Johnson Cheu

You'd think there wouldn't be much to say on a director's films that mostly fit into the children's fantasy category. But this book proves there is plenty to say on the amazing creations of Tim Burton. I was a fan of many of his films as a small child, dressing up as Beetlejuice for Halloween. I must have been the oddest five year old walking in the school Halloween parade, but my five year old self had seen the movie so much so the movie to me was somehow a comfort. To be honest, I tended to avoid Tim Burton's newer films for a time, mainly due to the original 'Willy Wonka' being one of my favorite movies. It was inevitable I was disappointed in Burton's, no matter what the outcome. That often happens when two of my favorite things combine. But I made it a mission to watch for the first time and re-watch most of Burton's films before reading this book. So I appreciate reading about the films that I've loved for so long. It was interesting to learn that another comforting thing I've loved through the years, stop-motion animation was actually invented in Victorian times, which explains a LOT about Burton's films alone. My favorite chapter is 'An Odd Quest Continued' which explains how Burton's films flip the hero trope upside-down. Most of what is contained in this chapter should have been obvious, but was very eye-opening to me. I would have liked more focus on the earlier films here. However, there tends to be many typos (especially in one chapter) which never inspires confidence in any book. I've read plenty of other books published by McFarland. They have quite a few books featuring quite a few of my favorite things. It's silly to think a thesis could be written about a children's fantasy film, but that is exactly the sort of thing I like to read about. I loved revisiting Burton's movies are reading this along with it.… (mehr)

This collection of academic essays presents a variety of views on Tim Burton's films, analyzing the cultural implications of his work. Some of these were so densely academic they were hard to follow. The more readable ones were great, providing some new perspectives on movies I've loved as well as on some of his movies I only thought were so-so.

I particularly liked essays like Elizabeth Leigh Scherman's examination of typical and a-typical bodies in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Pamela Krayenbuhl's look at how both adaptations of Charlie and the Chocolate factory – Stuart's in the 70s and Burton's in the 00s – are directly tied to historic cultural perspectives of the times at which they were made; the examination of gender transgression and star power in Deborah Mellamphy's essay on Ewdward Scissorhands; among others.… (mehr)