In the movie Beetlejuice, the theme is that the afterlife is not really the end for us all; we live on a multiple level world between life and death, and need to respect the dead. The theme is idealistic and not applicable in real life to all people. Throughout the movie, Burton reveals his take on the living and life after death and the delicate interaction between the two. The character Otho, played by Glenn Shadix is key to Burton’s interpretation and scrutiny of the afterlife. Throughout the film Otho makes comments about the dead and even goes as far to steal The Handbook for the Recently Deceased. Otho comments on those who commit suicide and how they become civil servant s in the afterlife. Barbra and Adam Maitland, played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are used as guides for the audience into the process of the afterlife and give a unique Ghost’s perspective on the process.
Burton creates an elaborate opening credit sequence, which effectively catches the audience’s attention. The catchy and fast paced song along with the camera giving the effect of flying over a storybook small town (New England, Connecticut), the scene subtly shifts to a model town and finally, the camera pans up to an old house, before revealing a large sized spider crawling over the roof of the miniature main building where the movie takes place. It is at this point in the film where we are introduced to some of our main characters, Adam and Barbra Maitland; the Maitland’s live in a house that according to a local realtor is too big for a couple that does not have children, the in happily upbeat and in love couple decide to take a vacation and oddly the vacation is to stay home and spruce up their household. They decide to go for a drive on an overl...
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...orny” gave him his well deserved bragging rights for this mastermind film. Beetlejuice won an Oscar for best makeup and went on to win 6 other awards and 8 nominations. People liked this movie, because it was unlike the others being made in its time and was one of only few ever made from a Ghost’s point of view. The music that was used along with creative camera shots helped build excitement and kept the audience attentive. The slight raise of the volume when the camera made a close up on the fly in the cemetery along with others was highly effective with the scene action. Tim Burton was able to balance comedy and the more morbid aspects of the film brilliantly. The use of various colors, especially blue has become his trademark. All the actors fit perfectly in their roles in this movie, and their acting styles only contributed to the overall success of the film.
Bess beetles range in size all the way from 21 millimeters to 80 millimeters. The beetles are named after the French word baiser, which means “to kiss”, due to the fact that they often make a smooching sound with their legs. They have a small horn that protrudes from their head, and use their antennae to drive them forward when experiencing new smells. Though the beetles may look quite menacing, they are surprisingly docile. They enjoy feasting on rotten wood, moss, and adult beetle fecal matter after it has been partially digested by bacteria. A scientific experiment was conducted to test these beetle’s pulling power in relation to their mass. The hypothesis stated,
...and camera movements creatively. He uses camera angles to show the intensity of the influence of the characters. Burton not only uses lighting for visuals, but also uses it to add depth to the character. Moreover, Burton uses sound to make the audience empathize with the characters. He uses flashbacks to explain to us why the characters act in a certain way. His camera movements shaped meaning into scenes. The odd characters in his movies seem to reflect a bit about himself. For instance, he felt like an outcast during his childhood, similar to Edward in Edward Scissorhands. He was a lonely sort of person like Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He had a peculiar attraction to supernatural things like Lydia in Beetlejuice. Although Burton has an extraordinary way of composing his movies together, it’s what makes his movies very original and intriguing.
A person does not usually pay attention to cinematic techniques used in a film because one does not think of the details in the movie. These details are a key part in creating the mood and tone. Tim Burton uses similar techniques in his movies to create a suspenseful mood. Many instances of low key lighting were used to create a suspenseful mood. Along with low key lighting, low and high camera angles were used to show authority and importance. Lastly, non-diegetic sound was used to create a dramatic effect while still making the mood suspenseful.
Not a single individual is able to watch a Burton film without noticing the lighting effects and how it significantly contributes to the tone and mood of the entire film. In the movie Edward Scissorhands, one might be overwhelmed with the burst of extravagant colors in the scenery. Indeed this cinematic technique, high key, wholly influences the viewers perception and impression of the town. One can conclude that even though flamboyancy pervades the town, iniquity lurks in all directions and hypocrisy governs the minds of its inhabitants. Irony is harnessed in this film. How can an effulgent town harbor wickedness and Edward with a chilling and gothic complexion radiate innocence and righteousness? Burton uses these opposing conceptions brought about by the contrast of lighting to convey the message that materialism has been ingrained in the mentality of society (at least in the neighborhood in which Burton lived in the past), thus yearning for th...
...vision and music. Therefore the movie begins on a simple level. The viewer is introduced to many of the central elements of the film in a purely visual way – Donnie, his family, and the American suburbs. The music makes this an isolated and surreal presentation; the viewer sees the family from the outside before seeing them from the inside. The song also has a feeling of apprehension and of magnitude which makes what is seen seem more significant and mysterious.
