Movie Info
Movie Name: Corpse Bride
Studio: Laika Entertainment
Genre(s): Animated/Horror/Romance/Family
Release Date(s): September 7, 2005 (Venice International Film Festival)/September 23, 2005 (US)/October 13, 2005 (UK)
MPAA Rating: PG
I would marry you Victoria, but I have this whole necrophilia thing going on right now…
Victor Van Dort is preparing for an arranged marriage to Victoria Everglot. Victoria’s parents don’t approve of the union, but it is needed to save the finances of their family. When Victor is unable to remember his vows, he becomes engaged to a corpse named Emily when he accidentally repeats his vows to her. Now Emily wants Victor, but Victor has fallen in love with Victoria. As Victoria prepares to move on with Lord Barkis Bittern and Victor prepares to wed Emily, the truth of Emily’s death resurfaces.
Directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson, Corpse Bride (sometimes called Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride) is based on Jewish folklore. The movie was met with positive reviews and a strong box office return. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature but lost to Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Remember how you loved you’re dog…now he’s a pile of bones…
With James and the Giant Peach and his great film The Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton has demonstrated himself as a unique visionary when it comes to animated films (though he did not direct either of those film). The stop motion used in this movie and the previous movies is amazing. Unlike a CGI film, the movie seems to have so much more depth and texture.
The movie is loaded with great voice actors. Burton of course turns to his mainstays in Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as the leads Victor and Emily with Emily Watson playing Victoria. Victor’s parents are played by Tracey Ullman and Paul Whitehouse with Victoria’s parents being portrayed by Albert Finney and Joanna Lumley. Other voices include Chistopher Lee as Pastor Gallswells, Michael Gough as the deceased Elder Gutknecht, Danny Elfman as Bojangles and Deep Roy as General Bonesapart.
This is my “not happy” face Victor…
Stylistically I also found it pretty interesting how the afterlife was a much more bright and colorful place than the world of the living. Despite being filled with “monsters”, they live in a brighter and happier world…but also prove that everyone wants what they can’t have. It was an interesting creative license that Burton often takes.
It is with films like Corpse Bride that Tim Burton’s vision shines. I don’t love this film because I have a hard time connecting to the story, but I do admire the film, and its vision. It is an interesting blend of gothic horror, romance, and music. Corpse Bride is worth checking out and a unique film.
