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Corpse Bride - 9/10/2005 5:02:41 PM

Empire Admin

Posts: 26526
Joined: 29/6/2005

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Post #: 1

Enchanting - 28/1/2006 7:25:08 PM

jamesARC

Posts: 3
Joined: 15/1/2006

There simply arent enough films like this... well timed, oddly pitched, constantly funny and at the same time with a real sense of heart and comic irony. Smacking the far too sweet Charlie and the Chocolate factory into second place in the visuals department - where cutting and pasting orange men on bordering on the illegally fake looking cgi backgrounds just doesnt cut up to subtly blended cgi and animation.

The central message may be a cliche, but at least it is a well done cliche... not to be missed by anyone with a sense of humour and starring a central character whose "I shouldnt be here" confusion adds and mirrors to the sense of wonder in the warm and welcoming underworld.

Watch people...

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Post #: 2

Brilliant - 7/2/2006 8:47:13 PM

Didymus

Posts: 1
Joined: 7/2/2006

The best animation feature of the year... Isn't it?

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Post #: 3

Stunnig - 10/2/2006 1:58:43 PM

Gaz

Posts: 966
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: London

The Corpse Bride is obviously going to draw comparirsons with The Nightmare Before Christmas (directored by the fantastic Henry Selick who doesn't get enough credit for the film) and I believe that The Corpse Bride, although the musical numbers may be less memorable comes of the victor. The Nightmare before christmas was the frist feature-length stop motion animation an in the decade or so stop motion animation has been the subject of hugh investment, both finacial and technical, so there is no contest when it comes to the quality of the animation. This extra quality is visible in every frame as there is an increased fluidicy of movment that was simple missing in Nightmare. The difference in quality is just limited to the animation, the film has been shoot beautifuly but you wouldn't expect anyless from a film whoes credits bost 10 lighting cameramen ontop of a director of photography. Storywise Tim Burton's feverd imgination has been allowed to run riot within the confines of this fairytale which allows the best aspects of Burton's Story telling to shine while avioding some of his more usual pitfalls such as too dark a tone of kid films, irratic jumps in style and toneand the spectal of the scene overtaking the story (all of which are present in to some dregee in Nightmare) .
So whereas Nightmare is Timburton's animated equivalent of Beetlejuice, The Corpse Bride is like Edward Sissorhands.
But the best Tim Burton animation is still his short film Vincent found on the Nightmare DVD.

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Post #: 4

Stop-animation refuses to die (which is good) - 14/2/2006 5:18:35 PM

cluesy

Posts: 164
Joined: 11/10/2005

Not as good as Wallace and Gromit, but this has got some top-notch jokes, fantastic animation and great voice-acting. I preferred this to Nightmare Before Christmas because there were less of the songs which I'm not that keen on anyway. This is one of those films you just don't want to end, though.

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Post #: 5

- 12/3/2006 12:27:28 PM

Naweed_1

Posts: 1433
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Birmingham

A great vocal cast, and a good story

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Post #: 6

Corpse Bride - 19/4/2006 2:40:27 AM

kingoftheducks

Posts: 643
Joined: 30/9/2005

We who loved 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' have eagerly awaited Tim Burton's return to stop-motion animation, with the (for me at least) dissapointing style displayed in 'Planet of the Apes', 'Big Fish' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' I was hoping for this film to remind us of the Gothic genius that is Tim Burton.
It tells the tale of Victor VanDort (Johnny Depp) who is to be married to Victoria (Emily Watson), a girl he's never met. His parents are pleased their son is going to be hitched, her parents are pleased that his parents are rich. Complications ensue when, whilst out in the woods, Victor inadvertantly marries the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter).
The film is based, loosely, on a Russian folk-tale and the folk-tale's scant plot is evident. For a 70ish minute film it feels stretched to the point of breaking, four songs are thrown in for practically no good reason at all, and just stretch out the film, often at moments where you really wish it'd get moving. Nothing in the film ammounts to very much, with events happening in such an underwhelming fashion that you wonder whether it would've been better to have made the film live-action?
The vocal performances are all very fine, and the film looks absolutely beautiful. The characters move with such a wondrously eccentric grace, and the colour-palette and set-design is just magnificent. Though some of the underworld characters seem taken straight from Monkey Island and Grim Fandango, which, I guess, is no bad thing... though makes one pine for a Monkey Island movie.
As a visual treat this film is one of the finest you can expect all year, but it lacks someting that The Nightmare Before Christmas has in spades...

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Post #: 7

Romance - 19/4/2006 1:35:57 PM

drwho

Posts: 1
Joined: 19/4/2006

I liked the colours of the Animation. When it was a happy moment they made the Animation more colourful and when it was a sad moment the colours went dark. Yd ou should watch it

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Post #: 8

Short and sweet - 31/5/2006 5:02:57 PM

Caster

Posts: 5608
Joined: 30/9/2005

More of a short film than the usual Burton spectacle, but wonderfully voiced and animated.

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Post #: 9

Corpse Bride - 7/6/2006 10:09:05 AM

qualidad

Posts: 133
Joined: 22/11/2005

There is simply so much detail and talent crammed into this little gem its difficult to give it any othe rating. When Burton has enough time, as he does here, he never puts a foot wrong. Beautiful, heart warming and gratifying.

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Post #: 10

- 12/7/2006 12:02:47 PM

Schlamper

Posts: 11
Joined: 13/10/2005

Excellent animation, probably the best stop motion I have ever seen.

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Post #: 11

- 12/7/2006 12:02:49 PM

Schlamper

Posts: 11
Joined: 13/10/2005

Excellent animation, probably the best stop motion I have ever seen.

