By Mikael Trench
Before I knew who Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick or even Steven Spielberg were, I was in love with the works of Tim Burton. I, along with many others my age, likely remember Burton as the first director they could ever recognize and for good reason. Saying that his work contains loads of style would be an understatement. From the wacky and zany characters to the dark themes conveyed throughout his work, Burton’s films undeniably have an essence to them that, for many of us, succeeded in capturing our minds at a young age. With his newest film, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” having come out earlier this weekend, it is time to look upon the distinguished career of Tim Burton and which of his works truly stand the test of time.
- Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Burton’s directorial debut, “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” still holds up as one of the director’s most wacky, fast paced and outrageous adventures to date. The film follows the over-the-top antics of Pee Wee Herman (played by Paul Reubens) as he goes on a mad hunt for his missing bicycle that takes him across the nation, where he runs into a host of wild situations and crazy characters. “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” came out around the same time that many other nonsensical comedies were gaining popularity such as “Airplane!” (1980) and “The Blues Brothers” (1980). What helps Burton’s film, however, ultimately comes down to the direction. Burton has a flair for combining completely outrageous and usually dark elements with modern day settings such as in films like “Frankenweenie” (2012) and “Beetlejuice” (1988) but what makes “Big Adventure” so unique is that it’s over-the-top elements come from bright colors, fast paced action and wild comedy. This ultimately comes from Paul Reubens’ performance. There’s no question here; the guy was made to play this role. The combination of his childlike energy and wild expressions could have gotten annoying very fast, but thanks to Burton’s ability to balance it with a variety of situations, Pee Wee proves to be a lot of fun whenever he’s on screen. With just the right mix of insanity, comedy, darkness and fun, a lot probably didn’t think it could get better than this for Burton. Little did we all know, this was just the beginning.
- Batman (1989)
What some still argue to be one of the best superhero films ever made, it’s hard to believe that when Tim Burton’s version of the dark knight was announced to hit screens, the world had a ton of doubt in the project. Tim Burton wasn’t known to be a huge comic book reader, Michael Keaton was more well known to be a comedic actor, and up to that point, Batman was only known to be portrayed as more of a lighter and goofier character on screen from the Adam West Batman television series. But Burton had one mighty surprise up his sleeves, with one of his most intense, exciting, and well-executed films as of yet. The film takes place in Gotham City, where most have passed off Batman (played by Michael Keaton) as nothing more than an urban legend. That is, however, until the Joker (played by Jack Nicholson) decides to challenge the dark knight by causing havoc throughout Gotham. Now Bruce Wayne must suit up as he goes up against this fearsome foe. So why has this film worked when, according to the public, it should’ve automatically flunked? Well, much of it comes from some surprisingly strong performances. Keaton as Batman is one of, if not the best, to portray the Dark Knight on screen so far. Unlike some of the other live action actors who have played Batman so far, Keaton’s performance is surprisingly subdued. Everything from his voice, his actions, and even his costume have a much more held back nature to them that make Batman rather intimidating. It is further proof of Keaton’s diversity as an actor. Of course, a hero is only as good as his villain and the Joker here is one solid baddie. Nicholson plays the very opposite of Batman, as a very eccentric, nutty and dangerously unpredictable character who is also a load of fun at the same time. While not as legendary as the iconic Heath Ledger performance that would follow in 2008’s “The Dark Knight”, this Joker still is a close second when it comes to portrayals of this fearsome villain. Other than the performances, Burton’s direction takes a unique turn here. Executed in a somewhat more mature atmosphere than some of his previous works, Burton’s “Batman” would heavily influence what later incarnations of the character would be like on screen. He really treats these characters with respect and his twisted style fits in perfectly with them. With action, engaging themes and stellar performances, it’s no wonder why “Batman” still stands out as one of the best portrayals of this character yet.
- Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Tim Burton has directed and produced several of some of the most critically acclaimed stop motion animated feature films including “James and the Giant Peach” (1996), “Corpse Bride” (2005) and “Frankenweenie” (2012). But even after over 20 years, his best is still undeniably his twisted holiday cult classic, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Taking place in the fictional world of Halloweentown, our story focuses on Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown, who is becoming bored of the same old holiday. One day during a walk, Jack discovers Christmas Town and decides to make it all his by kidnapping Santa Claus and delivering all the presents himself. With the help of all of the Halloween characters, he succeeds, but finds out that things may not be as easy as he thought. Even though Burton, who only made the story and produced the film, didn’t direct “Nightmare” (he was busy on pre-production on “Ed Wood” and finishing up “Batman Returns”) his style is still clearly present throughout. The film’s biggest strength ultimately comes through its execution. “Nightmare” isn’t heavily focused on character development or a complex story, but rather plays out as a twisted yet simplistic fairytale. Rather than excessive dialogue, the film heavily relies on both gorgeous stop motion animation and some memorable songs to tell its story. The animation here has not aged in the slightest with its use of creative character and set designs having heavily influenced many of the most popular stop motion films of today. The songs are nothing short of incredible. Tunes such as “Making Christmas,” “This is Halloween,” “What’s This,” and “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” are not only catchy songs that we remember to this day, but help present the characters, the settings, and the overall story brilliantly. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is not only known as one of the best stop motion films ever made, but has been recognized as one of the greatest works of all animation and will always be remembered as a holiday classic.
