by Amg Writes

Created on: July 27, 2010

The Gloomy, Glossy World of Burton

There is something about the world of Tim Burton that is magical and yet eerie. From the often darkened color palettes, if not black and white entirely, to the haunting music of Danny Elfman, his films tend to leave an impression—and occasional nightmares. Even now, the name brings to mind a darkened forest, with grey trees that are at once lifeless but somehow sentient; a pale-faced hero or heroine meanders through them in search of we know not what; beneath the sound of crunching leaves on the forest bed, faintly, an ominous intonation lingers.

Though from time to time, as with Big Fish for example, he has taken almost the opposite approach—splashing the screen with the brightest brights and cranking out cheerful, hopeful ballads—yet somehow, those films still maintain that indefinable Burton-quality. It is haunting yet delightful, playful but creepy, sometimes gruesome but always pleasant.

Early Burton films were more child-like—Batman, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, and Beetlejuice are three films that are completely unassociated except for that darkness, silver-lined with humor that makes them all alike. Juxtapose, Keaton’s Batman with his Beetlejuice—only Tim Burton would cast the same man for these two opposing roles, and filmed almost back-to-back. Batman is the hero, tormented but light of heart. Beetlejuice is the villain, physically repulsive but somehow loveable.

Of course, there is no mentioning Tim Burton without Johnny Depp and their extremely fruitful working partnership. Beginning in 1990 with Edward Scissorhands—it could be argued that Tim Burton is responsible for pulling Depp from the covers of teen-pop magazines and plunging him into the off-beat film career he is now famous for. Their collaboration has produced eight films, including: Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, and most recently, Alice in Wonderland.

His last six films, every one since 2001’s Planet of the Apes, have included his life partner Helena Bonham Carter. Her roles in Burton’s films are often antagonistic or downright unflattering—for him, she has played a witch, a corpse, the murderous Red Queen, and Mrs. Lovett, who puts people in meat pies—though perhaps only Bonham Carter could make these characters amiable.

What would Halloween be without the presence of beloved Burton characters? Personally, I dream of attending, or even throwing, a Burton-themed costume ball with all of my favorites in attendance. Imagine, and assortment of Nightmare ghouls mingling around the dining tables, Batman chatting with a talking ape, Pee Wee dancing with Alice, and Beetlejuice comparing notes with the Headless Horseman near the punchbowl. Yes, I long to enter the world of Tim Burton.

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