It's almost December and that means it's almost time for the BFI Southbank's Tim Burton season. They're showing pretty much every film Burton has been involved in. There are a few oddities on show for the true Tim Burton obsessive. On the 3rd December for example, the screening of Burton's first feature Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, will be followed by Frankenweenie, a half hour re-working of Frankenstein that kick-started Burton's career. There's also a chance to see the real Ed Wood's tribute to cross-dressing: Glen or Glenda.Everything you'd expect is being screened at some stage. The first two Batman films are the perfect example of how to make comic book films that respect the original whilst bringing a bit of Hollywood razzmatazz to the equation. The Nightmare Before Christmas is brilliant in places (especially the bit where the witches play hockey with pumpkins) and Sleepy Hollow is quite fun in a goofy way.
But best of all are Burton's two masterpieces: Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands. Both star Johnny Depp. Both have all the classic Burton hallmarks: The outsider, the naive central character, the ultimate rejection of difference. The only difference is that Edward Scissorhands is ultimately a love story with a tragic ending whereas Ed Wood's stance is that even freaks can find other freaks and live happily ever after. These are the two essential films to see and we will certainly be ambling along at some point.We may even go and see Planet of The Apes again to check if it's as bad as we remember. Mark Wahlberg opposite Helena Bonham Carter. In monkey suits. Ugh.
1 comment:
Hurray for Ed Wood!
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