Sarah Al Shaybani - Critical Thinking Essay 2

Tim Burton, a man of true talent, a man that has reached out to the world with his great work ever since his first big hit movie in 1982, Vincent. Tim Burton is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated American film director, film producer, writer and artist. Burton was born in 1958, and as of 2010, he is considered to have directed 14 films, and produced 10 as of 2009. His work is known to be the kind that is dark, unusual, and twisted. He also has a liking to animated fantasy and inexistent ideas in the world. Some of the movies that give an idea of what genre he tends to lean towards are: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007).

The movie that has truly caught my attention amongst all is Big Fish (2003). It has been one my favorite movies ever since it was released in the cinemas. Big Fish is a drama-adventure movie and it is based on the novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace. The film is about a father telling the story of his life to his son using exaggeration and color. Starring Ewan McGregor as young Edward Bloom and Albert Finney as an older Edward Bloom, the film also stars Jessica Lange, Billy Crudup, Danny DeVito, Alison Lohman and Marion Cotillard. Big Fish received four Golden Globe nominations as well as an Academy Award nomination for the musical score by Danny Elfman. Big Fish was also the second collaboration with Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, who played the characters of Jenny and the Witch.

One aspect that was used very carefully in the movie (Big Fish) is lighting. The lighting in the movie was in sync with each theme and scene. It was co-ordinat in a way that the audience would actually get in the mood and understand the character's feelings or the conflict of a scene. For example; the lightning changed to red when the main character was at war fighting, that gives a dark and a dangerous feel to the situation. Also, another scene was when the main character was a child looking for the witch's house in the forest, that certain scene was dark, gloomy, and a bit spooky, even though the movie is not considered as horror. Being an adventure movie, the lightning was relied on in drastic ways. Because the main character was going through many phases and obstacles through the way which ranged from different emotions. The style of the lightning pretty much describes Tim Burton's work, and definitely defines the term unusual and quirky. Colors keep changing throughout the movie, and especially because the main character is telling the stories to his son, different stories such as finding the witch's house, meeting the love of his life, and having to go off to war and finish his duties as a soldier. Different lightning and colors were used for each story that was told.
I truly recommend everyone and anyone to watch Tim Burton's work. It could be twisted, and not your typical everyday romantic-comedy, but I assure that most of his movies will be enjoyed, if not all.

                                                                                     
Some of his movies:

Batman (1989)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Batman Returns (1992)
The Nightmare before Christmas (1993)
Ed Wood (1994)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Big fish (2003)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Corpse Bride-Animation (2005)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
9 (2009)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Note that Johnny Depp has collaborated with Burton in Seven of the movies listed above (Always had the main character), and will also be acting in the upcoming movie Dark Shadows in 2011. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are known to be pretty close friends ever since their first film together!
Thought it could be interesting to know!

Also, for the music lovers! Tim Burton has directed a music video called Bones for The Killers (a rock band) It's pretty good. So check it out, you will definitely see the kind of work he presents! And in advance, sorry if the video is a bit inappropriate and graphic.

Enjoy! =)

The Killers - Bones. Directed by Tim Burton.