RyMickey
Disney Freak
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2000
- Messages
- 3,264
I remember seeing "Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas" when I was thirteen. Coming out of the theater, I remember loving this film from the get-go. The music. The story. The beautiful (and unique to me) animation. Every year I watch "Nightmare" at least twice - usually around Halloween and Christmas.
Unfortunately, "Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride" is no "Nightmare." Granted, "Corpse" isn't bad, but it's no Nightmare. The problem with the film is that it is so similar in tone and style to Nightmare that it inevitably begs for comparison between the two -- and the comparison plays highly in Nightmare's favor.
As the film begins, Poor Victoria Everglot (voiced by Emily Watson) is being forced to marry Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) because her family, broke and miserable, is in need of the Van Dort family's money. Upon first glance, the two fall in love, although they are admittedly nervous about getting married. That trepidation causes Victor to run off into the woods when he forgets his vows at a wedding rehearsal. It is in those woods where he accidentally places a ring on the finger of the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) and is transported to the world of the dead. Will Victor fall for the Corpse Bride or will he long to be with Victoria?
And that's it. The entire story. Short. Simple. And only 75 minutes long. Unfortunately, that 75 minutes doesn't feel like it goes by so quickly. Like I said before, the comparisons to Nightmare are inevitable because of the similarities in style and tone. And because of those similarities, the film looks great. Nightmare looked great and in twelve years, there have certainly been improvements in the way this "claymation"-style animation is created. That being said, it almost looks too perfect. "Nightmare" has that unpolished look to it, and this looks too good (all right -- that's kinda silly, I know, but it's what I was thinking when I was watching it).
The music - also not nearly as good as Nightmare. I always thought Nightmare would make a wonderful Broadway-style musical, but in this one, the four songs fall flat. The flick would've been better without them, I thought.
The story just lacks something, too. Nothing really happens in the story. The mystery of the Corpse Bride is so easily solved from the get-go that it seems unnecessary. The underworld in The Corpse Bride can't hold a candle to Halloweentown in Nightmare and the residents of the former can't compare to the latter.
That being said, the voice acting is wonderful (I'm a sucker for a British accent). Depp is quite good, but Watson and Bonham Carter really shine. The two female leads are perfectly cast - creating much emotion through their voices. Danny Elfman is also quite good as Bonejangles.
Perhaps it's unfair to compare Nightmare and Corpse Bride, but when reviewing movies, one is inevitably going to compare, especially when they are of the genre. I know many will love this film, but it just didn't do a thing for me. Unfortunately, Corpse Bride is no Nightmare Before Christmas - it's not even close.
The RyMickey Rating: C-
Unfortunately, "Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride" is no "Nightmare." Granted, "Corpse" isn't bad, but it's no Nightmare. The problem with the film is that it is so similar in tone and style to Nightmare that it inevitably begs for comparison between the two -- and the comparison plays highly in Nightmare's favor.
As the film begins, Poor Victoria Everglot (voiced by Emily Watson) is being forced to marry Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) because her family, broke and miserable, is in need of the Van Dort family's money. Upon first glance, the two fall in love, although they are admittedly nervous about getting married. That trepidation causes Victor to run off into the woods when he forgets his vows at a wedding rehearsal. It is in those woods where he accidentally places a ring on the finger of the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter) and is transported to the world of the dead. Will Victor fall for the Corpse Bride or will he long to be with Victoria?
And that's it. The entire story. Short. Simple. And only 75 minutes long. Unfortunately, that 75 minutes doesn't feel like it goes by so quickly. Like I said before, the comparisons to Nightmare are inevitable because of the similarities in style and tone. And because of those similarities, the film looks great. Nightmare looked great and in twelve years, there have certainly been improvements in the way this "claymation"-style animation is created. That being said, it almost looks too perfect. "Nightmare" has that unpolished look to it, and this looks too good (all right -- that's kinda silly, I know, but it's what I was thinking when I was watching it).
The music - also not nearly as good as Nightmare. I always thought Nightmare would make a wonderful Broadway-style musical, but in this one, the four songs fall flat. The flick would've been better without them, I thought.
The story just lacks something, too. Nothing really happens in the story. The mystery of the Corpse Bride is so easily solved from the get-go that it seems unnecessary. The underworld in The Corpse Bride can't hold a candle to Halloweentown in Nightmare and the residents of the former can't compare to the latter.
That being said, the voice acting is wonderful (I'm a sucker for a British accent). Depp is quite good, but Watson and Bonham Carter really shine. The two female leads are perfectly cast - creating much emotion through their voices. Danny Elfman is also quite good as Bonejangles.
Perhaps it's unfair to compare Nightmare and Corpse Bride, but when reviewing movies, one is inevitably going to compare, especially when they are of the genre. I know many will love this film, but it just didn't do a thing for me. Unfortunately, Corpse Bride is no Nightmare Before Christmas - it's not even close.
The RyMickey Rating: C-
The story is interesting enough, but so VERY predictable....and some things were just , well, hokey. BUT....we did enjoy it, it is short, so I recommend a matinee if possible....much cheaper. Also, not much of a reaction in the theater by the other folks who saw it, not much chatter afterwards. A few parallell characters to NBC...
