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My Top 10 Tim Burton Films

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    Due to college, homework, and other such distractions, I probably will not post a Top 10 Favorite Halloween Specials/Films this October, partially because I have not seen that many Halloween films for a while. I’ll probably be able to post one next year as long as I’m not too distracted. So instead for this year, let’s keep up with the dark, creepy nature of Halloween by looking at my favorite films done by my all-time favorite movie director, who truly is a master of doing movies that strange and bizarre.

These are my Top 10 Favorite Movies directed by Tim Burton!

 

10. Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

Yeah, I’m one of those people who actually do like Burton’s reimagining of the Roahl Dahl book. I won’t deny the fact though the 70’s film with Gene Wilder is the much better movie, because this version certainly does have some flaws. I mean Johnny Depp’s performance as Willy Wonka is about as enjoyable as Mike Myers as the Cat in the Hat, and…yeah, I’m gonna have to agree with Doug Walker that this movie’s interpretation of Charlie is such a goody-two shoes that it practically gets way too annoying. But at least the rest of the characters remain true to the original source material, and of course, the visuals and effects for when they visit the factory are just spectacularly stunning. Also, with the exception of the subplot about Wonka’s relationship with his father, the story is much more closer to the original book than the 70’s film was and doesn’t rely on unnecessary filer. Yeah, remember how in the book, that one guy builds a computer in order to find a Golden Ticket? (in sarcastic tone) You do? Me too.

 

9. Edward Scissorhands

My feelings towards Edward Scissorhands are pretty similar to how I feel about Wall-E. I’ve only seen this movie three times in my life, but every time I do, it only gets better and better. I always feel more and more hatred towards the townsfolk near the end (especially Jim), but I also always feel more and more passion and sorrow towards Edward with every viewing I have of this movie. It’s pretty much the relationship between Edward and Kim that helps move the story along and raises the audience’s emotions. Of course, the visuals, being a Burton project, are gonna be a treat to look at. And the music is just wonderful, with its somber, mysterious feel and the vocals of the choir in the background, which help add a unique, emotional beauty to it. Something tells me a few more viewings of Edward aren’t too far away for me.

 

8. Big Fish

I suppose it would be a risky move to put this movie so high on the list considering the fact that I’ve only seen it just once in my entire life. But you know what? It is pretty deserving of this high a spot. Now to be fair, there are still some problems that I have with it. For example, most of the present day scenes with an elderly Edward Bloom tend to drag a little and can sometimes get boring. Also, I’m not really too fond of Bloom’s son because he is the only person in the entire film who refuses to believe in his father’s tales. But that does sort of work to the film’s advantage because it makes Bloom a more identifiable character. Besides, the son does get better near the end of the film. And besides, the stuff that’s good is just too good to resist. When we do get to the parts involving Bloom’s story, you just get sucked in by all the creative visuals and the interesting characters that Bloom comes across on his adventures. I really am glad that I got to see Big Fish and I’m certainly looking forward to seeing it again sometime in the future.

 

7. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure

When you say out loud that the very first film done by the director of Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands is a movie about Pee-Wee Herman, you are expecting a very quirky movie. And while this movie isn’t as strange or bizarre as most Burton films, it’s still pretty enjoyable. The setup is very simple, with it being about Pee-Wee embarking on a road trip to find his missing bike. What follows are the various events and people that he encounters on his adventure. It’s sort of like Edward Bloom’s adventures in Big Fish, but without any surreal elements or monsters (with the exception of Large Marge). Pee-Wee himself is a pretty likeable character in his innocence, and of course, being Pee-Wee, he certainly gets some good laughs out of us. For what it is, the movie is not at all bad. It’s not like any of Burton’s later projects, but it is certainly 100% harmless. Plus, it did introduce us to the song, Tequila.

 

6. Dark Shadows

When the trailer for Dark Shadows came out, it looked really corny. And upon its release, it was really panned by the critics, so I was pretty hesitant to see it. But after having seen all of the other Burton films, I figured I might as well give it a chance. And boy, did I enjoy it. Are the jokes cheesy at times? You have no idea. But they still really do hit bullseyes at times and get a good laugh out of you. And surprisingly, the movie is actually really darker than the trailer made it look. But I have absolutely no problem with that. And Johnny Depp is clearly having fun in his role as Barnabus Collins, making his performance very entertaining. And the rest of the actors do a pretty good job too. I really am glad I saw Dark Shadows and I’m sure to see it many times again in the future.

