are consumed with thoughts of the lovely and reticent Victoria. The Corpse Bride, aware of Victor’s troubled heart, seeks the advice of Elder Gutknecht (Michael Gough), the maggot (Enn Reitel) that resides in her skull and a black widow spider (Jane Horrocks) to find a solution for this dilemma.
Will the Corpse Bride maintain her grasp on Victor? Will Victor’s heart belong to Victoria or the Corpse Bride? And, what about the mystery man named Barkis Bittern that has suddenly appeared on the Everglot’s doorstep?
The Corpse Bride is the absolute antithesis of humdrum and saccharine animated fare and it is enormously refreshing. This film is a perfect representation of the quintessential Burton style: whimsical, darkly gothic and brilliantly clever. The interest in death and jokes about marriage and death are entertaining without going overboard for the young ones that find themselves in the audience. The score, composed by frequent Burton collaborator Danny Elfman, suits the film perfectly.
The voice work by all actors involved is pitch perfect, particularly the work of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Albert Finney and Christopher Lee . The voice work of Enn Retiel as the Maggot is noteworthy as well. Fans of Absolutely Fabulous will enjoy hearing the superb voice work of Joanna Lumley as Maudeline Everglot and Jane Horrocks as the Black Widow Spider.
The stop motion animation, character design and cinematography are positively dazzling. I noticed several tracking and circling shots utilized which are bold creative choices in working within the genre of stop-motion. The lighting is exquisite and The Corpse Bride looks better than most traditional live-action films playing at the cinema at this moment.
The Corpse Bride is a wonderfully gothic romantic fable that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. It is simply one of the best animated works in recent years and is absolutely visually bedazzling. The night that this film opens (September 23rd) I suggest that you be at no other place on earth other than in the front row for this beautiful film.
10/10
-Suzie Lackey |
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Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
Directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson
Featuring the voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Christopher Lee
Review: 10/10
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