Tim Burton “You’ve brought us the wrong Alice,” complains the Dormouse; “she seems to have lost her ‘muchness’(Herbert).” This was a quote said by the Dormouse in the movie “Alice in Wonderland” directed and produced by Tim Burton. Burton, born Timothy William Burton, is an esteemed and overall wonderful director. He has created, produced, and starred in many movies and TV shows, his first being “The Island of Doctor Agor” in 1971. He is a son of Bill and Jean Burton and has been married to Lena Gieseke and was a companion to Lisa Marie. He is currently a companion to Helena Bonham-Carter, who he has two children, Billy Ray and Nell, with(‘Tim Burton.” Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television). Tim Burton revolutionized the film industry as seen in his dark but humorous creation of “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” his …show more content…
Along with the gothic themes, there are also some , but not many, colors shown(Perno). The character of Edward Scissorhands was based off of a drawing Burton created when he was younger, with the name stated along with the artwork. People may notice Burton works with Depp in almost all of his movies. This movie was the first collaboration between the two out of eight(“25 cutting facts about Edward Scissorhands.”). The story itself is seen through the main character, Edward’s, eyes(“Ten Things You Might Not Know About Edward Scissorhands.”). That is the only reason there is so much color, for example, in the town(Perno). In all of Burton’s other movies, it is seen through the eyes of an outside character or an outside force, such as a character not acknowledged. The studio wanted the ending to be more upbeat at first, but after a while, they let Burton have the darker ending he wanted(17 Things We Learned From the ‘Edward Scissorhands’
Tim Burton also uses great Lighting to make Edward look like shouldn't be there, for example, it shows Edward cramped into a small car and with bright colors in the background. In the scene where they enter Edwards garden it seem so beautiful up close, but like hell far away because its very dark over there, then when it enters back into the house it seems like it would be from a horror movie. And the make up on his face makes it more fit with the lighting because of the scars with his pale white face and his crazy black hair.
The most appealing films are those that keep audiences guessing, surprise them at the most unexpected times and break conventional film boundaries. Edward Scissorhands (1990) directed by Tim Burton, is a feature film that does exactly that. It blends a fairy tale story with a gothic horror film, to engage the viewer right from beginning until the resolution. It tells the tale of Edward, who was the creation of an inventor who died before he could give Edward proper hands, and was left with scissors as hands. When he was taken from his gothic mansion, into a “normal” suburban community, he was at first welcomed, but then heartbreakingly rejected when things went wrong. The character of the “monster” is an important feature to many gothic horror texts, and examining Edward and other various characters helps to bring about interesting ideas and concepts about this key role. Burton also draws on the relationship between the princess and the prince, commonly found in fairy tales. By using various features found in the gothic horror genre and the fairy tale genre, Edward Scissorhands is able to sway us to think about the consequences of judging people who are different, it influences us to question what true love is and changes the way we view who can be the prince and princess.
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.
...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.
Tim Burton directed many of the famous movie like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” or “Edward Scissorhands” as a director. He uses many of the cinematic techniques to establish moods and tones. The moods and tones of his movies are dark and sometimes interesting because of his experience and influence from Walt Disney and Dr.Seuss. Tim Burton uses lighting, sound and zoom to establish his own unique gothic style.
A cinematic technique Burton often uses is low key lighting. In his opening credits during Big Fish and Edward Scissorhands, the credits were dull and dark. An example would be in Edward Scissorhands. Edward’s house was in low key lighting
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...
...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.
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
Overall, Burton’s creative style is clearly seen in his films Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice. It is most clearly seen through his use of dramatic music and low key lighting. The dramatic music helps to set the mood and the low key lighting creates suspense and leaves the audience asking questions. Through the use of these 2 cinematic techniques, Burton is able to fascinate his audience with mysterious and exciting stories, and that is what makes him a great and unique
Film adaptations based on particular works such as Dickens’s Great Expectations are not the only means through which we get a glimpse of Victorian culture and society. Animated films such as Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride (2005) represent the Victorian era through humor and exaggeration and reveal Burton’s awareness of 19th century English society. In his study Gothic Fantasy: The Films of Tim Burton, Edwin Page argues that Burton’s films are not realistic in nature, but like fairy tales they communicate through symbolic imagery, as they speak of “things far deeper within our conscious and subconscious minds than most films would dare to delve” (7). His films are believed to be personal and reflect dark humor, as he combines elements of fairy tales, the gothic, parody and grotesque. Most importantly, Burton usually identifies himself with subordinate characters in horror films that exhibit grand melodramatic emotion and also finds himself “identifying with the monsters rather than the heroes, as the monsters tended to show passion whereas the leads were relatively emotionless” (13). The monsters in his films symbolize the outsider and the alienated, a figure that defies society and is almost always exaggerated in representation. Significant examples from his numerous films include Edward in Edward Scissorhands (1990), demonic Mrs. Lovett and the blood thirsty barber in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) and the tragicomically grotesque jilted bride Emily in Corpse Bride (2005).
However, they have also put him in an artistic cage according to his viewers. They hear his name and they immediately associate his work with only the Gothic, only the creepy and dark. They see his twisted figures, his gloomy color schemes, his emphasis on death and then label him as an artist only able of applying the Gothic. In a way they are correct; he does employ dark and creepy details, however, he is a multifaceted artist capable of much more than the macabre. As he stresses the Gothic characteristics, he likewise applies modernistic techniques and an array of vivid colors. All of which contrasts sharply with features of the Gothic genre. Burton’s iconic dark palettes and color schemes allow him to give color meaning. In the Nightmare before Christmas he does this by creating a juxtaposition between the kaleidoscope colors of Christmas land and the Grayscale Halloween land. Both holiday realms, containing a leader and their own niche, embrace their own color palette. These contrasting hues coincide with the beliefs and tone of the holiday. Bright reds and greens highlight the joy of gift giving and being around those you love. In contrast murky blacks, cold dark colors, and the occasional orange emphasize the rapturous glee of fear and
...ce films, the latest released in 2010, directed by Tim Burton. There were also two more sequels written by Dodgson and multiple comic books. There is even a statue in New York’s Central Park featuring Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Mad March Hare. Alice continues to be a modern symbol of the bewildering and twisted side of today’s visual arts, literature, and entertainment.
...As we are examining the people on the screen, we are viewing ourselves. Burton produces a “perfect” figure of Edward who is kind, caring, and signifies the most striking feelings of individuals. In addition, his evil appearance exists only because humanity says that he is unusual. Burton wants us, as the audience, to be conscious of ourselves as a part of the social order, and to cautiously consider the realism we decide to accept as true and exist in.
Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland was a well educated and talented man. His story of Alice became very popular and recognizable, even today, 150 years later, his story is still known by most people. By looking at Alice in Wonderland, one can see that Lewis Carroll included the themes of insanity and confusion because it reflects his state of mind, medical problems, and life experiences. Carroll’s story of Alice is now a classic known by almost everyone all over the world. There have been two major Alice in Wonderland movies, the original was released in 1951 and directed by Clyde Geronimi and the other, a twist on the story, in 2010 directed by Tim Burton.