Tim Burton Movies, From Bizarre to Bewitching
Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd... amazing movies - artistic films. But who is the man behind these creations?
Tim Burton. If you asked me which person in the entire world I would most want to have a conversation with, I would be tempted to say Tim Burton. I just want to know ...What goes on in that mind of his? Does he have nightmares? And if so, does he actually get scared of them? Or maybe I don’t want to know.
At any rate, Tim Burton is an artist in the sense that he puts his own mark on everything that he works on. Tim Burton movies are sometimes strange, sometimes grotesque, sometimes dark, but they are always unique and original.
I appreciate his artistry and his ability to always surprise me, and I love escaping into his world for a couple of hours. It's a world filled with fantasy and imagination. Some of his animated films are down-right scary, and yet, I think Tim Burton tries to redeem depicted death with life and hope.
Read on, to find a list of Tim Burton's great achievements in the world of film - he's made everything from superhero movies to animation to science fiction.
Do you think Tim Burton movies are:
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Paul Rubens, Elizabeth Daily
Rated PG
Have I seen it? Yes, a long time ago
I remember those childhood days watching Pee-wee Herman and his crazy antics. I think I thought he was funny back then. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure was Pee-Wee Herman’s first movie and came out of the theatrical The Pee-Wee Herman Show. This movie came out a year before the popular children’s television show Pee-wee’s Playhouse aired on CBS. The plot follows Pee-wee as he sets off on an adventure to recover his stolen bicycle. “I know you are but what am I? I know you are but what am I?” – echoes in my ears.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder
Rated PG
Have I Seen It? No
I wasn’t allowed to watch this as a kid, and seeing the trailer now, I completely understand. Beetlejuice is about a couple of ghosts who, unable to scare away the living people in their old house, call upon another ghost named Beetljuice to help them out. Beetlejuice causes more harm than good, and almost succeeds in marrying the character played by Winona Ryder. Perhaps this is the beginning of Tim Burton’s fascination with marriage of the dead and the living.
Batman (1989)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Michael Gough
Rated PG-13
Have I Seen It? Maybe, back in the day
Batman was one of the first superhero feature films. Perhaps the making of this movie sparked the growing popularity that superheroes have today. Batman deals with the conflict between Batman (whose real identity is Bruce Wayne) and The Joker, one of the greatest villains of all time. Tim Burton also helped make the movies Batman Returns and Batman Forever.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Director, Producer, and co-Writer: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
Rated PG-13
Have I Seen It? Yes, I love it!
Edward Scissorhands is by far my favorite Tim Burton movie. The story is a grown-up fairy tale, and it’s been said that it is a partial autobiography of Tim Burton. Edward is an “abnormal” being in a “normal” world one street wide. The extremes are obvious. Edward (presumably representing Tim Burton himself) is strange, he has scissors for hands, and real-world logic doesn’t make sense to him. Everybody else fits into a mold. They have no personal identity. But from the view of Tim Burton, the other people are the abnormal, inhumane ones, and Edward is the one with heart and imagination.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Producer and Co-Writer: Tim Burton
Cast: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Rubens
Rated PG
Have I Seen It? No
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Disney film, but was originally released under Touchstone Pictures due to its non-children-friendly themes. Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of HalloweenTown, decides to drop Halloween and try out Christmas for a while. After kidnapping Santa Claus, he attempts to take over the Christmas rituals. I imagine that Halloween and Christmas somewhat clash.
James and the Giant Peach (1996)
Producer: Tim Burton
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Simon Callow, Paul Terry, Joanna Lumley
Rated PG
Have I Seen It? Yes, I could live in a peach
James and the Giant Peach is based on the book by Roald Dahl. Tim Burton and Roald Dahl are the perfect match as far as creativity goes. This adaption of the classic children’s book is a mix of both animation and live action. James lives with his horrid aunts after his parents disappear until one day when he escapes via (you guessed it) a giant peach that takes him and his new friends (giant talking bugs) to the magical land of New York City. The horrid aunts are grotesquely scary, but there are many interesting characters and adventures to entertain, if you have the acquired taste.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Michael Gough, Miranda Richardson, Christopher Lee
Rated R
Have I Seen It? Yes, but couldn't handle it
Sleepy Hollow is based on the short story by Washington Irving. But the movie really isn’t much like the written story. This version is more horror than folk legend. I confess, I couldn’t make it though the entire film because all the blood and evilness was getting to me and making me ill. I never was one for horror. The movie version has a lot of murder and hellish plots, not quite like Irving’s work at all. I can appreciate Tim Burton’s originality, but not quite in this case.