 

5. Beetlejuice

While Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure was a good feature film to start Burton’s lineup, Beetlejuice was clearly the first film to display Burton’s visual style. This movie has his name written all over it with its bizarre sets and its creepy yet creative visuals and designs. As far as the characters go, they’re not bad but nothing really stands out about them. The Maitlands are your typical nice couple, the Detzes are your typical greedy couple, Lydia’s your typical goth rebel teenage girl. The only character who really does stand out (of course) is Beetlejuice himself. Michael Keaton’s performance as him is just hilarious with the jokes, the references, and the amount of energy he shows. I am almost convinced that Beetlejuice was one of the characters that Hasbro used as an inspiration for Discord from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (another funny villain who I really enjoy). I have never seen an episode of the animated Beetlejuice TV show before in my life, but I don’t I ever will. The original movie is just too good for me to turn away from or even resist.

 

 

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Well, it would obviously be a crime to not include this movie. It’s the first movie for a lot of kids that introduced them to the world of Tim Burton. And I don’t think really need to explain in great detail about why I like this movie so much. Everybody’s seen it and everybody’s loves it for its story, its songs, its characters, and its visuals. I really love this movie. I enjoy watching it every year around Halloween and I know that’s going continue to happen for the next few years. It’s a classic!

 

3. Batman

Well, as I’ve mentioned before in some of my past deviantart posts, Batman is my number one favorite superhero. So as you can imagine, I must really like this movie a lot. And I do. Actually even a little bit more than The Dark Knight BOO!(shield self with bullet-proof vest). Now don’t get me wrong. The Dark Knight is an awesome superhero flick and certainly gave Batman comics that dark, violent style that they have today. But there are still certain things about Burton’s interpretation of the Caped Crusader that I prefer over Nolan’s. First off, Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, I think, is a much more interesting female lead than Rachel Dawes. Michael Gough I find to be a much more likeable Alfred than Michael Caine because he actually supports Bruce’s decisions and doesn’t lie behind his back (remember when Michael Caine burns Rachel’s letter?), and even helps his master out. But the best performance in the movie is Michael Keaton as Batman. This performance completely overshadows Christian Bale’s, in my opinion. The way Keaton moves, the design of his costume, and the way he usually keeps his face hidden within the shadows really gives his performance that dark and mysterious edge that I usually associate well with Batman (much more than a voice that everybody makes fun of). And of course, Jack Nicholson’s performance as the Joker is certainly a lot of fun to watch. If you really prefer Dark Knight over Batman, that’s fine by me. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Me personally, I really love this version for its performances, its action, and its gothic atmosphere.

 

2. Sleepy Hollow

In all honesty, I consider Sleepy Hollow to be one of the more underrated projects in Burton’s lineup, which is a shame because there is a good amount of things to admire in this film to admire. It is obviously based off the original book, but it has few slight changes made to the story. This movie sort of functions like a murder mystery combined with a Scooby-Doo mystery mixed with gothic elements and scary imagery, which all certainly help you get sucked into everything that is happening that the film almost surprises you with its twists and turns that you really don’t always see coming. Of course, Johnny Depp does a good job in his performance as Ichabod Crane, playing up both his likeability and the film’s humor. And the rest of the cast does a pretty good job too. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, check it out. You won’t regret it. If you feel this isn’t your type of film, at least stick around to see Christopher Walken.

 

And my #1 favorite movie directed by Tim Burton is…

 

1. Batman Returns

Well, I did make my promise in my Top 10 Favorite Movies meme that I would give an explanation as to why this film is my all-time favorite Burton movie. While I do really like the first Batman movie, Batman Returns, I think, is the much stronger project, both as a film on its own and as a Burton movie. This is mainly because the story is much more developed and this mainly comes from the characters. Unlike how the Joker does what he does in the first movie as a way to spread death and madness, the villains in the second movie actually have clear motivations that make them more relatable than the Joker. The Penguin wants all of Gotham to suffer as revenge for his parents abandoning him. Catwoman is fed up with her original life and wants revenge on her boss for trying to murder her. Max Shreck wants to seize control of the city’s power in order to obtain more money and control. And the actors who get to play these characters are just great in their performances. Danny DeVito? Deranged, yet funny. Michelle Pfeiffer? One sexy bada**. Christopher Walken? (scoff) How can you go wrong? Keaton still kills it in his role as Batman. And the visuals in this movie feel much more like something out of a Burton film than the first film. From the gritty costumes to the gothic sets to the creepy Christmas setting to the wacky designs. What else can I say? This is one of my all-time favorite movies and I really love it! I know a good number of viewings of Batman Returns are still in store for me in the future.

 

Happy Halloween, everybody! 


Original meme found here: aperaturescience.deviantart.co…

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XenomorphProductions's avatar
Personally my favorite is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory