Film Review: FRANKENWEENIE (2012)

Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Leonard Ripps (1984 screenplay), Tim Burton (original idea), John August (screenplay)
Running time: 84 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Horror
UK Release date: 7^th October 2012

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 10^th August 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

For the most part, I’m a bit of a fan of Tim Burton’s work. I have always found something about his stuff I liked since I first saw ‘Edward Scissorhands’ many years ago. I find his animated work particularly interesting and this is a fine example of just how good it can be! I have to admit though; I watched it with a little trepidation; that Disney logo on the front doesn’t always mean good things for me. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

When Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) loses his dog, Sparky, in an accident, he is devastated. His parents, Mom (Catherine O'Hara) & Dad (Martin Short), do their best to console him but he is lost in his own world. However, when science teacher, Mr. Rzykruski (Martin Landau), talks about how electricity animates the body, he has an idea his science fair project. Digging up Sparky, he re-animates him with great skill but knows he must keep him a secret. Sparky, being a dog, gets out and is seen by Victor’s classmate, Edgar ‘E’ Gore (Atticus Shaffer) and he blackmails Victor into giving him the secret to re-animation. Of course, Edgar can’t keep a secret and soon the whole town is awash with re-animated creatures. Can Victor find a way to reverse the process before they take over the whole town? I should also mention Victor’s neighbour, the Mayor, Mr. Burgemeister (also voiced by Martin Short), who has his niece, Elsa Van Helsing (Winona Ryder) staying with him, with her dog, Persephone.

I love Burton’s stop motion animation style; it really suits this type of tale. The fact it was in black and white was also a bonus for me; it made it look like the early horror films, many of which are referenced here. I also like that he made Mr. Rzykruski look an awful lot like Vincent Price; he was an early horror movie hero of mine. I haven’t seen the earlier 1984 film and so cannot make a comparison with that but I did like what I saw. Definitely well worth a watch for any horror fan; or even if you just want to be entertained; it’ll do that too!

SteelMonster’s verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.7/10.

IMDb Score: 7.0/10 (based on 42,734 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142977/

MetaScore: 74/100: (Based on 38 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 87/100 (based on 199 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 71/100 (based on 61,365 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/frankenweenie_2012/

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http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankenweenieukandireland?brand_redir=1
Official Site: http://www.disney.co.uk/frankenweenie/#
Trailer:

Film Review: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)

Co-Writer/Director: Tim Burton
Writer: Caroline Thompson (Story/Screenplay) & Tim Burton (Story)
Running time: 105 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

Genre: Fantasy/Drama/Romance
UK Release date: 26^th July 1991

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 31^st December 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

To me, this is one of Tim Burton’s finest works; I must admit I have been less than impressed with his more recent offerings, but he was bang on form the day he came up with this one! A modern fairytale set in what appears to be 1950’s American suburbia; everything about it is almost perfect. Everything from the music by Danny Elfman to the effects by Stan Winston is brilliantly done and works so well together. But I digress, here’s a brief summary before I heap more praise on this wonderful film.

When housewife, and Avon lady, Peg Boggs decides to visit the big ruined house on the hill, she comes back with more than she expected. There she finds a young man, Edward, who, for some inexplicable reason, has scissors for hands. We are told, in flashback, how this came to be; the inventor had made him that way but had sadly died before he could complete his work. Edward is soon the talk of the neighbourhood and when it is discovered that he can do brilliant topiary (hedge clipping) and even cut and style hair, he becomes a bit of a celebrity. He soon grows a fondness for Peg’s daughter, Kim, who is going out with local rich kid, Jim. He’s a bit of a bully and things are about to turn a bit nasty for Edward. I will leave my summary here or the Spoiler Police will send me back to that draughty house on the hill (again).

I love the look and feel of this film; everything seems to fit in the world Burton has created perfectly. With no CGI I think the effects are really great, I’m still trying to figure out how some of it was done! Excellent performances all round and so honourable mentions go to; Johnny Depp as Edward, Winona Ryder as Kim, Dianne Wiest, who I think was really great as Peg, Anthony Michael Hall as Jim, Kathy Baker as Joyce, Alan Arkin as Bill and in one of his last roles, Vincent Price as The Inventor.

There is a lot about this film to like, and much I have mentioned already. On the downside though, I did find the plot a little predictable in that there had to be a bad guy, a damsel in distress and a sacrifice. This is the only thing that lets it down. I really like this film and would love to give it a higher score, but I guess the studio had its say in the end. But it’s not all that bad; it still comes very highly recommended from me.

My score: 8.9/10

IMDb Score: 8.0/10 (based on 143,869 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0099487/

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 91/100 (based on 54 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 63/100 (based on 939,836 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/edward_scissorhands/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Peg Boggs: Why are you hiding back there? You don't have to hide from me - I'm Peg Boggs, your local Avon representative and I'm as harmless as cherry pie...
[sees Edward come toward her]
Peg Boggs: Oh - I can see that I've disturbed you. I'll just be going now...
Edward: Don't go.
Peg Boggs: [sees his scissor hands] Oh, my. What happened to you?
Edward: I'm not finished.

