Paladin
09-24-2005, 05:28 PM
Corpse Bride, starring the voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Christopher Lee, Tracy Ulman, Albert Finney, Deep Roy, and Danny Elfman. Directed by Tim Burton.
Ultra-short version:
MAGNIFICENT
Normal Version:
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!
Beetlejuice was one of those comedy films which portrayed being dead as being a whole lot like being alive, with the added bonus of not being able to be (physically) hurt. Corpse Bride adds the added bonus of being animated. And going completely against the current trend, this movie isn't CGI animated, it's shot completely with stop-motion models.
The story begins with Victor (Depp), a nervous groom-to-be as he is taken by his parents to meet Victoria (Watson) for the first time, just before they all head to the church for the wedding rehearsal. Victor's father is a successful merchant, with plenty of money, but no social standing. Victoria's parents come from old money, which is alas, now all gone. By wedding the pair, the parents both hope to profit from the arrangement. Fortunately, Victor and Victoria fall instantly in love when they meet, and are anxious for the wedding to happen. Unfortunately, Victor is terribly nervous, and after messing up his vows one too many times, heads off into the woods to get over his fears. Without spoiling how they meet, he accidently weds Emily, the corpse bride. Emily was murdered on her wedding day and is now overjoyed to have found a husband, dragging Victor back into the land of the dead with her.
Victoria is distraught. Victoria's parents are also distraught over losing their expected financial windfall, and quickly arrange a new marriage for their daughter to the coniving noble, Lord Barkis Bittern. Victor is torn, falling for Emily and yet being in love with Victoria.
The Land of the Dead will look familiar to anyone who ever played the game "Grim Fandango". The colors are bright and vibrant, and the citizens are happy. In contrast, the real world is a dark, dreary place and it is easy to see why Victor sees a future there with the exhuberant Emily, even though he knows he has to die to be with her.
I'm not going to spoil the plot by revealling any more. Some of the plot is obvious, some of it is not, and the ending is both beautiful and touching. In fact, the whole movie is touching. It is also, surprisingly, full of wonderful musical numbers. This is some of Elfman's best work musically, and he gets to really shine, even singing some of it himself.
I cannot recommend this movie enough. If it fails to win the Oscar for best musical or comedy, it will have been done an injustice. Go see it.
On the smiley scale (1=low 4=high)
Fun: :bg: :bg: :bg: :bg:
Thrills: :eek: :eek:
Comedy: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Brain-Candy Factor: :jester: :jester: :jester:
And just to be sure you get the point, five big-assed thumbs (out of five)
http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif
Ultra-short version:
MAGNIFICENT
Normal Version:
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!
Beetlejuice was one of those comedy films which portrayed being dead as being a whole lot like being alive, with the added bonus of not being able to be (physically) hurt. Corpse Bride adds the added bonus of being animated. And going completely against the current trend, this movie isn't CGI animated, it's shot completely with stop-motion models.
The story begins with Victor (Depp), a nervous groom-to-be as he is taken by his parents to meet Victoria (Watson) for the first time, just before they all head to the church for the wedding rehearsal. Victor's father is a successful merchant, with plenty of money, but no social standing. Victoria's parents come from old money, which is alas, now all gone. By wedding the pair, the parents both hope to profit from the arrangement. Fortunately, Victor and Victoria fall instantly in love when they meet, and are anxious for the wedding to happen. Unfortunately, Victor is terribly nervous, and after messing up his vows one too many times, heads off into the woods to get over his fears. Without spoiling how they meet, he accidently weds Emily, the corpse bride. Emily was murdered on her wedding day and is now overjoyed to have found a husband, dragging Victor back into the land of the dead with her.
Victoria is distraught. Victoria's parents are also distraught over losing their expected financial windfall, and quickly arrange a new marriage for their daughter to the coniving noble, Lord Barkis Bittern. Victor is torn, falling for Emily and yet being in love with Victoria.
The Land of the Dead will look familiar to anyone who ever played the game "Grim Fandango". The colors are bright and vibrant, and the citizens are happy. In contrast, the real world is a dark, dreary place and it is easy to see why Victor sees a future there with the exhuberant Emily, even though he knows he has to die to be with her.
I'm not going to spoil the plot by revealling any more. Some of the plot is obvious, some of it is not, and the ending is both beautiful and touching. In fact, the whole movie is touching. It is also, surprisingly, full of wonderful musical numbers. This is some of Elfman's best work musically, and he gets to really shine, even singing some of it himself.
I cannot recommend this movie enough. If it fails to win the Oscar for best musical or comedy, it will have been done an injustice. Go see it.
On the smiley scale (1=low 4=high)
Fun: :bg: :bg: :bg: :bg:
Thrills: :eek: :eek:
Comedy: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Brain-Candy Factor: :jester: :jester: :jester:
And just to be sure you get the point, five big-assed thumbs (out of five)
http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif http://www.jckrbbt.com/images/thumb.gif