Jack is more or less the king of Halloween, but he senses an emptiness in his life.That’s when he stumbles upon Christmas …and tries to claim it as his own.The movie really doesn’t explore this premise much beyond the basic idea, but it unfolds in gorgeous – now iconic – imagery.And the visuals really are the point of this picture.
[Spoiler Warning:]
And I love that the Boogeyman is defeated when he unravels into nothing – To me it makes a great statement about how a lot of our fears really have no substance to them.
Trailer:
Quotes:
Nice work, Bone Daddy!
I, Jack, the Pumpkin King, grow tired of the same old thing.
Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!
You've poisoned me for the last time, you wretched girl!
This year, Christmas will be - OURS!
J-J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be - double dead!
How dare you treat my friend so shamefully!
together, now and forever. For it is plain, as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.
In true Burton form, this movie is a symphony of imagery. The blood is purposefully made to look fake to reflect the theatrical roots of the story. The twilight blue of the film’s colors reflects the characters’ darkness.
The selling point of the movie, however, is its true depiction of vengeance. While the judge’s evil destroyed Todd’s life, Todd’s pursuit of vengeance made it even worse – even dragging Mrs. Lovett down with him into cannibalism. Todd is miserable throughout the movie and doesn’t find solace in achieving his murderous goal. He doesn’t even see his redemption when it comes, completely missing his reunion with his daughter. Instead, he kills the one he loves (his wife), the one who loved him (Mrs. Lovett), and by having a negative influence on Toby, he even kills himself. (And what a murderous legacy he left to Toby.)
Vengeance, even when it succeeds, utterly destroys everything.
Trailer:
Quotes:
Is everything alright Mister Todd? - My mind is far from easy, in these once familiar streets I feel shadows... everywhere... Shadows? - ...Ghosts.
The years, no doubt, have changed me.
Not Barker. Sweeney Todd, now. And he will have his revenge.
You've got to leave this behind yourself now.
Oh yes... such practices. The Geishas of Japan, the concubines of Siam, the catamites of Greece, the harlots of India. I have them all here, drawings of them. Everything you've ever dreamed of doing with a woman. Would you like to see? - I think there's been some mistake.
I can guarantee the closest shave you'll ever know.
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.
Key Elements: Visuals, Concept, Message, Symbolism, Characters, Music
My Review:
Burton’s imagery here is less dark, but just as surreal.
One of the things I like about this movie is the way it acknowledges the damage done when a boy does not have a strong relationship with his dad. In a society where the role of father is dismissed, even mocked, it is refreshing to see the significance of the father/son relationship illustrated.
The other thing I liked was the way it blurs the line between real and ideal. Were Edward’s stories lies, or honest accounts of the way he saw the world? It seems that where other people might see bleak normality, Edward saw extraordinary beauty.
Life is existentially reliant on our perception.
Trailer:
Quotes:
In telling the story of my father's life, it's impossible to separate fact from fiction, the man from the myth. The best I can do is to tell it the way he told me. It doesn't always make sense and most of it never happened... but that's what kind of story this is.
Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring.
You don't know me, but my name's Edward Bloom... And I love you.
Sandra Templeton, I love you and I WILL marry you!
There's a time when a man needs to fight and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny's lost, the ship has sailed and that only a fool will continue. The truth is I've always been a fool.
There comes a point when any reasonable man will swallow his pride and admit he made a mistake. The truth is... I was never a reasonable man.
Truth is, I've always been thirsty.
It was that night I discovered that most things you consider evil or wicked are simply lonely, and lacking in social niceties.
She said that the biggest fish in the river gets that way by never being caught.
Now I may not have much, but I have more determination then any man you're likely to meet.
Most men, they'll tell you a story straight through. It won't be complicated, but it won't be interesting either.
I know better than to argue romance with a French woman.
I've been nothin' but myself since the day I was born, and if you can't see that it's your failin', not mine.
Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you're not too big? That maybe this place is just too small?
There are some fish that cannot be caught. It's not that they're faster or stronger than other fish, they're just touched by something extra.
A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal.
They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops, and that's true. What they don't tell you is that when it starts again, it moves extra fast to catch up.You become what you always were - a very big fish.
