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Analysis of cinematic techniques in tim burtons films
Analysis of cinematic techniques in tim burtons films
Tim burton film analysis
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Director Presentation: Tim Burton
Almost every director has a "trademark" style, for example Quentin Tarantino is known for his "non-linear storylines" or Martin Scorsese, who is known for his "slow motion "shots. Tim Burton also ranks among this list since he is known for his “Gothicism,” making him unique from other directors.
In order to express his “Gothicism” style, he uses two common features in all of his films: camera movements and lighting techniques. With those simple techniques, he makes an astonishing, out-of-the-world films that viewers adore to watch.
Lighting techniques help set the mood and the setting of any film, however, Burton has a habit of breaking the typical guidelines. Reverse lighting, a style he is known for,
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No matter how dark or bright the film is, he will always use a gothic theme. Almost all of Burton’s film the main characters have a similar personality; perculiar in their own way, but at the same time they are an outcast in a world where no one could relate to them. Another thing you would find in his films are flashback scene, a technique he uses to add a back story to his main characters, explaining why they are like that. He also likes to use actors that have similar concepts as his. Few actors such as Johnny Deep, Helen Bonham Carter and Christopher Lee conformed to his standards and repeatly collaborated in his films. Tim Burton has an unusual visual style of characters, props, and setting that stand out in his film in an exaggerated manner.
When Tim Burton writes his film, his style becomes more distinguished and striking. He creates characters from his own life experiences, such as Edward Scissorhands who represents him in his childhood days. His films shows his true colors as a person and his style continues to influence many who undergo similar experiences. Despite the unusualness, Burton executes the normality into his eccentric
Individuality is rejection, whether it be a rejection of society or a rejection by society. Burton explores the consequences that can derive from rejection and how appearances may differ from reality. The work of Tim Burton consists of a unique style unlike any other. Not only do his films convey his ideas of individuality to the audience, they are done in a distinctive Burton way. Burton’s style of the formal elements of German Expressionism, gothic horror, and unique characters allow him to convey his ideas.
Using the production elements of symbolism; especially hands themselves, and the use of allusion to elements from other genres; particularly those from fairytale and gothic romance/horror films, Tim Burton has directed the film in such a manner to illustrate, emphasise and ridicule the materialism and lack of imagination of society. The film however, is prominently a satire which has certain elements from fairytale, comedy and horror genres. Through the choices made by the director, the audience is invited to become aware of the inhumanity present in the way society functions, especially in its prejudiced treatment towards people who do not conform. The use of allusion in Edward Scissorhands is one of the most important choices in production that has been made by director Tim Burton. In order to fully appreciate and understand the plot, the movie is dependant on the audience being able to recognise certain references and elements emulated from other films.
Terrence Malick has a very distinct stylistic approach that is clearly evident through his films. In almost all his films he utilizes the same themes and technical devices. Three themes and technical devices Malick utilizes in almost all of his films are man v. nature, voiceovers, and religious themes.
...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.
For example, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Burton implements dim lighting during meaningful moments and bright lighting during more vibrant moments. This effectively conveys the tone set for the scene and maintains a clear balance in the scene. This helps the audience clearly understand the scene’s characteristics and its meaning to the film. Similarly, in Edward Scissorhands (1990) Burton utilizes lighting to set contrast between the characters. The superficial town is set in a bright, sunny setting, however, the lives the characters lead are quite the opposite of bright. These individuals spend their free time judging others and have no individuality whatsoever. Furthermore, Edward, one of the only characters who is kindhearted, is portrayed in dull, dark lighting. The lighting contrasts with his sweet personality to emphasize who is accepted and who is not. This contrast helps the audience understand the contradicting worlds of Edward and the frivolous town. In addition, in Big Eyes (2014) Burton implements lighting to show the slow transition of Margaret Keane’s life. The lighting depicts the dulling of her life as she faces troubles in her life. The use of lighting here helps the audience see the clear transition in Margaret Keane's life and clearly understand the conflict in her life. Similarly, Burton utilizes lighting in his films
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...
“One person's craziness is another person's reality.” –Tim Burton. A well respected director Tim Burton has always been known for the ability to send a strong universal message. In one of his most widespread movie, Edward Scissor Hands he reveals his true potential as a filmmaker to show how society can treat an outsider. Edward Scissor Hands Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many more of his creations, Tim Burton uses lighting, and camera movements to depict a unique gothic cinematic experience. The appearance of a person is only an illusion, the inside is the truth of someone.
