Spring Break
Bride Delivers Halloween Fun
Christopher Erat
Issue date: 10/17/05 Section: Entertainment
Tim Burton seems to have a man crush on Johnny Depp. I guess you can't really blame him - Johnny Depp is the man! From his off kilter performances (as in Pirates of the Caribbean and Willy Wonka) to his incredibly heartfelt and touching roles (as in Finding Neverland), this guy can do no wrong.
The latest pairing of Depp and Burton comes in the form of yet another stop-motion animation film: Corpse Bride. With Wallace and Gromit stealing the spotlight as of late, can Corpse Bride compete with its more mature themes and Burton-esque gothic style? The answer - yes. But only if moviegoers give it a chance.
Depp gives his voice to the young, trepid Victor in Bride. Hours before he is to marry the beautiful Victoria (Emily Watson) he unknowingly awakens the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) as he practices his vows deep in the woods outside of his hometown. Soon he finds himself traveling between the world of the living and the world of the dead, trying to escape the clutches of the love hungry Corpse Bride while finding his way back to his beloved Victoria.
Being innocent, artistic, and sincere, Victor is a character we have all seen before but cannot help but love. Perhaps it has something to do with Depp's charismatic voice, or maybe we all love to love cute, artsy characters.
The style of the film is very reminiscent of Burton's previous escapade with stop-motion capture, The Nightmare Before Christmas. This is great news for lovers of the previous film, and not-so-good news for those that found Nightmare too dark and twisted.
However, I found Bride to be much more bearable than Nightmare for several reasons - the musical numbers are fewer in number (and all of them very comical), the plot is simple and intriguing, and the film never seems to drag. Burton combines witty remarks and creative uses of clay animation with exposition to make the whole 76 minute run-time feel seamless.
So, what do you choose for your stop-motion animation fix: Wallace and Gromit or Corpse Bride? Go with both! They each offer a very different cinematic experience and are both suitable for the Halloween season.
The latest pairing of Depp and Burton comes in the form of yet another stop-motion animation film: Corpse Bride. With Wallace and Gromit stealing the spotlight as of late, can Corpse Bride compete with its more mature themes and Burton-esque gothic style? The answer - yes. But only if moviegoers give it a chance.
Depp gives his voice to the young, trepid Victor in Bride. Hours before he is to marry the beautiful Victoria (Emily Watson) he unknowingly awakens the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) as he practices his vows deep in the woods outside of his hometown. Soon he finds himself traveling between the world of the living and the world of the dead, trying to escape the clutches of the love hungry Corpse Bride while finding his way back to his beloved Victoria.
Being innocent, artistic, and sincere, Victor is a character we have all seen before but cannot help but love. Perhaps it has something to do with Depp's charismatic voice, or maybe we all love to love cute, artsy characters.
The style of the film is very reminiscent of Burton's previous escapade with stop-motion capture, The Nightmare Before Christmas. This is great news for lovers of the previous film, and not-so-good news for those that found Nightmare too dark and twisted.
However, I found Bride to be much more bearable than Nightmare for several reasons - the musical numbers are fewer in number (and all of them very comical), the plot is simple and intriguing, and the film never seems to drag. Burton combines witty remarks and creative uses of clay animation with exposition to make the whole 76 minute run-time feel seamless.
So, what do you choose for your stop-motion animation fix: Wallace and Gromit or Corpse Bride? Go with both! They each offer a very different cinematic experience and are both suitable for the Halloween season.