Frankenweenie

http://www.disney.co.uk/frankenweenie/

Anyone who read my review of Dark Shadows will be aware that I used to be a very big Tim Burton fan, but that in recent years he has let me down again and again to the point where I very nearly didn't bother seeing Frankenweenie as I assumed it would be as bad as all his other recent offerings.

However, I did go and see Frankenweenie and I was so glad I did. Because Tim Burton is back to his cooky but heartwarming best. And all without the 'help' of usual collaborator Johnny Depp. This speaks volumes to me that the two of them need to stop working together (which has been my belief for a while now).

Not many people will know this but Tim Burton actually made Frankenweenie as a live action short film for Disney back in 1984. It tells the same story of a boy who revives his dog after it is run over by a car. It was also filmed in Black and White. Back then Disney execs deemed the film too dark and scary for children and fired Burton, who has now had the last laugh because Disney re-hired him to make this black and white stop motion version of the same film.

The story is also a very personal one for Burton who had a dog who died when he was a boy. Young Burton's love of horror stories such as Frankenstein gave him the idea for the story. I think this is one of the reason's that the film works so well. The story feels personal, and like a lot of love has been put into making it. 

Danny Elfman's beautiful score brings back memories of the wonderful work he did on my favourite Tim Burton film, Edward Scissorhands, and adds the perfect finishing touch to the brilliant voice work and animation. The film brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion and it's been quite some time since I've been able to say that about a Tim Burton feature.

The fact that this has been filmed in black and white might put some people off, it might also put kids off, but if you're a fan of old school Burton I urge you to go and see Frankenweenie and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. 7.5 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 23rd October 2012

UK Release Date - 17th October 2012

Cast Overview:

(If you don't like knowing who the voices are DONT SCROLL DOWN! ;0)

Charlie Tahan ~ Victor Frankenstein

Catherine O'Hara ~ Mrs Frankenstein / Weird Girl / Gym Teacher

Martin Short ~ Mr Frankenstein / Mr Burgemeister / Nassor

Martin Landau ~ Mr Rzykruski

Winona Ryder ~ Elsa Van Helsing

Robert Capron ~ Bob

Conchata Ferrell ~ Bob's Mom

Director ~ Tim Burton

Writer(s) ~ Leonard Ripps (Based on his Screenplay), Tim Burton (Based on his Original Idea) and John August (Screenplay)

Heathers

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097493/

'Why are you reviewing another old movie?' I hear you cry. 'I thought this blog was only reviewing new movies'. Au contraire, mon ami! This is a blog that reviews every film I see at the cinema this year. And yes, I was lucky enough to finally, after all these years of it being one of my favourite films, got to see Heathers at the cinema. 

Anyone who's read my reviews of Blue Valentine or The Princess Bride will know that one of my favourite places in London is the Prince Charles Cinema (http://www.princecharlescinema.com/). I previously stated that "one of the reasons I love that cinema so much is that they show quirky independent films on general release as well as special screenings of older classics, such as this". Sometimes I'm just so eloquent!

For anyone who hasn't seen it/heard of it (shame on you!), Heathers is the story of Veronica (Winona Ryder), who is a member of the most popular clique in Westerberg High. The other three girls in the clique all happen to share the name Heather and are all vile in their own special way. When Veronica meets the rebellious J.D (Christian Slater) she immediately recognises how alike they are and together they wreak havoc on the school. First by plotting the demise of the lead Heather (Kim Walker) and then the two school jocks Kurt and Ram (Lance Fenton and Patrick Labyorteaux). They disguise the murders they carry out as suicides and soon the whole school is trying to get in on the act and follow the cool kids way out. Unbeknown to the students of Westerberg High, J.D is already planning the way out for everybody.

Does J.D blow up the school? Will Veronica and J.D end up living happily ever after? Well if you haven't already seen Heathers I'm certainly not going to spoil it for you. You will simply have to buy (Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/3bwlstq) or rent (LoveFilm - http://tinyurl.com/3z3dwxh) it and find out for yourself! 


What I will say is that Heathers is a film that turned the 80's teen movies on their head. Before Heathers, Hollywood was making films like The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink, and after it, Hollywood got a sense of irony! There are fantastic performances from all involved and more quotable lines than you can shake a stick at. 


An almost perfect movie. Certainly one of the best films of the 80's. 9.5 out of 10.

*Below is the best trailer I could find for Heathers but it's under the foreign title Lethal Attraction (which I'm sure we all agree is a terrible title!). I wish I could find the Channel 4 advert for Heathers (tried You Tube but I couldn't see it) from when they showed it as part of an 80's movie season with Stand By Me and Cry Baby - it was a brilliant advert and had an amazing rhyme which I can't quite remember...*

Four little girls, not as they should,

three of them were bad, one of them was good,

along came a guy looking for some fun,

he took the good girl and gave her a gun...

(If anyone has this advert or remembers the rhyme, let me know coz it's honestly driving me mad that I can't remember!)

Viewing Date - 23rd May 2011

Original UK Release Date - 17th November 1989 (I was 8)

Cast Overview:

Winona Ryder ~ Veronica

Christian Slater ~ J.D.

Shannen Doherty ~ Heather Duke

Lisanne Falk ~ Heather McNamara

Kim Walker ~ Heather Chandler

Penelope Milford ~ Pauline Fleming

Glenn Shadix ~ Father Ripper

Lance Fenton ~ Kurt Kelly

Patrick Labyorteaux ~ Ram Sweeney 

Carrie Lynn ~ Martha Dunnstock aka Dumptruck

Director ~ Michael Lehmann

Writer ~ Daniel Waters