Reviewed: 02.19.2006
On the eve of his arranged wedding to Victoria Everglot (voiced by Emily Watson), the future wife he has just met, Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp) takes off into the woods to practice his tricky vows. After a successful delivery of his lines, Victor is horrified to realize he's accidentally married to the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter), who is rapturously happy to have found love at last. The Bride takes Victor to her underworld home of the dead and looking forward to a new life with her very living husband. Victor, scared out of his wits, tries to rejoin the living, but soon discovers himself caring for his rotting corpse of a wife, while an evil suitor (Richard E. Grant) tries to muscle in on the bride he left behind.
Director Burton throughly indulges his peculiar story telling with obvious love and devotion. The exaggerated character design is a real treat for the eyes. Chins like footballs, hair like beehives, legs as thin and brittle as toothpicks, and eyes like billiard balls, the attention to minuscule detail is amazing. Burton plays both worlds, contrasting them well. The land of the dead upon introduction is grotesque, but becomes a delightful place vibrating with color and energized souls. The land of the undead, devoid of color, bleak and cold, lifeless shades of grey is were life ends.
The voice talent found in this movie is phenomenal. Along with Depp, Watson, and Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee, Tracy Ullman, Joanna Lumley, and Albert Finney lend their voices.
Rounding out the entertaining bit of animation is a delightful score by music genius Danny Elfman. The skeleton revue is not at all what I had expected- it's a treat. But my favorite is the haunting theme sequence with Victor at the piano.
While the ending suffers a bit (I would have liked it taken a bit further), all is quickly forgiven, thanks to an otherwise gem of a movie. This film doesn't suffer from anything other than a gross lack of fan base.
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