tim boredom and the art of old hat ~

[lookingland]

it's no secret that i don't like tim burton's work. Edward Scissorhands will always remain the one film of his that i can get behind because in its time it was original and so freakishly "out" there that it had a sort of charm. And the character was charming himself (charmingly played by mr. depp), and the story was a nice re-envisioning of the frankenstein myth.

but burton's never done anything really worth much since. and i've watched nearly all of his films just to avoid being an: "i-hate-that-and-won't-watch-it-snob". throughout his career i've found myself offended (Ed Wood is a truly insulting movie, i think), bored (pretty much take your pick, they all leave me cold), or just flabbergasted and exasperated (Legend of Sleepy Hollow: great special effects, horrendous casting and the worst screenplay based on the ol' standby i have ever seen ~ yuck!)

nevertheless, i finally got around to seeing Corpse Bride, another mind-boggling foray into that murky world between "what the hell?" and "who cares?"

The premise is interesting, but the plot devolves into a facile good vs. bad thing, the characters are largely wooden and uninteresting (the bride is about the most lively thing on there), the songs are boring, the overall effect of the design is mostly gloomy and dull.

on the plus side, i appreciate that this was all shot in stop-motion, an art form i love and much much much prefer over computer-generated animation. but it still hangs like old moss, the story is buried under a lot of antics that are merely distractionary, and most of the characters you just want to go away the minute they appear on the screen (especially the maggot homage to peter lorré ~ barfola). somehow, in spite of superb art direction and lovely designs, this film is just flat flat flat.

i'd say more, but even though i just finished watching it, i've already forgotten most of it. burton's world and rawling's world are both of similar ilk to me: highly derivative, dependent on a set of cultural assumptions, and so over-stylized that nothing grounds you in a way that makes you care about what's going on.

so there you have it. another thumbs-down from me for burton.



this piano-playing scene was the
only moment in the film i really liked
though overall, i guess i can say the movie
at least didn't make me wish i were dead

Comments

[utter-scoundrel.livejournal.com]

He's hot/cold for me. Mostly cold. Sleepy Hollow - forgettable (except Chris Walken). Big Fish - charming. Planet of the Apes - completely unforgiveable.

He did cast the best actor to play Bruce Wayne, though.

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

just barely. the only batman movie i'd watch again would be the new one ~ even if what's his name's head is shaped funny.

: D

[ladyazure.livejournal.com]

I hate repeat offenders when it comes to movies. Mel gibson has unfortunately become that way for me...I find his movies boring and lack-luster and just not worth the effort to see. (Even his one where he hears what women are thinking...I don't know..it lacked something...)

Tim Burton has always been hit or miss with me. I loved "Nightmare Before Christmas" but really only liked the Second Batman. I loved "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" but I'm going to blame that on the fact that when we saw it, it was at the free theater on base because that was all we could afford, and we actuall had a babysitter for the might, which was almost unheard of back then. I associate the movie with freedom, I think, which adds to the delight..."Ed Wood" I couldn't sit through, "Edward Scissorhands" I liked, but now, I just get irritated with it.

I haven't really seen a whole lot of his movies since then, to be honest...It's rather like Neil Gaiman. I love his Sandman stuff, but now, I just sit and try to find out who he's stealing from...

And there's nothing wrong with being a "i-hate-that-and-won't-watch-it-snob". Taste means something...;)

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

well i refuse to watch the Chocolate Factory, so i guess there's my little rebellion in the mix. ha!

i feel the same way about gaimen ~ bleh. great talent, wasted content. i'm so tired of his junk i can't be bothered to waste my time hoping it will be better. a movie only takes an hour or so of your life. a book will suck more than that.

: o p

[lastremnant.livejournal.com]

haha, I also sort of refuse to watch Chocolate Factory just because I am too stuck on the original with Gene Wilder. There is only one Gene Wilder and he was great as Wonka...probably also the reason why I doubt I'll see the new Producers either. I just can't see anyone else playing the parts other than Wilder and Mostel. :)

[sparowe]

I've never been a huge fan of his... I just didn't like Edward Scissorhands for whatever reason, never got to see Sleepy Hollow, and don't share the raves that The Nightmare Before Christmas engendered among my friends. The funny thing is, I did enjoy The Corpse Bride... it was good, if not spectacular. But when I found myself considering buying the DVD? I realized that I was doing it for the memories that I had of going to see the movie with the troupe. *shakes head* I'm odd.

oh yeah? ;-)

[inkidink.livejournal.com]

I like him. :-P'''''

I haven't seen everything he's done--I have no interest in Sleepy Hollow and I haven't see The Corpse Bride yet. I don't think everything I've seen is great. I didn't like Ed Wood (but I wasn't bored).
I loved Edward Scissorhands and Nightmare Before Christmas--really liked his Batman movie ...I won't see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory just because I detest Dahl and particularly that story.

Maybe I'm just an "old hat" kind of old bag hahahahhahaha