- Edward Scissorhands (1991)
The first collaboration with Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp proved early on why these two make one of the best director-actor relationships in all of Hollywood with this quirky and emotional masterpiece. The film centers around a man named Edward (played by Johnny Depp) who, as the title suggests, has been given scissors for hands by his late creator. One day, a saleswoman named Peg Boggs (played by Dianne Wiest) finds Edward and decides to take him in, trying to help him adapt to suburban life. As the neighbors and residents of the suburb begin to try and figure out what they can do with the peculiar character, Ed begins to fall in love with Peg’s teenage daughter, Kim Boggs (played by Winona Ryder). But when her jealous boyfriend begins to get in the way, Edward finds that not everything is as peaceful as it seems in little suburbia. Tim Burton personally considers this to be his best work, and with good reason. Like “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” there is a certain fairytale essence to this film that allows its simplicity to immediately relate to all ages. However, what sets “Edward Scissorhands” apart is that Burton’s talent of combining these fantastic elements with a modern day setting is at its very best here. This comes through in many ways, in particular with the development of Edward as a character. He starts off quite shy and gentle, and it would have ultimately have been fine if he had stayed alone, but as the tension of his new suburban lifestyle and overwhelming stress take over, Edward begins to become more aggressive. It’s a unique kind of character development and also makes for strong social commentary about suburban life. Depp’s performance helps give this character that strong development, while also remaining completely sympathetic with his shy childlike innocence. A romance for those who want something a little more edgy, “Edward Scissorhands” will play with your emotions like an instrument while keeping you entranced the entire time.
- Ed Wood (1994)
So what happens when Tim Burton takes the leap from twisted fantasies to passionate biopics-what is easily one of the most inspiring movies to ever be created, otherwise known as the 1994 “Ed Wood.” The film tells the true story of Edward D. Wood Jr (played by Johnny Depp), known to be the worst filmmaker of all time, with the productions of his three most well-known works, “Glen or Glenda” (1953), “Bride of the Monster” (1955) and “Plan 9 From Outer Space” (1959) being highlighted in the film. We also get a look into Wood’s romantic life and many friendships with such real characters as Tor Johnson (a 400 pound Swedish wrestler), the Amazing Criswell (a highly inaccurate yet eccentric fortune teller), Vampira (a sexy late night television hostess) and, most significantly, Bela Lugosi (the star of “Dracula” (1932)). So what makes this Burton’s best, especially for a man who mainly focuses on wild fantasies and dark imagery? One word-everything. First off, “Ed Wood” still contains all the charms of a Tim Burton film, even without anything unrealistic being present. The film is Burton’s huge love letter to the era of 50’s filmmaking, from the constant references to other filmmakers and actors of the time to the entire film being shown in black and white, the aesthetic of this movie not only stands out from other Tim Burton films, but from other films coming out at that time. The style would be nowhere without some substance, and there is loads of that here. Everything from the strong chemistry shared between Depp’s fun, high energy Ed Wood and Martin Landau’s Academy Award winning portrayal as the gut-bustingly hilarious yet heartbreakingly sympathetic Bela Lugosi to the quirky musical score, to the brilliant pacing, to the perfectly executed comedy, “Ed Wood” has a lot going for it. But undeniably its biggest strength comes from the film’s relatable quality. Even those not into filmmaking can take a lot from Wood’s determination, energy and spirit, yet we can also see ourselves in him when he fails. By the end, we learn that as long as the vision we want has been made, then we should be satisfied and the movie leaves you with a grateful feeling inside. With a mature tone, some side-splitting comedy, sympathetic characters and themes on being proud of your own work, “Ed Wood” is easily Burton’s best.
Now it’s your turn to grab some candy corn and check out these awesome films. If you haven’t watched them yet, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Leave a comment to let us know what your favorite Tim Burton film is!
