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What better way to kick off October’s Je t’adore Jeudi than to talk about my undying affection for Tim Burton. He is my favorite director by far. I find myself getting so excited when he has a new movie coming out (Frankenweenie eeek!). I love the dark, twisted, beautiful imagery of his film style. I also think its really cool that he works with a company of actors. A lot of people get on his case for casting Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in all of his movies and to them I just want to say back off. First off Johnny Depp is amazing. I think he does some of his best work in Burton movies (Sweeney Todd, Edwards Scissorhands, Ed Wood...Come on!). And secondly Helena Bonham Carter is his life partner, like he’s not going to cast her in stuff. Plus who better could you think to play any of the roles she has other than her? Did you know he made her go through a more rigerous audition process than everyone else because he didn’t want people to think she got the role just because she was his girlfriend?! Crazy.Okay so in tradition of my usual Je t’adore Jeudi’s I will count down my top 5 favorite Burton movies.
5. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
First of all we need to get this straight once and for all this one is a definite Christmas movie. I know there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to Burton movies, everyone wants to watch them on Halloween because they’re ghouly and dark, but this is and Nightmare are special cases. This is a Christmas movie. Ok end rant. I picked Edward because it is the first movie I ever remember seeing Johnny Depp in as a kid. This movie had a real impact on me. I love how it goes from the stark, dark factory to the bright, vibrant colors of the town. Also fun fact when I was a kid the factory scenes used to scare the crap out of me.
4. Beetlejuice (1988)
If you haven’t seen this movie, watch it. It’s hilarious. It has such a fantastic cast. As a little girl I always wanted to be Lydia. I don’t know why since she’s all dark and twisty and hangs out with ghosts all the time but I did I thought she was cool. Also if you have seen this do you remember the cartoon?! I loved the cartoon. This is also one of the few Burton movies that doesn’t have Johnny in it. It is the second one with Winona Ryder on the list though... oh Crazy Beth.
3. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Sleepy Hollow is one of my favorite stories of all time, up there with Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland, so I was really excited when I saw that it was going to become a live action movie, being eleven at the time I didn’t really know anything about director’s yet so the fact that Tim Burton directed it became a perk way later. This is such a cool adaptation of the tale, it really takes a life of its own. Eleven year old me... who am I kidding me in general is also really loves it because Katrina is Christina Ricci and she was like my idol growing up (Now and Then, Casper, Adams Family... amazing have them all). Plus Johnny Depp is such a fabulous Ichabod that I don’t think I could have cast it better myself.
2. Sweeney Todd (2007)
I’m going to burned at the stake by the theatre community for saying this but I hadn’t seen and still haven’t seen the original Sondheim musical... However I love this one. I love the music. I love the cast. I love the black, white, gray, and red undertones. I just love it. This may change one day when I see the original musical but as for right now that is where I stand and this is how I feel.
1. Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Ok if you don’t love this movie we can’t be friends... sorry... but it’s just not going to work. I have an unhealthy obsession with this movie and it’s score (Danny Elfman you are a genius!). I mean come on, Jack the Pumpkin King, Sally (Catherine O’Hara!), Oogie Boogie!!! (Fun fact: I got to see him play Audrey II last summer in Little Shop of Horrors at the St. Louis Muny.) I have this movie on VHS and DVD. I have the soundtrack and the Nightmare Revisted soundtrack. I also have random covers people have done of Sally’s Song.... I just love it the most and if you don’t there is something wrong with you.
Fan or not? xoxo.
