Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Set in a 19th century European village, young Victor is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious Corpse Bride, while his real bride, Victoria, waits bereft in the land of the living. Though life in the Land of the Dead proves to be a lot more colorful than his strict Victorian upbringing, Victor learns that there is nothing in this world, or the next, that can keep him away from his one true love.

Both those looking for another Nightmare Before Christmas and those looking for something better will be satisfied. Corpse Bride is another Tim Burton masterpiece using the same type of animation and style as Nightmare Before Christmas, yet going a completely different direction. The storyline is both fresh and classic. The classic story of love and marriage and the cold feet of the groom. Yet it is told in such a refreshingly different way that, even though you may think you know what will happen at the end, you don't dare guess until it actually happens. One area that is definitely on par with Nightmare Before Christmas is the music. The songs that are sung (especially in the land of the dead) are catchy and fun. It's really not fair to compare the animation between these two movies as Nightmare Before Christmas came out 12 years ago and the age really shows. Suffice to say, Corpse Bride is beautifully done. A true masterpiece of the art form. A big nod to Johnny Depp for his work on this. His voice and personality fits 'Victor' perfectly and I doubt anyone could have done better. Christopher Lee, a living legend himself, predictably stands out as the priest. Helena Bonham Carter does an excellent job voicing the Corpse Bride herself. Carter succeeds in humanizing the Bride and making her seem beautiful and desirable on the inside where on the outside she is not.

I probably would not recommend this movie be shown to very young children as subjects such as murder and death are things they aren't ready to deal with. This movie is geared toward older children (and children at heart) so there is really nothing else in it to be weary of.

Tim Burton and Johnny Depp show once again why they are one of the most potent duos in Hollywood today. From the colorful, fun Land of the Dead to the gray, depressing Victorian-era Land of the Living Corpse Bride is a visual feast with a great story behind it and excellent actors and actresses bringing the characters to life. For a fun, beautiful movie that all older than about 10 will enjoy, the Corpse Bride delivers.

5 out of 5