Animation and horror films were an inspiration to him growing up and becoming a director. The films that I analyzed were Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, Frankenweenie and Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. As well as my research I was able to get different people’s look and opinion on Tim Burton’s gothic style. I was able to take their thoughts and incorporate them into what I mentioned about the films. The films that I analyzed have some gothic aspects but they all have a theme of death incorporated in some way. As was stated in a review by American critic Roger Ebert, “Burton uses special effects and visual tricks to create sites that have never been seen before. The movie takes place in an entirely artificial world, where a haunting gothic castle crouches on a mountain-top high above a storybook suburb, a goofy sitcom neighborhood where all of the houses are shades of pastels and all of the inhabitants seem to be emotional clones of the Jetsons.”So in what ways does Tim Burton 's use of the gothic genre affect the cinematic aspect in his films? He uses many ways, whether it is costumes, makeup, camera shots, setting, lighting and so on. However, I believe he always has at least a theme of death revolving each film. The main thing that shaped his films and his career is his influences. I noticed that in some films he portrays his childhood and his influences in his
Tim Burton's style can show the character's emotion, for example, in the movie Edward Scissorhands, when Ed first saw Kim in one of the pictures, Ed had a huge smile in his face, making him happy because he thinks that Kim looks beautiful. The audience thinks that's loving and it that it's kind-hearted. Another time Tim uses a close-up is in the movie Corpse Bride, he uses the close-up when a man was running away from a monster that was chasing him in a dark and scary forest. While the man was running there was always a close-up on his face to show his expression of the ghost girl that was chasing him. Now I
The film Edward Scissorhands shows how society rejects people who are different. This film directed by Tim Burton is about a boy named Edward who lives in an empty mansion. The film shows a community that is quick to judge but slow to distinguish the qualities of Edward. The people in the community are selfish and expect to receive from Edward without giving but regardless of this there are still some who love and care for him. By viewing this film the audience recognises how important it is to give someone a chance to prove themselves before judging them.
One strand of auteur theory, as Graeme Turner explains, concerns the identification of a director's visual style (Turner 44). When it comes to talking about visual styles of Asian directors, particularly in the context of Hong Kong cinema, one name that immediately comes to mind would be none other than Wong Kar-wai. Any Asian film student would probably be familiar with his signature works. Wong Kar-wai has been considered as "the very latest auteur produced by the second wave" in Hong Kong cinema (Teo 193). His passion for stylistic filmmaking and pursuit of film artistry gave him the recognition as a Hong Kong auteur. His auteur status arose from the distinctive visual style and individualistic visions evident in his films. Apart from directing, Wong Kar-wai also writes the screenplays for his own films. That gives him almost complete control over the entire film production and reinforces his authorship. He is famous for shooting without scripts, improvising the narrative as he shoots the films. With all his films being labelled as independent art-house and in contrast to the many commercial Hong Kong products, Wong Kar-wai stands apart from other directors (Stokes 186). In this essay, I will examine and discuss how academic film critics and scholars such as Stephen Teo, David Bordwell and others have talked about his visual style, in relation to one of his many award-winning films, Chungking Express (1994).
Christopher Nolan: Filming Techniques and Characterization Starting from a young age, director and writer Christopher Nolan has been focusing and creating film since the age of 7. Nolan always has a unique touch to his film. This includes often using non-linear story telling throughout his films, his frequent uses of symmetric image composition, a use of unconventional and deep characters, his surprising and twistful plots and Nolan commitment to sticking to traditional film as oppose to the use of digital. Nolan likes to use a non-linear story telling when it comes to his films.
Director Tim Burton has directed many films. He started out working at Disney, but shortly after he decided to make his own films. He split away from Disney because they wouldn’t let him add the scariness and darkness he has in his films. After he left he created many great films and also developed his own style. He uses many cinematic techniques in his films for example he uses close-up camera angles on symbolic items, he uses music to show foreshadowing, and he uses lighting and color to show mood
Edward Scissorhands, written by Tim Burton, tells the tale of a young man who is lovable, childlike and sensitive, bewildered by the humanity around him, yet is terrifying- someone who has scissors, the deadly weaponry, for hands. Many viewers may read this film as a “Tim Burton” type of fairytale which includes both an alternative aspect and romance. However, through the presentation of mise-en-scene in this film, Burton drives in a much more serious subject of social criticism by establishing two different understandings of life in the movie.
” … an auteur is able to maintain a consistency of style and theme by working against the constraints of the Hollywood mode of production.” – Warren Buckland (2008)