Tim Burton is one of my favourite directors, he has a unique style which is consistent throughout his films, with abnormal characters, cartoonish vibes, creative, bright visuals and memorable stories, he's one of the best! Another continuous themes throughout his films is the usage of the same casting, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder and Helena Bonham Carter are well known to feature repeatedly in his films.
Corpse Bride (2005)
Actors: Johnny Depp, Danny Elfman, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson
This is the style of a typical Tim Burton films, a dark and gloomy cartoon, the characters are either short and fat or thin and tall. The story line is two families arrange a marriage between Victor (Johnny Depp) and Victoria (Emily Watson) who are both very shy characters, Victoria's family have ran out of money therefore are marrying her off to a wealthier family, which is Victor's who are fish merchants. During the practice of the vows, Victors stutters and can remember his lines which leads him to panic and sets the Mother in-laws dress on fire. He vacates to the forecasts where he speaks his vowels perfectly however places the rings on a tree branch which looks like a hand but then drags him down to the land of the dead. The hand turns out to be a woman who was murdered, Emily (Helena Bonham Carter) who believes she's finally been asked to be married and wants to marry Victor. However Victor needs to get back to the land of the living before Victoria marries a dodgy villain.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Actors: Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, Ken Page, Paul Reubens
The film starts in in Halloween town, a town that lives to scare people in the 'real world' on the 31st of October, the scariest of them all is Jack Skellington, The Pumpkin King. Jack begins to get tired of the annual tradition of scaring people and goes in search for something new where he stumbles across Christmas Town, where everything is bright, colourful and joyful. He's fascinated by this sight and gets the idea of kidnapping Santa Claus and take over the role of Mr Claus. However he soon discovers the task he's taken on isn't as easy as he thought and the festive night turns into a nightmare.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Actors: Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton
The Film starts off with a newlywed couple (Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin) who die in car accident in their home town, however they don't realise they've died until they return home, where they don't have a reflection and are unable to leave the house. Soon their home is sold to a new, modern family (Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Winona Ryder) who move in and renovate the whole place, the ghosts are distraught as it was their perfect home that they love. The daughter of the family (Winona Ryder) is fascinated with the dark side of life as well as the afterlife, she soon discovers the couple who are trapped in the house and tries to make her parents see that they're destroying the ghosts home. Throughout the film, the pair are told not to ask for help to get the family out of their home from a guy called 'Beetlejuice' (Michael Keaton) , he's a dangerous spirit who will go to great lengths to get rid of the living, by the time the couple realise this, it's too late.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
A genius scientist builds a frankenstein like man, Edward (Johnny Depp), who is a gentle soul, however the scientists dies before being able to finish the man, leaving the Edward with scissors for hands to fend for himself alone in his mansion. A loving saleswoman for Avon, Peg (Dianne Wiest), shows up at the mansion to try her luck in selling products but discovers the lonely Edward and realises he's a quiet soul who wants to belong in a family. Peg brings Edward back to her home and shows him what he's been missing in life, such as drinking alcohol, meeting new people and wearing normal clothes. When he's introduced to her family he's instantly falls in love with her daughter Kim (Winona Ryder), even though he's a kind and caring soul, his hands still make him an outcast.
Actors: Johnny Depp, Dianne Wiest, Winona Ryder
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