A whole shelf for him…

I noticed we had four Tim Burton films on the Wall O’ Cool and wondered why the guy did not have a whole shelf to himself.  So I perused the store and made it so!

8 films directed by the super strange Burton and several featuring his go-to actor, Johnny Depp.

Beetlejuice (1988) – The story of a couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who want to start a life together in their new home, and instead must start their afterlife together following a car accident. They learn that most of the world beyond is a lot like the DMV and that dealing with the living sucks. Michael Keaton plays the title character as a super creep that causes havoc for the dead and the living.

Batman (1989) – Michael Keaton plays the dark knight in this version. The Joker being played by Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, the most annoying reporter ever. I understand she is pretty, but her screams in this movie drive me INSANE. I like Keaton’s Batman though. He plays him with humor and reluctant heroism. It always worked for me.

Edward Scissorhands (1990) – One of Burton’s best. This twisted fairy tale is reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, with Johnny Depp playing the title character of a patched together man with scissors for hands. He is sweet, naive and brought into the home of a wholesome suburban family (Dianne Wiest and Alan Arkin as the folks are wonderful) to change their lives. Edward falls for their beautiful daughter (Winona Ryder) and finds he has too many sharp edges to truly fit in.

Sleepy Hollow (1999) – Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane, the classic coward who encounters the Headless Horseman in the tiny town of Sleepy Hollow. Christina Ricci also stars.

Planet of the Apes (2001) – I think the title pretty much says it all about this sci-fi retake of the 1968 film of the same name. The ape make-up is cooler, the action is more packed and it has Tim Roth in it…..I like Tim Roth and so should you. Also during this film, Tim Burton became romantically involved with his current sweetie, Helena Bonham Carter. Who now apparently has to be in all his movies.

Big Fish (2003) – One of my absolute favorite Burton films,  although some fans think it strays too far from his usual touch. It is the tale of Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) who goes to visit his dying father, Ed Bloom (Albert Finney), and listen to the collection of seemingly tall tales of his life that Ed insists are all true. The film flashes back to all the stories with Ewan McGregor playing a young Bloom to perfection. This movie is sweet and original.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) – Another film remake that, while good in some ways, does not begin to touch the original 1971 musical. I like that Burton stayed true to the Roald Dahl story, but I think he fell flat with his Oompa Loompas (Deep Roy….he played ALL of them) and let Depp go too far with his interpretation of the eccentric candyman, Willy Wonka. The kids were all good though.

Corpse Bride (2005) – A stop-motion animated feature with Johnny Depp voicing the character of Victor Van Dort, a young man nervous about his wedding vows, so he decides to practice them to a grave. When he slips the ring onto what he believes is a stick, an energetic dead women (Helena Bonham Carter) comes to life thinking they are married. It is dark, funny and a great little love story.