Esmerelda: It's not heaven he's from! It's straight from the stinking flames of hell! The power of Satan is in him, I can feel it. Can't you? Have you poor sheep strayed so far from the path?
Edward: We're not sheep.
Esmerelda: Don't come near me!

Bill: So Edward, did you have a productive day?
Edward: Mrs Monroe showed me where the salon's going to be.
[turns to Peg]
Edward: You could have a cosmetics counter.
Peg Boggs: Oh, wouldn't that be great!
Bill: Great.
Edward: And then she showed me the back room where she took all of her clothes off.
[everyone stares, Kevin snickers]

[last lines]
Kim: You see, before he came down here, it never snowed. And afterwards, it did. If he weren't up there now... I don't think it would be snowing. Sometimes you can still catch me dancing in it.

LINKS:
Trailer:

Film Review: ALICE IN WONDERLAND (2010)

Director: Tim Burton
Running time: 105 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): PG

UK release date: 5th March 2010

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 1st January 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have never seen the 1951 Disney animated feature which tells the story of Alice’s first trip to Wonderland. You see, she has grown up now and this film tells the story of her second set of adventures in Wonderland. I’ll give you a brief summary before I tell you my thoughts (summary haters please tell me why A Raven is like a Writing Desk… It’s been bothering me all day…).

Alice is now nineteen and it has been arranged that she shall marry Hamish, the son of a Lord, but she is not really interested in marriage. It is decided that he will propose to her publicly at a party thrown by his family. The unpretentious Alice is distracted as the big moment arrives and finds herself compelled to follow a white rabbit just as he comes out with the words. As you might guess, the rabbit disappears down a hole and is soon followed by Alice. Having made herself the right size by drinking a potion, she enters Wonderland, a place that looks kind of familiar, but she can’t place from where. Here she meets many characters, including the Mad Hatter, The Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen. At first there is some debate as to whether she is the right Alice, and she has reservations herself. You see, if she is the right Alice, then she must perform a very heroic task and she’s not sure she’s up to doing that. I really don’t want to give it away, so I’ll leave Alice down the rabbit hole for now.

This is unmistakably a Tim Burton film. All the quirks and outlandishness that mark his style of filmmaking in abundance. It is beautifully made with great attention to detail. I saw the 2D version which, I’m told by those who know about these things, is better than the 3D cut. Great performances all round, particularly from; Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Mia Wasikowska as Alice, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. I should also give honourable mentions to Crispin Glover as Stayne - Knave of Hearts, Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and the voice talents of; Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit, Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat, Alan Rickman as the Blue Caterpillar, Barbara Windsor as the Dormouse, Paul Whitehouse as the March Hare and Timothy Spall as Bayard.

Although this film is beautifully made with some great performances, I found it ultimately unsatisfying. I think because I know the story quite well the awe and wonder of seeing it for the first time is lost and that detracts from the viewer’s enjoyment. There are some great comic moments and some truly magical scenes, but as a whole it kind of lacked something for me. It’s worth seeing, but I wouldn’t rush to buy the DVD… even so, recommended.

My score: 6.4/10

LINKS:
IMDb Page: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/
Official Site: http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/aliceinwonderland/
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/imdb/vi975438873/

Film Review: BEETLE JUICE (1988)

Director: Tim Burton
Running time: 92 mins (approx)
Certificate (UK): 15

UK Release Date: 19th August 1988

Watched on DVD Sunday 31st May 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I know this is a pretty old film, but believe it or not, I had never seen it before. It’s one of those that somehow managed to escape me. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it when it’s been on TV, but this is the first time I’ve sat down and watched it all the way through. I’ll admit to being a bit of a fan of Tim Burton’s work over the years and so I was keen to have a look at this one.

Adam and Barbara Maitland Live in a beautiful country house that they have decorated themselves. When they die in an accident they return to the house as ghosts. To their horror, the house is bought by a couple from New York, Charles and Delia Deetz, who move in with Charles’ daughter Lydia. Delia considers herself an artist and, with the help of her friend Otho, proceeds to re-model the house. The Maitland’s are now really distressed, what with coming to terms with being dead as well, it’s all proving a bit much. Lydia can see the ghosts and, after talking for a while, the Maitland’s take a liking to her. Help is at hand in the guise of the crazy spirit known as Beetlejuice. But the Maitland’s, at first try to scare the Deetz family away themselves. This all goes wrong when they are enthralled by their efforts and want more! Can Beetlejuice save the day? Guess you’ll have to watch it to find out.

Although it looks quite dated by today’s standards, this is unmistakably a Tim Burton film. A lot of stop-motion animation is used for the special effects which reminded me of the much later Corpse Bride from 2005. Decent performances from all of the main cast, Alec Baldwin as Adam Maitland, Geena Davis as Barbara Maitland, Catherine O'Hara as Delia Deetz, Jeffrey Jones as Charles Deetz, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Glenn Shadix as Otho. And, of course, a special mention for Michael Keaton who was great as the mad-cap Beetlejuice.

