Tim Burton’s third stop motion animated film tugs at your heart for a shift from selfishness to empathy, after lives end and new relationships start. The film Corpse Bride enhances your view on the struggle of true love and moving back and forth from love to lust.
In the film, Emily, voiced by Helena Bonham Carter- is a bride who rises from the dead, woke from a vow given to a tree. Victor, voiced by Johnny Depp, who has also starred in many of Tim Burtons films- places his engagement ring on what seems to look like a branch and to his surprise has awoken a bride from the dead.
Music was all created by Danny Elfman, the man who does the music for almost all of Tim Burton’s films- including Nightmare before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Frankenwenie and lots more. By Elfman producing most of the music for Tim Burtons Movies, it keeps his movies consistent and to a certain style of instruments and feelings.
These films are also very similar to the stop motion style of film.In most of his films there is a manipulation of making items look as if they are moving on their own and editing the frames to make it seem smoother. Puppets with extreme detail are used to make the bodys and faces with the setting being made of a variety of colors and textures to give a familiar feeling in the story.
Watching this movie you feel connected to the characters. The word choice and musical aspect of this film makes you feel comforted. The eerie colors create a sense of suspense of not knowing what’s gonna happen next and the love you feel between the relationships within the characters.
The animated film shows holding onto hope and forced growth. You see how the characters’ attitudes change as the story goes on and new personality traits develop. Watching Victor make decisions to leave and stay while breaking Emily’s heart and leaving Victoria in the unknown helps you understand how tough Victor treats Emily from an outside perspective and feeling for all of the characters.
You feel bad that even after falling for the man who ends up killing her and thinking she has a second chance with someone new, is eventually met with death again.
Towards the end of the story there is a toast, “A toast, to emily- always a bridesmaid, never the bride” This quote is important because you feel connected to her. Emily’s constant longing for love while holding onto hope and always being betrayed or disappointed is a depressing feeling but also opens your eyes to connect. Emily’s dialogue and character growth in the story will always have a place in my heart.
This movie navigates the struggle with communication and decisions regarding other people’s feelings as well as your own. I love this movie and it has a great plot, executed fantastically.
