Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

DreamWorks etc.

21 December 2007

Musical, Historical Drama, Horror

DVD
D

I of course didn't like this, but, also of course, Helena Bonham Carter was better than Johnny Depp.  Tim Burton of course directed.

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Planet of the Apes (2001)

20th Century Fox

July 27, 2001

Sci-Fi

DVD
D+

It took most of the first quarter hour to actually get to the planet.  This is based on Pierre Boulle's novel and directed by Tim Burton.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Warner Bros.

August 9, 1985

Comedy
DVD

B-

I didn't actually see this movie at the time, but I was very aware of it and the catchphrases that came from it.  (I did catch Pee-Wee's TV show here and there though.)  I first saw this movie in a revival theater ten or fifteen years ago, with an appreciative audience.  This time, watching it at home alone, it made me chuckle but it did feel aimless.  It's likable enough, and I enjoyed it more than most Tim Burton movies I've seen.  I've tagged as many people as I recognized.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Tim Burton Productions etc.

September 25, 2016

Fantasy

DVD
D+

I couldn't get through the Ransom Riggs novel and this is one of those movies where I don't like the Tim Burton "look."

Frankenweenie

Frankenweenie

Disney

October 5, 2012

Animation, Sci-Fi

DVD

C-

While this is somewhat reminiscent of Burton's Corpse Bride, the look, story, and characters aren't nearly as good.

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands
20th Century Fox
December 7, 1990
Fantasy
DVD
C

An Avon Lady finds more than she bargained for.  I think I watched this once before, a quarter century ago, but it didn't really draw me in this time, although the look of it was of course (this being Burton) interesting.

Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows
Warner Bros.
May 11, 2012
Horror, Historical Comedy
DVD
C

When I saw this in the theater, I think my rating was a C+, but I just didn't care enough about the characters this time to go beyond fifteen minutes.  However, the look of the film (directed by Tim Burton) is great, hence the C.  This is incidentally the fifth Johnny Depp movie I've looked at for this project, and so far he's batting .400, better than a lot of performers.

Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride
Warner Bros.
September 23, 2005
Animation, Fantasy, Horror, Musical, Comedy, Romance
DVD
B-

I probably would've rated this a B when I saw it at the time, but it's aged pretty well.  The look and sound are solid.  (I especially like that the world of the dead is livelier and more colorful than the Victorian world of "Victor" and "Victoria.")  But I think the writing is a little weak, including the lyrics.  And, yes, the movie covers a lot of genres.  Tim Burton and Mike Johnson co-directed.

This is the fourth Johnny Depp movie I've reviewed on this blog.  Note that I'm omitting Deep Roy and a few other people from the over-crowded tags.

Big Fish

Big Fish
Columbia
January 4, 2004
Fantasy, Historical Drama
DVD
D+

This is another Tim Burton movie I saw at the time, but with more mixed feelings than with Big Eyes a decade later.  Some of the acting is pretty bad, especially Crudup as the son, and there weren't even any stunning visuals in the first quarter hour.  (The first shot of a San Francisco street in Big Eyes was more colorful and interesting.)  Based on the Daniel Wallace novel.

Big Eyes

Big Eyes
Tim Burton Productions
December 25, 2014
Historical Drama
DVD
B

Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski co-wrote and Tim Burton directed this biopic about the artist behind the kitschy but haunting Keane paintings, Margaret Keane, although her husband Walter insisted on taking credit.  I saw this movie at the time and was especially impressed with Adams's portrayal of Margaret, although this time I also "liked" Waltz as the charming but controlling Walter.  There are times that the movie feels like a horror movie, although Walter is not physically abusive, more psychologically.  Although I wasn't alive during most of the period that this film covers (roughly '58 to '68) the period details felt accurate from what I've seen in movies from that era.  I don't have any particular criticism of the movie, any explanation for why it's not higher than a B, other than it's a bit slow-moving at times, and a bit over the top at others.