Corpse Bride gets slammed a lot because it's not in the same vein as the bright, kid-friendly, constantly moving Nightmare Before Christmas. Sure, they were both created by Tim Burton, they both have a similar look and they're both stop-motion, but that doesn't mean that Corpse Bride is going to be the exact same movie done a second time. This movie is the result of Tim exploring other venues within his dark imagination, and the final result of this one is quite satisfactory.
This film, while technically a kid's movie (and a musical), is a lot darker, in virtually every way possible. Still, just like with Nightmare, the sets for this film are exquisitely detailed, immaculately constructed with love and attention put into every minute detail. There isn't a single moment of the film that features something that doesn't look like it's right where it needs to be, and that's a testament to the brilliance of Tim and his team. The stop-motion moves with such fluidity that it's easy to lose yourself in the action of the film. Even the fast-moving scenes are handled with such careful precision and professionalism that this film is truly a joy to watch.
Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter work fantastically off each other in this film; the former playing Victor Van Dort, a lovable yet clumsy young man forced into an arranged marriage with Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson), only to wind up unwittingly proposing to a Corpse Bride (HBC).
It's a fun, upbeat - albeit creepy for younger viewers - trip to the underworld, a ticket to experience the world of the dead, complimented perfectly with the music of Oingo Boingo's Danny Elfman, who also did the music on Nightmare. Yet again, his score is hauntingly beautiful, creating the exact emotions within the viewer that Tim intends with each scene. The songs he's crafted are irresistibly catchy and, when they need to be, slower, heart-felt and moving.
This is a movie with a lot of heart, which is a little bit weird to consider for anyone who may not be accustomed to the world of Tim Burton.
While it's not a perfect movie, and it can't be viewed on the same level as The Nightmare Before Christmas, this movie stands perfectly well on its own and is a must-see for Burton fans.