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter, Paul Giamatti, Tim Roth
Rated PG-13
Have I Seen It? No
Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes is a remake of the 1968 film. In science fiction form, the plot follows an astronaut who falls through a vortex and travels through time, landing on a planet inhabited by talking apes. In reverse of natural roles, the apes on this new planet are in control of the world, and treat humans like animals. I haven’t made time to watch this movie yet (monkey business isn't quite my thing) but I might have to change my mind ... it is Tim Burton after all.
Big Fish (2003)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter
Rated PG-13
Have I Seen It? No
The director of Big Fish was supposed to be Steven Spielberg, but Spielberg ended up working on another movie and Tim Burton replaced him. Big Fish sounds intriguing in that it is told as a fairy tale set in the South. After a long separation, a father and son are brought together through the father’s telling his life story which sounds more like myth than truth. This is on my list of movies to watch.
Link to the movie site
- Big Fish - Official Site
Big Fish - Throughout his life Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, portrayed by Albert Finney, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William (Billy Crudup).
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee
Rated PG
Have I Seen It? Yes, of course
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a marvelous concoction of Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Roald Dahl, with lots of candy thrown in for extra sweetness. Although I like Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, I love Johnny Depp in the part. The only part of this version that I didn’t like was the bizarre songs by the Oompa Loompas. But the story is great: a boy from a poor family gets the chance to explore the best chocolate factory in the world, run by the quirkiest chocolatier in the world.
Link to the movie site
- The Official Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Film Site
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory website is the online interactive flash destination for the feature film based on the popular children's book by Roald Dahl, with screenplay by John August, directed by Tim Burton, music by Danny Elfman, and star
Corpse Bride (2005)
Co-Director, Co-Producer, Co-Writer: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough
Rated PG
Have I Seen It? No
Corpse Bride looks very like The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is based on a very old folktale. The plot follows a young couple, Victor and Victoria, about to be wed. Victor accidentally marries a corpse bride while practicing his vows. A flurry of complicated events follow. This is yet another “children’s film” that deals with the restless dead and a backwards view of the afterlife.
Link to the movie site
- :: Corpse Bride ::
Corpse Bride carries on in the dark, romantic tradition of Tim Burtons classic films Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Set in a 19th century European village, this stop-motion, animated feature follows the story of Victor (Jonny
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Steet (2007)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen
Rated R
Have I Seen It? No
Sweeney Todd, what can I say... it’s a horror/ musical/ period piece. I am very tempted to watch this one, but my former traumatizing experience with Sleepy Hollow dissuades me. I think I would enjoy the music and the costumes and maybe even the storyline, but I have a hard time watching straightforward slaughter. Sweeney Todd is a murderous barber who spills much blood as he seeks revenge for the death of his family, all the while singing his thoughts out loud.
Link to the Movie Site
- Sweeney Todd | Official Movie Site | Johnny Depp | Tim Burton
Sweeney Todd - Official Movie Site. Buy DVD Now. Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener and Sacha Baron Cohen. Directed by Tim Burton. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in a big-
9 (2009)
Co-Producer: Tim Burton
Cast: Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connely, Crispin Glover
Rated PG-13
Have I Seen It? Yes, it was ok
9 is the darkest animation film I have ever seen. I believe there was approximately 90 seconds of sunlit happiness to the tune of a happy song. But every other moment was dark and dreary. This movie follows the 2009 trend of post-apocalyptic films. After all the humans on earth die off, nine man-made creations, given parts of the soul of their creator, attempt to survive a world ridden with destructive machines.
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska
Rated PG
Have I Seen It? Can't wait!
I am very excited about the new Alice in Wonderland. I have a feeling this version will be more faithful to Lewis Carroll than the Disney cartoon of 1951. Although, the plot will be a little different as the new Alice is nineteen years old and is returning to Wonderland.
Read my hub about the cast members for Alice in Wonderland
- Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland: The Cast
Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland, set to be released March 5, 2010, is gaining a number of fans eager to watch the movie the moment it is released, myself included. With decades of imaginative, unique films...
Voice your opinion!
What is your favorite Tim Burton movie?
Read more hubs by Rose West:
- The Box: Movie Review
If someone promised to give you a million dollars (tax free) and all you had to do was shoot someone, would you do it? Ill assume that you would be astonished at such a terrible offer. Well, what if... - Avatar vs. FernGully - Nothing New Under the Sun
Avatar. Who hasn't heard of the hottest movie since ... Titanic? Avatar struck awe into the hearts of many Americans who were filled with desire for the untainted and primitive world called Pandora. Not... - Top 15 Reasons Why Americans Love England
There seems to be a running trend nowadays among Americans. We are in love with England! Its the British Invasion! Back in the 60s, the British Invasion meant The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but to... - A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
- The Audrey Hepburn Diet: Pasta & Chocolate Every Day...
Classic Audrey Hepburn in black-and-white Forget Atkins, South Beach, and Special K, Im going on the Audrey Hepburn Diet! Or I would if I were dieting. I can almost guarantee you that its the only diet...