Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride never fails to enthral me. Not because of its fantastic, yet gothically grim animation or its vivid characterization, but for the richer depth into the themes it tackles like love, marriage, and the eternal importance of vows. Its appeal anew made me realize the gorgeous vibe of emotions woven in, especially within the marriage vow it had encapsulated in its theme. The film does portray an excellent blend of comedy and sorrow while providing wider insights that relate to both younger and mature audiences. The film was spearheaded by Burton in co-direction with Mike Johnson and animation studio Laika, known for their intent to innovate into the spheres of stop-motion animation. With such an accomplished team and with Burton‘s gothic style, the film was unmistakably destined to captivate everyone. Read our Corpse Bride review.
Inspired by a darkly whimsical ancient Jewish-Russian folktale about a man who accidentally marries a corpse, Burton used the theme to develop thoughts on love, loyalty, and life beyond death. With Laika’s stop-motion work requiring hand-crafted puppets on an unprecedented scale and developing an advanced system of interchangeable face plates for remarkably subtle expressions that took years in the making, the film attains warmth and intimacy surpassing that of traditional animation.
The heart of the film lies in its exploration of the value of learning your vow – vows that go beyond the expression of mere words.
Victor Van Dort, played by Johnny Depp, finds himself in a predicament when he proposes accidentally to the titular corpse bride, Emily, played hauntingly by Helena Bonham Carter. This unintentional vow sparks an inevitable course of events that leads Victor to face reality in terms of what commitment really is.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful wedding vows ever captured on film is presented in heartfelt simplicity in this film.
“With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way in darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine”
As Victor grapples with feelings for both Emily and his betrothed, Victoria Everglot (voiced by Emily Watson), love’s complexities are laid bare. This duality speaks to how marriage is not just a contract but a profoundly intimate connection between two souls. This mystic quality of the vow becomes a reminder that deep commitment and sometimes unseen sacrifices define true love.
What impressed me here is how Corpse Bride makes it such a special film for kids and adults. While younger audiences will be attracted by the film’s colors and gothic characters, a more mature audience will surely take in the movie’s messages about love and loyalty. It is in these “kid’s movies” that break the mold and mold meaningful lessons that really elude mainstream animated features. Thus, gently nags its viewers to question their own relationships. It reminds one that love is multi-dimensional and sometimes surprisingly difficult to ask for. And as Victor tries to understand his feelings, the film also urges us to ponder on what it really means to love somebody, making the film an experience of introspection in any age group.
Laika Studios has made a work of beauty. From Victor to Emily and Victoria, all the characters breathe life into the stop-motion medium with a level of detail that hasn’t been seen before. I love how eyes blink continuously on the characters, giving the general atmosphere of humanity, which makes them feel life-like despite their ghoulish appearances. Tim Burton’s personal style in the gothic manner prevails throughout the film, featuring an atmosphere that is both eerie and magical. The contrast between the dull, monochromatic world of the living with the rich, colorful underworld of the dead is quite sharp in its effect. This duality serves not only the plot but also backs the theme of embracing life, no matter how weirdly in the guise it may appear.
One of the film’s attractions is its impeccable comedic timing. Burton uses different kinds of humor, from dark to meta and self-referential, that keeps the audience entertained and engaged. I enjoyed numerous scenes where I laughed aloud due to the witty wordplay and hilarious visual gags that peppered the film. I specifically loved the banter of the dead individuals. It is so playful and witty mixed with a great sense of irony where the dead characters acknowledge the insanity of their condition and, at the same time, takes away the more dreadful side of death itself. This is very relevant because it makes the darker side of the film lighter and gives it a way of exposure to its younger audience. The movie really gets it right with its placement of comedy and serious themes simultaneously, thus, leaving us to go on laughing, but at the same time pondering deeper issues it tackles.
Danny Elfman’s score brought another dimension to the movie and made every emotional weight of each scene hit with even so much more intensity. His musical compositions are playful and hauntingly gentle, being perfectly apt for the aesthetic of the film. The songs that have been performed by the characters particularly fit their moods; from joyous and energetic to longing and sorrow, making all of them unforgettable.
In fact, even the musical sequences not only do progress the plot but also prove to be the moments of catharsis for characters. The music swells during crucial scenes with giving all the chances to the audience to get immersed in the emotional spectrum of the film. Elfman does a stunning job blending in both whimsy and melancholy that speaks pretty much of his genius and understanding Burton’s vision.
Although the movie is robust in so many ways, I was left wanting to spend more time with the story and its characters. At one hour and fifteen minutes, Corpse Bride feels too short, especially given the depth of the narrative. I sometimes wanted to find out a little bit more about the backgrounds and motivations of the characters.
The short running time creates a feeling that the movie itself is racing to deliver its messages before time runs out. In this way, it keeps the story moving but sometimes even at the cost of the depth that could have given the film even more impact. I felt that a longer runtime would have been an ideal opportunity for developing relationships between the characters and further exploration of the film’s themes.
What is entirely remarkable about Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is that it navigates the intricacies around love and the issue of marriage with an artistic touch. By raising the narrative and interpreting the marriage vow as a sacred promise, Corpse Bride does very well in touching the hearts of all ages for whom the movie is screened. The animation is wonderful, the characters feel alive, the humor is playful, and the film offers thought-provoking themes that strike as being just unique.
Reflecting on my experience of rewatching Corpse Bride, I remember how the film touches your heart and tickles your funny bone. This is a journey that needs to be undertaken and laugh as well as cry one does in it. It is so entertaining and yet instructive that it becomes truly eternal. In a world in which such thoughtful storytelling is rare, Corpse Bride shows up as a poignant exploration of eternal love and the beauty of commitment.
Corpse Bride is a gothic stop-motion animated musical fantasy film directed by Mike Johnson (in his directorial debut) and Tim Burton from a screenplay by John August, Caroline Thompson, and Pamela Pettler, based on characters created by Burton and Carlos Grangel. The film stars Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Richard E. Grant, Christopher Lee, and more.
Thank you for reading, if you liked this review of Corpse Bride check out more of our stuff here at Feature First!
