(fig. 1 – poster)
The film “Edward Scissorhands” created by Tim Burton is an
absolute masterpiece. From the beautiful juxtaposition of the creepy mansion,
where Edward lives and the slightly dystopian suburbia where the other
characters dwell, to the memorable design and fresh idea of the movie. Roger
Ebert states that: “The director Tim
Burton wages a valiant battle to show us new and wonderful things. In a
Hollywood that placidly recycles the same old images, Burton uses special
effects and visual tricks to create sights that have never been seen before.” (Ebert,
1990)
The movie received a fair amount of criticism concerning the
characters and the plot, but the design of the film cannot be denied for
instance The New York Times says that: “As
in each of Mr. Burton's films, the production design is the central good idea,
perhaps even the sole one. This time, with production design by Bo Welch
("Beetlejuice") and cinematography by Stefan Czapsky, it involves
bright colors in unlikely combinations, for instance, a lavender-suited Avon
lady driving a dandelion-yellow car) and fashionably ridiculous late-1950's
artifacts placed prominently throughout the characters' bunkerlike homes. On
the lawns of these houses, more and more of Edward's singular topiaries -- in
the forms of a ballerina, a penguin, a set of bowling pins and so on -- begin
to appear.” (Nytimes.com, 2014)
(fig. 2 – movie still)
“Edward Scissorhands” is focusing
on a major issue – the relationships between society and people who are
slightly “off” the accepted limits of what is normal. The website Coco.raceme.org
says that: “This is a wonderful tale
about love and kindness, but also about rejection and estrangement. It shows
the limits of people's tolerance for what is different from them and how
strangers, those who stray from the norm, commonly named 'misfits', awake
mockery or fear from a society which will use them and ultimately reject them,
thus breaking their innocence and goodness.” (Coco.raceme.org, 2014)
(fig. 3 movie still)
In conclusion, the movie is an
instant classic, although criticised, it will still remain in the heart of
every viewer, because it is capable of producing an emotional response and
connection to the characters. After all, who hasn’t felt rejected by society at
least once in their lives.
Images:
Fig. 1 - Meg-leslie.blogspot.co.uk, (2011). Meg Leslie
CGA&A: Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands (1990). [online] Available at:
http://meg-leslie.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/tim-burtons-edward-scissorhands-1990.html
[Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Fig. 2 - Cinesnatch.blogspot.co.uk, (2014). Cinesnatch: Hit
Me With Your Best Shot: Edward Scissorhands. [online] Available at:
http://cinesnatch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/hit-me-with-your-best-shot-edward.html
[Accessed 6 Nov. 2014].
Fig. 3 - Anon, (2014). [online] Available at:
http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/edward-scissorhands/images/23334085/title/edward-scissorhands-photo
[Accessed 6 Nov. 2014].
Bibliography:
Ebert, R. (1990). Edward Scissorhands Movie Review (1990) |
Roger Ebert. [online] Rogerebert.com. Available at:
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/edward-scissorhands-1990 [Accessed 3 Nov.
2014].
Nytimes.com, (2014). Movie Review - Edward Scissorhands -
Review/Film;And So Handy Around The Garden - NYTimes.com. [online] Available
at: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE2D81338F934A35751C1A966958260
[Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
Coco.raceme.org, (2014). Edward Scissorhands: review.
[online] Available at: http://coco.raceme.org/films/edwardscissorhands/review.php
[Accessed 3 Nov. 2014].
