Edward Scissorhands

1990

Director: Tim Burton

Distributors: Fox Movies

Composer: Danny Elfman

Key Elements: Visuals – Concept – Music

My Review:

Tim Burton’s signature movie. In true Burton fashion, the creepy has been reframed and made nothing less than beautiful. From Danny Elfman’s hauntingly delicate score, to the scene where Kim dances in the snow of Edward’s ice sculpting - Visual poetry bookends this movie.

I heard Burton say that the whole idea behind this movie was to take the traditional monster movie and turn it inside out. He wanted to show us that the “monster” has a good heart. And that we, the “normal” conforming masses, are the truly creepy things. A pretty cool message to consider.

This movie - and Elfman’s score in particular – have a special place in my heart.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• …Those are your hands?
• I'm not finished.
• We're not sheep.
• The years spent in isolation have not equipped him with the tools necessary to judge right from wrong. He's had no context. He's been completely without guidance. Furthermore, his work - the garden sculptures, hairstyles and so forth - indicate that he's a highly imaginative... uh... character. It seems clear that his awareness of what we call reality is radically underdeveloped.
• You can't touch anything without destroying it! Who the hell do you think you are hanging around here, huh? Get the hell outta here! Go you freak!
• You see, before he came down here, it never snowed. And afterwards, it did. If he weren't up there now... I don't think it would be snowing. Sometimes you can still catch me dancing in it.
• I love you.

Stills: