Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005)

"But you've been dead for almost 15 years!"

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

Although this humorous quote was certainly not intended to, it describes this film brilliantly. Stop-Motion, or the politically incorrect term clay-animation, is a style of animation that I am very fond of. It involves the painstaking task of capturing images, and placing them together to cause the illusion that the puppets are moving on their own. (Remember: approximately 24 images per a second is required for the fluid movement shown in this film.) In total, there were 109,000,440 frames shot in this film. Tim Burton's newest film, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride revives the stop motion industry after it has lied dormant for almost 15 years. Despite the fact that this film was not done with the modern style of CG, audiences did not "give a damn" as the film ranked high in the box office. The most first full length stop-motion film was Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), which had much hope for being the "new form of animation". However, it stopped dead on it's feet, and was only slightly revived with Chicken Run (2000), knocking the total of stop-motion films to a grand total of 2. (James and the Giant Peach (1996) does not count, as it is not a full length stop-motion film.) With a false prediction before, many critics believe that stop-motion will rise from the dead, as two full-length movies are being done in stop-motion this year.

Corpse Bride is based on a Russian, Jewish folktale in which a man mistakenly marries a corpse. (how he is that dim-witted, don't ask me) The folktale is centers around the anti-Semitism of the time, and how Jewish brides were murdered on the way to the wedding to prevent the continuation of the Jewish race (I am so glad they failed). In the folktale, the corpse bride is one of these unfortunate brides who were murdered, which gives this folktale an interesting and dark thrill. However, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride lacks the moral that is included in the original folktale. This is my biggest disappointment to the film, and my only. The fact that this film is based on a folktale should not discourage anyone from seeing it, for Tim Burton has replaced many of the old themes and replaced them with his own. New to the story now are dreaded in-laws, parents, and even a dead dog. Not to mention the amazing visuals Tim Burton's Corpse Bride offers is to 'die for'.

Victor (Johnny Depp) is a horrible klutz who has an uncanny ability to mess everything up. The protagonist is due to be wed to Victoria (Emily Watson), and everyone is excited, except Victor himself. The in-laws are in need of the money that will gained by wedding their daughter away, his parents are ecstatic over their ascension in society, and Victoria is happy to share her life with Victor. Victor, on the other hand, is nervous about everything, and to make matters worse finds himself in a 'grave' predicament. While practicing his vows (to a stick) he by accident marries a corpse (that really wasn't a stick). His new bride takes him to the land of the dead, where everything is explained to Victor in, of course, a song sung by Danny Elfman. The film continues with the struggles of both marriages, a field trip of the dead to the 'upstairs' (which is where the quote comes from), and even an evil character.

Tim Burton's characteristic dark feel to the film adds much to the themes discussed. For the main theme of life and death, an average director would display the living to be lively, and the dead to be . . . dead. However, Tim Burton completely takes you by surprise and reverses this. In the living world, everything is dull, boring, and (almost literally) black and white. However, in the land of the dead, there is bright, neon colors, and dancing skeletons! As stated in one of the TV spots, "this is the party of your afterlife". Even in the wedding scenes, one can see the difference between the worlds. The 'living' cake is minute (really, really minute), while the 'dead' cake is gigantic! Another comparison of the dead to the living, involves that of a broom. In the opening, a [living] man is seen with a broom, sweeping monotonously in sync with that of 5 clock pendulums. However, later in the film, a dead man is seen sweeping with much more enthusiasm and not restricted by the rules of the pendulum swing. Viewing these points in Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, the theme comes to be seen that the dead are more free (and lively) then that of the living.

Tim Burton continues this theme of freedom throughout the film also. In the beginning, Victor is seen releasing a butterfly, giving it freedom. Interestingly enough, the butterfly soars through the main credits, being swatted and swiped at by many of the living characters of the film. This shows the living's affinity for freedom, and that rules constrain all of them down. Even music, a freedom in itself, is restricted by Victoria's mother, who sees it as an uncivilized trait. Towards the end of the film, when the Corpse Bride realizes that she has been set free by Victor, she faces upwards towards the moon, and in an extreme low angle transforms into hundreds of butterflies. The butterflies represents freedom, and the low angle supports this by showing she will go to a higher, better place (let your religion determine the rest).

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride is a wonderful treat for all ages. The visual effects of the film will sweep you off your feet (if you're standing), it's songs will enchant you, and the humor in it will even make you chuckle. Of course, Tim Burton includes his twisted views of the world, of the dead, and of Napoleon. The themes shown in the film are not excellent topics, but the way they are shown is excellent. As a film lover, a stop-motion lover, and a Tim Burton fan, (note the absence of lover) I suggest seeing this film, as not seeing it would be grave mistake.

*Although this is not included the film, I thought I should mention the audience ERUPTED in applause for the new Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) trailer, but there was only three clappers for the end of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (myself included)*