A pretty entertaining film with some nice touches. It looks a little dated now but it still works. It has the unmistakable mark of Tim Burton and will always be synonymous with Michael Keaton’s portrayal of the over-the-top Beetlejuice. Over all, good stuff, if a little dated: Recommended.

My score: 6.4/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0094721/
Official Site: N/A
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi2800222489/

Film Review: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)

Director: Henry Selick
Producer & Writer: Tim Burton
Running time: 6 mins (approx)
Certificate (UK): PG

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 20th December 2009.

PLEASE NOTE: POSSIBLE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I was flicking channels this morning when I noticed that ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ was coming on next on one particular channel. Quickly I set my trusty Sky+ box to record. And so late this afternoon I settled down to watch this wonderful film that I have seen just once before. It was great to watch it again and even better than the first time I watched it!

Here’s a quick summary: Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town is a bit disenchanted with the whole Halloween thing. He goes for a walk in the woods with his dog and they come across a grove of trees with strange symbols on their trunks, like doors. Intrigued with the door that looks like a decorated fir tree he opens it and is transported to Christmas Town. There he is enchanted with the whole idea of Christmas and a plan starts to form. Halloween Town would make Christmas their own next year with Jack playing the role of Santa. He gets the Mayor to organise all the ghosts, ghouls, vampires and various creatures of the night to make presents and he gets Sally to make his costume, although she has misgivings about the whole affair. For the plan to work they must kidnap Santa Claus and he selects Lock, Stock and Barrel for this task, although they are in league with the evil Oogie Boogie. With preparations all made and Santa safely tucked away, Jack sets off to distribute joy and presents to the world… or so he thinks…

As I said at the beginning, I found this film both enchanting and wonderful. From the imagination of Tim Burton I guess we could expect no less. Everything from the way the animation is done to the many songs, it was quite a wild ride, but one well worth taking! Great performances from the voice talents of Danny Elfman as Jack Skellington (singing) / Barrel / Clown with the Tear away Face, Chris Sarandon as Jack Skellington (speaking), Catherine O'Hara as Sally / Shock, William Hickey as Dr. Finkelstein, Glenn Shadix as Mayor, Paul Reubens as Lock, Ken Page as Oogie Boogie and Edward Ivory as Santa.

Over all, a truly magical journey through a really strange take on Christmas, but one that will leave you most satisfied. If you haven’t seen it before I can highly recommend it, but maybe not for the very young though.

My score: 8/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0107688/
Official Site: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney site)
Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK/video/screenplay/vi2168717337/

Film Review: 9 (2009)

Director: Shane Acker
Running time: 79 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A

Watched at the cinema Saturday 31st October 2009.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

Set in a post apocalyptic world where all life on Earth has been wiped out by machines, or rather one machine in particular. This film focuses on the efforts of a group of inventions, numbered 1 to 9, who try to redeem the scientist who made both them and the machine that destroyed the world. The machine has been dormant for many years, but one of its progeny, a mechanical cat-like creature protects its lair and takes anything that moves into the lair.

9 was the last of the scientist’s inventions, but he didn’t have time to animate him before he died. All of the previous inventions, 1 to 8 had already been released into the world. So we begin with 9 falling to the floor and becoming sentient. He explores his surroundings, the remains of the scientist’s lab, and finds a small device that he seems to think is important. He looks outside to see another like himself, but he is unable to call out, so he goes outside, taking the device with him, where he eventually finds 2 who gives him a voice. 2 tells him of the war, and how the machines had wiped out all life, apart from the 9. At this point they are attacked by ‘the cat’ who takes both 2 and the device back to its lair. 9 is now alone again, but is found by 5, who takes him back to the sanctuary where 1, 6 and 8 also live. 9 persuades 5 to help him go after 2. They battle with ‘the cat’, which is finally destroyed by 7, who luckily turns up at the last minute. 9 finds a socket that the device fits into, unfortunately, that socket is on ‘the machine’! This is where things get pretty intense for our heroes.

A beautifully made film with, I thought, a wonderful visual style. Decent performances from the voice talents of Christopher Plummer as 1, Martin Landau as 2, John C. Reilly as 5 Crispin Glover as 6, Jennifer Connelly as 7, Fred Tatasciore as 8 and the radio announcer and Elijah Wood as 9. The film did have some quite scary moments and some of the themes were quite grown up, so I wouldn’t recommend it for small children. The producers include Tim Burton, whose work I shouldn’t have to mention and Timur Bekmambetov, who has previously worked on Wanted (2008), Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006). Given the pedigree of some of those involved, I expected a better film than the one I saw. Don’t get me wrong, it’s well worth the admission fee, but I feel it could have been so much better.

My score: 6.8/10

LINKS:
IMDb Site: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0472033/
Official Site: http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/9/splash/

Trailer: http://uk.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1213137433/