By Philip Ellwood, Monday 24th October 2005
‘Corpse Bride‘ is Tim Burton‘s latest animation offering following the success of the cult film ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas‘ in 1993. Expectations for the movie are very high and it has been widely reported that the film is a real treat for Burton fans.
The film centres on Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), a shy young man who is being married off to a supposedly wealthy young lady, Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson) by his parents. After stumbling his way through the wedding rehersal Victor decides to practive his vows in privacy and heads to the nearby woods. As he recites his vows Victor accidentally slips a wedding ring onto the finger of a corpse, mistaking it for a twig, bringing her back to life. The problem is the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham-Carter) thinks Victor has married her and takes him down to the Underworld.
‘Corpse Bride‘ is classic Burton. It‘s a winning formula of comedy and macabre with a musical twist thrown in for good measure. The animation is breathtaking. It‘s as far away from the colourful world of ‘Wallace & Gromit‘ as humanly possible. The world of the Corpse Bride brings the only bright colours to the screen and provides a stark contrast to the world Victor originates from.
The voice cast do a fantastic job. Joanna Lumley is perfectly cast as the icy Maudeline Everglot and Johnny Depp, Emily Watson and Helena Bonham-Carter all prove their versatility. Johnny Depp‘s working relationship with Tim Burton has always been a cinematic treat and this film is another example of why movie-lovers enjoy the pairing.
‘Corpse Bride‘ is a confident, magical tale and is a must for families. Some may find the random bursting into song moments a bit too bizarre but stick with it as the film is ultimately a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Cast
Director - Tim Burton
Distributor - Warner Bros
Certificate - PG
UK Release Date - Friday 21st October 2005
Celebrities Worldwide Rating - 9 out of 10
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