...e his ideas a fresh breathe of air, but they have a deeper meaning and are a breeding ground for thought and consideration. His reoccurring theme of individuality, which is supported by symbolism in his works, makes for relatable characters and situations. The ability to make a man with scissors for hands or a skeleton into a character that is relevant to one’s current life is special; not many people could pull it off. Burton gracefully blended his influences of Edgar Allan Poe-like characters and Dr. Seuss inspired scenery to create cinematic works that affected people of all ages. He may have been an outcast as a child, but what once was a flaw now makes him stand out from other directors. Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare before Christmas are only a portion of the films in which he wove a deep threaded theme promoting individuality and being true to oneself.
Tim Burton's style compared to others is quite unique. His many films do not give off the same mood and feeling that audiences are used to with child films. With some of his role models being Edgar Allen Poe and Ronald Dahl, it's no surprise that his films mix children ideas with a sense of darkness, and even at times creepiness. Tim Burton combines these feelings of child movies and darkness through the way he uses lighting, shots and framing, and to spread his message.
I’m a huge fan of horror films and some of the things I really liked in this one where the music and choice of scenery. From the beginning of the film to the end, the music sounds very creepy and gives you a feeling that something is always about to happen that will have you jumping out of your seat. I really see the music as a hit or miss when it comes to horror films and I saw it here as a hit. Regarding the scenery the film for the most part takes place in a house that’s in the middle of nowhere, that gives you
One motif which reappears in the film is the power of nature, especially in relation to the individual. In fact, the film begins with a majestic shot of the Rocky Mountains showing its beauty and height. The beauty of nature and even friendliness of nature changes as the film develops. As the movie progresses the snow still seems white and pure, almost virgin like, but nature becomes an isolating force, not providing the family with a retreat from the pressures of modern life, but forcing the family to turn in on its dysfunctional and psychopathic self. Imprisoned by the snow and the tall mountains , the family seems weak and vulnerable.
The movie opens up introducing the main characters, Paige and Leo. Paige and Leo are a happily married couple who live in the city and on one very snowy night, are involved in an accident. The accident causes Paige to be thrown onto the hood of the car with her head leading her way crashing through
The Transylvanian village itself embodies much theatrical mise-en-scene. The Old World-styled buildings in the village cast an antiquated ambience to the film. Most of the setting of the film is seemingly unto itself and unattached to the contemporary world in which the film otherwise takes place. [aestheticism- brummett quote]The lightning that almost ubiquitously strikes during exterior shots of the Frankenstein castle, as well as scenes involving Frankenstein's laboratory, becomes a character of its own: with intense flashes of light during the scene in which the exhumed corpse is given life to become the Creature.
One of the main symbols of the story is the setting. It takes place in a normal small town on a nice summer day. "The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full summer day; the flowers were blooming profusely and the grass was richly green." (Jackson 347).This tricks the reader into a disturbingly unaware state,
The emotional thriller, The Village, is about an isolated town that bases their lives around the 19th century, Amish country. The village has highly secured borders and outside the borders “those we don’t speak of” live and it’s an unspoken truce that the other won’t cross the borders. But the town soon turns upside down when Lucious Hunt breaches the borders to find medicine after the death of Edwards’s son. The writers and producers of this movie express symbolism of the fear of the unknown, the loss of innocence, and through the use of colors.
The next property of the film is the shot length. The film has many close-up shots. As emotional realism is an important idea throughout the film, close up shots give the character the opportunity to express whichever emotion. One key example of this is just before Gilbert burns down the house, there is a close up of the match box with the saying “Keep away from children,” after the house is in flames, the camera shows a close-up of each of the Grape children. This symbolizes that they are not children anymore. Another technique that Hallström uses is long shots for sweeping scenes of the setting. An example of this is mostly with Becky, when Gilbert is showing her where he lives, the ca...
The producer was aiming to create mystery and fear. The dark of the night and the description of the house as feeling dead in the protagonist’s narration sets a suspenseful scene filled with fear and tension. The young girl is followed by the camera as she explores the mansion. When entering the room suspected to be that of her aunts the camera leaves her side to pan around the room. The darkness doesn’t reveal everything but one becomes aware of a search. The revelation of little secrets leaves the viewer with many questions. The room is familiar to the protagonist as she finds items symbolic to her and familiar photographs. This familiarity however does not retract from suspicions that something sinister has been hidden. The producer has successfully captivated the viewer. The protagonist is being followed throughout the scene and has thus allowed for the viewer to bond with them. They are engaging with the audience through narration and have in return enticed the viewer to follow them along their journey. One feels nervous for the young girl however through tension in the scene one does not want them to discontinue the journey as too many questions have been left unanswered. One has been drawn into the world of which the protagonist dwells and is intrigued as to how the drama is