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Who'd have thought university would be so time-consuming!
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Tim Burton is one of my favourite directors. The Nightmare Before Christmas was spookily beautiful. His Batman films were dark and moody. Big Fish wasn't that special, but we'll let him off. However, Edward Scissorhands must be his finest moment. I must admit I've only just got round to watching it, despite the fact it was made 16 years ago - it was definitely worth the wait.
Johnny Depp looks about twelve playing the Edward in question; a monster created by a mad professor (Vincent Price) in a spooky castle at the top of a hill. Sadly, the professor died just before he fitted Edward with his human hands, leaving him with huge metal shears for fingers. One day, the brilliantly-named Avon saleswoman Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) pops in to have a look, and she decides to take him home and let him live with her family: husband Bill (Alan Arkin), daughter Kim (Winona Ryder) and son Kevin (Robert Oliveri). At first he is the toast of the neighbourhood thanks to his amazing topiary creations and his ability to cut dogs' hair. But he gets into trouble when he commits more serious accidents than just popping the waterbed.
I think this film has been misrepresented. Firstly; people keep calling it dark, but to be honest I think that's just because of the name listed under Director. Edward Scissorhands
is in fact overwhelmingly bright - in its fantastic sets, its kooky plot, and its frequent hilarious moments. Secondly; despite its humour, this is quite possibly the most heartbreaking film ever listed on Ciao under the "comedy" category. Let's get it straight though - sad does not necessarily mean dark.
Saying that; Edward himself is an iconic gothic masterpiece. His initial outfit looks as if he's just escaped from the Oasis Market (a little joke there for the Birmingham posse) and it's brilliantly designed. Black is the key word here - tight black trousers, what looks like a black metal straight jacket, and of course that famous black mop of hair. His make up is very white and eerie but beautiful. The most astonishing thing though is his lethal hands - whoever came up with that idea (well, Tim Burton obviously) clearly has an amazingly fertile, if slightly scary mind. They dominate every scene, and at different points in the film they can be quite sinister, or surprisingly comedic, as I will explain.
Edward Scissorhands is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. You might think that the range of possible jokes about a man with scissors for hands would be limited, but this film makes full use of them. Everyone will remember the way he cuts the neighbourhood's hair into astonishing designs or fantastically trims their hedges, but there's lot more besides that.
Eating is an obvious problem for him, and the scene at the dinner table is utterly brilliant - you're just rooting for him to get that pea into his mouth! Edward's white face is pretty funny too, and that's mostly thanks to the performance of Johnny Depp. He portrays such an innocent, child-like creation, and his bewilderment at the new surroundings is plain to see. It is gentle humour rather than big belly laughs, but I had a smile on my face for practically the whole film.
Well, when I wasn't near to crying, that is. I don't think I've ever been so emotionally affected by a film in my life. As well as being a comedy, this film is also a tragedy, about difference, intolerance and unbearable loneliness. I think it's the way the movie is filmed that heightens this emotion (against a backdrop of colourful houses and bright hues, Edward's black hair and ghostly white face stand out enormously) more than the story itself.
Of course, the story is very sad; it really makes you feel for the character, but not in an overly sentimental or manipulative way, which can always be a big problem for emotional dramas. The way the attitude of the community slowly changes is nicely done, and it's all done through little events, rather than anything huge and unbelievable. The ending is also a nice little twist - very poignant. Some of the emotion also comes from Johnny Depp's face, yet again. I would never have thought someone's face could make me laugh and cry at the same time, but in this film it really is true. It's a combination of the mouth and the eyes and the white make up that gives him so much impact.
You can't review a Tim Burton film without the words "Danny", "Elfman" and "Soundtrack" appearing, and this is no exception. The beautiful choral music is extremely atmospheric, and another key reason as to why this film is so sad. It's also a little bit creepy in places - it really does bring to mind his brilliant Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack, although without the words. And the songs.
Ok then I admit it; Edward Scissorhands is a little bit dark. Only a little, mind.
I really can't recommend this film highly enough. It's a cult classic, and the chances are you've probably seen it already, but if you're like me and you've somehow never got round to seeing, you really must. Even if you hate all things gothic, and you've never known the feeling of isolation in your life; there is no way that you can fail to empathise with the character of Edward Scissorhands, and that makes this one of the greatest movie experiences I've ever enjoyed. __________________________________________
Edward Scissorhands DVD is available to buy for £4.99 from www.play.com
Directed by: Tim Burton
Running Time: 105 minutes
Starring:
Johnny Depp … Edward Scissorhands Winona Ryder … Kim Boggs Dianne Wiest … Peg Boggs Alan Arkin … Bill Boggs Robert Oliveri … Kevin Boggs Vincent Price … The Professor Anthony Michael Hall … Jim Kathy Baker … Joyce
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Edward Scissorhandsachieves the nearly impossible feat of capturing the delicate flavour ... more
of a fable or fairy tale in a live-action movie. The story follows a young man named Edward (Johnny Depp), who was created by an inventor (Vincent Price, in one of...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Once upon a time an a castle high on a hill lived an inventor whose greatest creation was ... more
named Edward. Although Edward had an irresistible charm, he wasn't quite perfect. The inventors sudden death left him unfinished, with sharp spears of metal hands...
Edward Scissorhandsachieves the nearly impossible feat of capturing the delicate flavour ... more
of a fable or fairy tale in a live-action movie. The story follows a young man named Edward (Johnny Depp), who was created by an inventor (Vincent Price, in one of...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
An Avon lady discovers the half-made creation of a mad scientist living in the ... more
neighborhood's old abandoned castle. The scientist died leaving the shy boy with scissors for hands. When she attempts to bring him into suburbia his hands a metaphor for a...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: A magical film with a wonderful story. Disadvantages: None.
Morning_Becomes_Electra 01.05.2008 (02.05.2008)
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Review of Edward Scissorhands (DVD)
![Edward Scissorhands [1991] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78550871.jpg "Edward Scissorhands [1991] [DVD]")
Jul 28th, 2006
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