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Corpse Bride is the story of Victor, an extremely nervous groom to be. During an especially disastrous wedding rehearsal, Victor flees the scene, and heads off to the forest. Having not been able to perform his vows in front of the priest, Victor decides to practice alone among the trees, places his wedding ring on a nearby twig, and accidentally marries Emily, the corpse bride. Johnny Depp (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) is the voice of Victor. Depp is a marvel in this role. With only his voice, Depp immediately gives Victor a beautifully crafted personality. Whether Victor is panicing over his vows, sweetly expressing his feelings to his live bride to be, or attempting to comfort a broken-hearted corpse, Depp gives Victor a frenetic energy, and an enchanting innocence. Quite a likeable character. Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club) has the biggest challenge in this film; to create a sympathetic character out of a deceased bride. She succeeds admirably. With the combination of supurb animation and wonderful acting from Carter, Emily the bride has a gentleness to her. Carter gives a complex character a simpleness, making her charming, and funny. (If a bit sad).
The acting is wonderful. The writing skillful, the directing masterful. Corpse Bride is a beautiful film, and is well worth seeing. I would simply caution that the story is quite powerful, and intense at times. It is not what it appears in the previews. It is a much deeper, complex movie then advertised, and if you don't feel it is appropriate for your child, it would be well worth going yourself. Post Flick Discussion
Warning : If your child is at all philosophically minded, (as my daughter
is) you may find yourself in the difficult position of having a detailed
discussion of life after death, what happens when you die, etc.
Appropriate Ages : 8 and up Parental Warning Bells : (Keeping in mind these are in an animated film) Intense action/Murder/Lead Character's limbs falling off/Characters in peril/death of a pet/Death in general Parental Film Barometer : If your child could handle a more intense, more frightening version of The Nightmare Before Christmas, they should be fine with this movie.
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In
Corpse Bride Tim Burton has created a visually stunning world. The
use of colour is inspired. Victor's world of the living is filled with
a palette of shades of blacks, whites, and grays. Emily's spirit world
is bursting with vivid colours. Burton's animation is flawless. The claymation
process takes a supreme amount of patience and skill, and Burton has redefined
this genre, capturing the perfect motion in every creature appearing in
the film. Burton truly is an amazing artist.