Corpse Bride (PG) [3.5 Stars]

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

The long awaited sequel to Vincent (1982) & The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is finally here!...well...not really a sequel...more like a cousin of the first 2 Stop Motion movies. Since Beetlejuice (1988), there isn't a Tim Burton's movie that I dislike & *Yes~* that includes ED Wood (1994), Planet of the Apes (2001), Mars Attack (1996)! He's an real Artist! *ok~ n'uff butt kissin'~ on with the show~ Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), a young man who was about to marry Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson) in an arranged marriage. Due to the pressures from the folks & fear of under-perform, Victor fled the wedding vow rehearsal & into the woods he went. There, he accidentally wedded the mysterious Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham-Carter), this is when the fun begins!

A rather short Dark Comic Musical in the tradition of NBC (The Nightmare before X'mas)...though there's only 4 songs...composer Danny Elfman didn't disappoint me.

What I really like about this movie beside its production design, photography, stop motion animation, songs & scores is the way Tim Burton depict the difference between the Land of the Living & the Land of the Dead.

 Land of the Living  - Strict, conservative, selfish, greedy, evil, ignorant & boring. Very much like here. Dull & Gray is the colour scheme Burton used for this world.

 Land of the Dead  - On the other hand is ironically bright, colourful & cheery! The Deads are Carefree, Happy, Wise, Helpful & Caring. Maybe the deads are happy 'coz they have no possession, therefor nothing to lose; also, they're freed from the fear of death as well as all the unnecessary pressures of the world above. Seems like only when we let everything go, then we can truly be happy. I kinda agree...but easier said than done.

Many think that this is a kid flick. Hello!!! *slap them on their heads~* Life, life after death, love, responsibilities, promises & commitments are not subjects that stupid kids can comprehen... Likewise for many so-called adults who very often hastily said "I do".

If Jack Sparrow is the reason you wanna watch this movie, save it till 2006. Johnny Depp didn't even sound like himself. He did a good job sounded very Victor Van Dort'ish', just as every other cast on the show.

To me, Corpse Bride is not as good as NBC but overall, Tim Burton still kept his standard. This is one of his top work I'd say.

Director: Michael Johnson, Tim Burton
Writer(s): Caroline Thompson, Pamela Pettler
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Joanna Lumley, Christopher Lee

1 star for Tim Burton, 1 for Danny Elfman, 1 for the Stop Motion Animators & 1/2 for the Dead World.

Click here (warning: contains spoilers) for some samples of the songs & scores from Corpse Bride.