Big Dissapointment IMHO.

Although the genre is perfect for Burton, giving him ample oportunities for weirdness in a dreamlike world, it falls flat in all aspects. The jokes aren't very funny, the stories aren't that amazing, the cinematography isn't incredibly interesting, but worst of all is the casting. Talk about an unlikable bunch! The father character is only anoying, the son boring, the girlfriend fake and who ever thought making Evan McGregor speak with an Alabama accent was a good idea deserves an apperance at Oprah.
The plot is highly predictable, the few 'surprises' being only inevitable and silly CGI dragging it even further down.

Had this been from any unknown director, I would've accepted it as a slightly below average film and forgotten about it, but from Burton I expect more. MUCH MORE!

BTW, did anyone see 'Secondhand Lions (2003)' with Robert Duvall? It's practically the same movie, but a little worse because of that damn ugly Haley Joel Osment (kid from A.I. and 6th Sence) which is so anoying it's hard to sit though.

Dissapointment is very valid, I was pretty dissapointed in the whole escapade tbh.... it could have been ace.

I don't think it was that bad though, I fair found it entertaining, but I wouldn't buy it.

Incidently, to move it onto a more Tim Burton thread:

(blatantly stolen from fh.org)

Looks very cool imo

Oh my, I didn't know he was working on something like this!
After Nightmare Before Christmas, I think it's pretty obvious how much he has to offer!

And as for Big Fish - I was not disappointed at all, this movie is untypical for Burton for many reasons, but on the other hand it still has some themes from his previous movies: it's a kind of a fable, deals a lot with the fantastic and also the theme of storytelling.

It's just that it's not as gothic, but on some level it can be a very touching, warm story about relationships, not only within a family, but also in general, about the search for origins, the subjective vs. the subjective, etc. For me it also seems highly autobiographical - after all T.B. is one of the greatest storytellers among moviemakers.

Producer mind, but yes looks very cool

damn! I'll have to try as best as I can to keep my expectations in check, but it wont be easy!

I enjoyed it. The whole desires blinded by fallacy plot had me going. Remember this isn't some gothic, darkly, satirical flick. It's not typical Burton.

I must admit i was expecting alot more since it was Tim Burton. It was an okay movie but it dragged on and i found myself bored. Abit of a diappointment but A Nightmare Before Christmas causes me to forgive Burton for trhis kind of movie. Cant wait for the newy, should be great by the looks.

He didn't direct nightmare btw, i guess he was like lucas in the indy trilogy... invents stories and characters and how everything should look and feel, then let another director do his thing

I have to say I think it was fantastic.. Not the typical Burton movie, but then again it is, only a more mature Burton.
I think it's good that he can show us that he manages different kind of movies and not just the goth story..
Lots of feeling, lots of love.. and sometimes thats just what you need.

I dont believe i said he directed it. kthanksbye

what are your hopes for http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367594/ then?
Again, it would be a perfect plot and genre for burton, but the original is just so cool... And remember how the new Ape film turned out.... =(

I never said you did, I just want to point out not to put an over reliance on someone who isn't in 'control', thats all. He didn't direct Nightmare either, its the same mix.

ehhh... John...

Burton AND Depp.... how can you doubt the coolness of this???????

Only thing is I really liked the evil overtones of Wilder's Wonka character in the original Willy Wonka movie. I don't know if Depp can muster that type of performance. Gene Wilder was just too perfect.

Exactly!



....oopma-loompa-dipedeedoo....

Well I just watched this flick and i think it was top class. As a avid fairy tale collector (I have almost 400 books including 2 5th edition grim tales), i have to say that this film capturs the spirit of story telling so well that I think this film will become a classic. One shown on the tube for all time round xmass or easter for the kids and the parents to feel a bit of magic.

Much like Edward Sissorhands, I think this movie has some moments of perfection. While the ending voice over was WAY to thick, I think it is easly forgiven. The true power of this movie is in how the fantasy world and the world of relaity were so closely knit. There WAS korean twins, there WAS a giant... <sorta> and so on. Who ever wrote this movie truly understood storytelling and the "art" of mythos.

As for cast, they all did their jobs, if you are watching actors names and imagining there REAL accents / lives verses there charicter you are totaly in the wrong film.. Funny how a film with a major theme about the suspention of disbelife was attacked for points that had NOTHING to do with the movie, but with the directors past movies or actors lives outside the movie. Mabey you all are a little more like the son?


In short.. This movie rocks!!!
Reminded me a little of Barron Muchousen.

PS - Interesting Note on Corpse Bride - Russia has some of the best fairy tales of all time in my opinion. Somthing about the region and the life there lead to a heap of very very cool tales about some startelingly depressing things...

Stories like "The Tale of the Dead Princess" (better known as Snow White) "Babba Yagga's Comb" "Rumpelstiltskin" fuckn top notch stuff.... "A Spiders Nite" [you all know the urban myth of the chci kwit hthe spider eggs laid in her face]

I think Eric Idle said he wanted to be Willy Wonka at one point That would be amusing

jynks, good points there. I agree that the storytelling was well done, but it didn't help much when the stories themselves were pretty dull IMO.
Well crafting and good skills are all fine and dandy, but still creativity is the strongest nessessity.

And you really should see 'Secondhand Lions (2003)' with Robert Duvall if you liked this. You'll probably love that one as well...

do nto even know anything about it will track it down.

Second Hand Lions was a great film. Sadly it didn't get much time in the theatre, and was overlooked for movies with far less to offer. Should be fairly easy to find a rip of that one, I'm sure Share Reactor had it posted awhile back. -


edit - posted it over in the unverified sectin as I ain't verified it yet.