The Rabbi's Holiday Gift List - Edward Scissorhands: 15th Anniversary Edition
I love Tim Burton. While yes, it is true that I haven't seen Big Fish, Planet of the Apes, Corpse Bride or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ...or, um.... Sleepy Hollow, I have seen and very much enjoyed Beetle Juice, Batman, Batman Returns (although not as much as Batman), Ed Wood, Mars Attacks (I really only liked the "Ack! Ack!" bits) and of course, The Nightmare Before Christmas. True, Burton didn't direct this last one, Henry Selick did, but it is billed as Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas and Burton created the story and characters. I have Tom Hall to thank for that one, as a group of us watched it one chilly October night in East Hampton, while working for that festival.
That's all fine and good, but one of the films I hadn't seen until a few nights ago, was Burton's fourth feature, Edward Scissorhands.
I saw it on the recently-released 15th anniversary DVD (which, judging by this picture of my DVD is exactly the same as the 10th anniversary edition). This is a beautiful, moving and extremely human film. It's a modern fairy tale with a little Frankenstein, a little Pinocchio and a little metaphorical Sleeping Beauty, as well. It's a holiday in suburbia a la Burton and a beautiful story about what it really means to be human. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of Burton bizarre included. I mean:
Visually, there are certainly elements of Burton's, for lack of a better word gothic, sensibilities but the film is largely a daytime pastel affair with a decidedly "fish out of water" take on things. I've always been a big fan of Edward Gorey, as I am sure Tim is, as well. As a child living in the woods in East Hampton in the 70's Amphigorey Too was a frequent read and Gorey's sense of whimsy mixed with a serious taste for the macabre always appealed to me. Much like The Boy Who Kicked Pigs
So if you haven't seen the film, don't worry about not getting your Tim Burton "weird" fix. I mean, yes, Winona Ryder plays a blond high schooler and they live in the suburbs but for god's sake man, it's about a boy with scissors...as hands!!! Not only that, but he was built by Vincent Price and is a master at topiary, ice sculptures and hairdressing (dogs, too!).
Extras on the disc are a mixed bag, with separate commentaries by composer and frewquent Burton collaborator Danny Elfman and Burton (together would have been much better), a very short "featurette" of cast and crew member answering questions, a few screen shots of concept art, the original theatrical trailer and some TV spots from the US, UK and Spain.
Previous Holiday Gift Guide Entries:
The Rabbi's Holiday Gift List: Office Space & Murder One
All I Want For Christmas Is The Buffy Set - The Rabbi's Holiday Gift List Continues
Buying Guide:
Region 1 DVDs:
Edward Scissorhands
Region 2 DVDs:
The Boy Who Kicked Pigs in not available new in the US, but is well worth getting it from Amazon.co.uk. You can get it used from Barnes & Noble or Amazon US, as well.
U.S. Buyers:
Edward Gorey's Amphigorey Too
UK Buyers:
Categories
DVD Reviews , Film3 TrackBacks
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Endorsements Emeritus:
Big Fish is his best film since Scissorhands.
You're kidding, right? "Jones Bloop?" Like, "Augustus Gloop," but different? I don't mean to offend if true, but....yeah.