 The
Corpse Bride
Starring
the voices of: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson
Directed
by: Tim Burton and Mike Johnson
Music by Elfman Bluntly
speaking? The Corpse Bride is out-of-this-world original. Once again
director Tim Burton, along with co-director Mike Johnson here, with their merry
band of artisans have created a world askew to view. Based on a Russian tale of
lore Burton and the gang bring these dolls, these inanimate characters, via stop-action
as with Nightmare Before Christmas, bounding to the screen. These little
folks invite us into a Goreyesque Dickensian world peppered with Burton's signature
style of macabre humor and Elfman's musical operatic commingling. Bravo. Story
goes… Victor Van Dort (Voiced by Johnny Depp) comes from a rather snobbish
social climbing family of fish peddlers. (Voiced by Tracey Ullman and Paul Whitehouse).
These two misplaced prioritizers desperately want their sweet and gentle son married
off - they want a title, even though they have amassed a fortune - everything
must go to plan… While
the bride to be aristocrat, Victoria Everglot (Voiced by Emily Watson), is also
in a parental quandary - she had always hoped she'd actually love the man
she was to wed. But, alas, her slithering bitter-faced parents (Voiced by Joanna
Lumley and Albert Finney) - who have fancy titles yet no fortune - a secret they'd
rather the Van Dort's did not learn about until their lovely girl is betrothed…even
if to the dreaded nouveau-riche. The
eve of the big day, Victor needs some post humilation-at-the-rehearsal-place space.
He ventures into the woods out-of-town. While practicing his nuptials among the
woodworm and cherry oak he accidentally weds a corpse (Voiced by Helena Bonham
Carter). Oh dear, such a dreadful social faux pas, what with him expected at the
alter to be wed in the morn and all… The
Corpse Bride could not be happier…the poor dear had been murdered and on
the eve of her wedding and - finally - her groom -a groom - has come. She
whisks her handsome new beau to the underworld, the Land of the Dead, to meet
her dedicated, if decaying, group of friends. The bewildered Victor has no idea
how to mend his horrible error; this shot gun marriage - but he sure doesn't want
to hurt the girl - either of them… En
route to a remarkably original ending, we are gloriously entertained with an instant
classic unfolding before our eyes. There's a nod to Mr. Peter Lorre, a bazillion
plays on the humor of the dead, and the usual sprinkle of wonder we've come to
expect from Burton's mind's eye. Master puppet creators Mackinnon and Saunders
and Director of photography Pete Kozachik were charged with bringing the multitude
of characters - both living and dead - from Burton's drawings to life. The "puppets"
had to have flowing movements, waving costumes, intimate expressions, truly an
epic undertaking from a production stand point, and by Jove they've done it! Once
again raising the bar for the world of film and stop-action. Enjoy.
Snack
recommendation: Nadda - you don't want any "chewing noise" interferring
with your visual and audio enjoyment here. | 
