Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride

Actually saw this in the movie theatre as a date with my wife.

Kinda makes you wonder what kind of couple we are, doesn't it? Actually, a lot more caring than if our idea of a romantic movie was House of Wax (which I haven't seen but when I do I'll let y'all know, ok?)

Be that as it may: both of us loved The Nightmare Before Christmas, which to this day, and even though this movie, remains Tim Burton's all-around best film - make no bones about it.

But the Corpse Bride has some of the same charming elements that made Nightmare so good. Mainly the characters: the Bride (who I thought was Helena Bonham Carter and my wife thought was Angelina Jolie - a bet which I won, thankyouverymuch!), Victor (Johnny Depp), and Victoria (Emily Watson) - voices all. But there are no unlikable characters, except for the mean-spirited parents of both our heroes.

Plus, wasn't Victor/Victoria a movie in the early 80's? I think there is a subtle homage here, but since I don't remember the film I couldn't exactly say what it is. Something for you to research there, dear friends.

The only detraction I found from the movie was . . . well, that it simply wasn't Nightmare Before Christmas. Which is really a terrible thing to do to a movie, you know, because you should be able to grade it on it's own merits, but with Tim Burton, you just can't help it. But let's try anyway . . .

the stop-motion animation is supurb. The jokes about maggots in eye sockets are anticipated and not terribly overblown, thanks! And we get the point with the "live people" living in a completely colourless world and the "dead zone" being completely lit up like some sort of cabaret. The obvious effect here being that the dead are more vibrant than the living . . . and I'm not giving anything away here because that was quite obvious and slightly overdone.

Oh yeah! I forgot the REAL bad guy, the one who marries for money then kills . . . sorry if that's a spoiler but it's not giving too much away, because I figured it out when I first saw the character, and trust me - if VERBLE G can figure out a plot line in advance then it's more transparent than clean air!!

However, there is a satisfying conclusion, and everything gets set right.

Overall, my wife and I liked the movie, but as I said before, the comparisons remain and it doesn't measure up. It just reminded me that I need to rent James and the Giant Peach sometime and see how that one goes. Just say a little prayer that I can grade THAT one on its merits alone.

VG

P.S. Warner Bros, 2005