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Post #: 12

The Corpse Bride - 25/7/2006 6:49:47 PM

JACK M14

Posts: 52
Joined: 25/7/2006

This film is very strange (typical Burton), but it is entertaining. Burton decided to stick with the animation method he used for "The nightmare before christmas," be warned though, I wouldn't buy it because once you've watched it, you probably won't want to watch it again.

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Post #: 13

- 10/8/2006 1:33:27 PM

Macsen

Posts: 1
Joined: 14/10/2005

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Post #: 14

Good - But Nothing Like The Burton Classic - 19/11/2007 6:09:41 PM

bethie777

Posts: 10
Joined: 19/11/2007

I am myself an avid Burton fan, and was practically chewing the skin off of my fingers while in anticipation for the arival of Corpse Bride, only to be vaguely dissapointed. Although an orginal strory with delightful animation, Depp's obvious talent is simply not enough to make it a favourite. I was utterly insulted, to be frank, that Empire only gave The Nightmare Before Christmas 3 lousy stars and then bestowed a further 4 stars on its copy-cat relative. I am sorry, but I cannot help ranting on about this. Corpse Bride is a perfectly lovely film, but it is NOTHING in comparison to TNBC. I am sure I am not the only one who thinks that this is a complete injustice.
In conclusion, Corpse Bride is enough to please some, but for true, loyal hearted, Burton-thirsty fans like myself, it simply wasn't enough to quench the ever-waiting thrist and frankly, was a bitter dissapointment in comparison to The Nightmare Before Christmas's superb flair.
From Beth C.H, age 15.

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Post #: 15

- 9/10/2008 8:58:21 PM

missearl

Posts: 2
Joined: 9/10/2008
From: Ipswich

Tim Burton did it again with this pretty victorian piece. As a seven year old nothing was better than being shown nightmare before christmas on halloween and christmas. I never believed anything could top it and right into my teenage years when i back catalogued Burton and watched things such as Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice, still nothing in my mind compared to nightmare before christmas.
Until this little beauty came out, I went and saw it not expecting much, my dad had mentioned it didn't have many songs so i didn't expect much and that is what i got a bland experience and i left the cinema feeling throughly dissapointed.
I got chicken pox shortly after the let down and after watching nightmare before christmas repeatedly my mum bought me Corpse Bride, (just so she didn't have to hear "what's this, what's this" at 6 in the morning) I was unsure about watching but i put it on, and i fell in love with it.
It's a pretty little film, simple and uncomplex which is why i think it works so well. The simple lighting creates a dark mood yet the uplifting story really leaves you feeling happy. The cheerful songs are always a joy to hum along to. the film is genuinely a masterpiece and has successfully stayed in my DVD player for a couple of years now :)

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Post #: 16

its good but not better than a nightmare before christmas - 25/1/2009 11:31:23 AM

THE DALTONATOR

Posts: 80
Joined: 17/2/2008

i dont understand how empire can rate this a better film than the classic a nightmare before christmas because while its perfectly fine and as just as good songs (thanks to the amazing danny elfman one of hollywoods best composers) and just as gothic imagination from tim burton it doesnt have the timeless classic factor that nightmare before christmas does but still a film to check out

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Post #: 17

Corpse Bride - 17/5/2009 10:59:13 PM

mafyou

Posts: 2565
Joined: 23/11/2005

Wonderful Gothic animation but unworthy of the four stars it's been awarded. It's not one of Burton's best pieces of work, and certainly not as strong as Henry Selick's Coraline or The Nightmare Before Christmas.

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Post #: 18

RE: Corpse Bride - 19/5/2009 11:14:31 PM

Charlie Dont Surf

Posts: 10
Joined: 31/12/2006
From: Wednesbury

Better than 'Nightmare'. In fact, better than most animation.

I shall pass divine judgement once Coraline has been viewed.

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Post #: 19

Are the above reviews serious!? - 30/6/2009 10:53:36 PM

Feanor

Posts: 3
Joined: 31/8/2006

I felt compelled to add my opinion of this film to the above fairly positive collection. I thought this film was utterly terrible. Not just Burton's worst but one of the worst films I've seen in a long time. The musical numbers were unmemorable and had non of the grandiose fantasticality of 'Nightmare Before Christmas's. The characters had no depth and did not derive any sympathy from me. It was unclear which bride was meant to draw our support. The villains were not threatening and no sense of build up or tension was ever created. and the little bit of back-story in the plot was only described in a song that was so boring that you'd be forgiving for ignoring/missing it entirely. Avoid at all costs if (like me) you’re a Tim Burton fan, and what to stay that way!

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Post #: 20

corpse bride - 27/9/2009 4:07:22 PM

deppfanatic

Posts: 103
Joined: 18/9/2009
From: Bicester

Tim Burton has done it again in this amazing animation- "Corpse Bride" Full of romance, eeire atmosphere, brilliant line up and not forgetting treachery. Victor helps Emily uncover the truth about what happened to her so he can get back to his true flame victoria.
If you loved Nightmare Before Christmas then you will surley love this.

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Post #: 21

Another Tim Burton Gem - 12/7/2010 10:27:47 AM

monkeyhumour

Posts: 254
Joined: 12/2/2006

Proud owner of the DVD

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Post #: 22

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride Review - 11/5/2012 12:58:47 PM

the film man

Posts: 598
Joined: 13/10/2010

As can be expected from a Tim Burton movie, Corpse Bride is whimsically macabre, visually imaginative, and emotionally bittersweet.