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. . . at the Ten Best Fest in West Hollywood – – something done by the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The score was lovely, but not as prominent a part of the movie as I’m used to in a Tim Burton film. Don’t get me wrong, I think it was wonderful and did its job very well, it just wasn’t really in the foreground like it usually is. Heck, the whole thing felt like the least Burtonesque Tim Burton movie I’ve seen. Lovely anyway, and with a handful of fantastic Burton-style visuals, but overall it didn’t feel like what I’ve come to recognize as a Tim Burton movie.
Afterwards, the writer, John August was there to answer questions. He had some neat insights about different things in the movie, and if anyone cares, he also said he was working on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which got kind of a reaction from the audience.
That’s what I like about Burton now : since Mars Attacks he tries new things, other choices. I think it is normal, he’s at a point of his career where he wants and needs to proove that he can do more than pumpkins and scarecrows.
If you want my opinion, if he hadn’t change like that since 1995-1996, i wouldn’t be as fan as I am today. Great artists always reinvent themselves.
Like Danny..
That’s one thing that bothers me. I feel like people (even die-hard Burton fans) have this idea that Tim Burton’s style is morbid and dark, which I don’t think is the case at all. There were very fleeting moments in the movie where I felt a Burton touch (the first being a shot of a landscaping company in a suburban neighborhood, the last being oddly enough just a smile shared between Edward and Carl at the very end of the movie), but overall – – just the general energy of the movie felt so un-Burton-like.
Plus, I tend to enjoy movies on a purely visceral level which is why I think I like Tim Burton so much. I get the impression that he even puts things in his movies without really understanding why. Big Fish was a great movie, but there was a fair amount of symbolism so that also came to me as a surprise.
I’d say that a more subdued visual slant was serviceable for the film.
Yes, we do see only shades of the visual splendor from Edward, Nightmare or Sleepy Hollow, but I feel that profits Big Fish. It shows sceptics that Burton can have good drama without diving into his old tricks.
It makes a good balance (I think), between real-life and flashback. If the flashbacks were overly-flamboyant, it might have been jarring, or more phoney than intended.
Yet, I think most of the flashbacks are wonderfully-vintage Burton. When Edward displayed all those flowers for his future-wife … oh man, I just wanted to hug myself.
Though, I was surprised to see a main title that wasn’t separate from the plot — a main title where Elfman could lay in a strong statement of his main theme. But, since the film is so fragmented with flashbacks, it would have been hard to allow a grand theme to be played throughout heavy dialogue.
I loved the film, but because of the glowing reviews, I had too high expectations. I was expecting my socks to be knocked off, where only one was knocked.
Needless to say, I’m looking forward to future viewings.
Tim’s probably the least “dark” interest I have, so I’ve never really seen him as being all gloomy and such. I mostly look at his work as being exceptionally imaginative and more than a little amusing. (And just to recap: Big Fish is very saucy).
Just saw Big Fish myself, and I will have to agree (with some) who say it is quite new for Burton. Yes, visuals in the film were “Burtonesque,” but the tone, and the message, were — the only word I can think of — mature.
Yes, that’s it. Burton has matured. He has taken his incredible gift for visual artistry that he displayed with brilliant flamboyance in “Beetlejuice”, “Batman”, “Edward Scissorhands” and so forth — and applied it to a story with real depth, grace, beauty, and lasting meaning. (This is not to say movies like Edward Scissorhands did NOT have something to say, but Big Fish was more rich and poignant.)
I cite as evidence the fact that this is the first Burton film I have cried during.
GO SEE IT! Anyone who does not find SOMEthing touching in it has no heart.
I just saw it today too, and I must admit it is most definitely not your typical Burton. It is however something great, with a lot of emotion and meaning, and I was quite satisfied with how it turned out. Everything Burton is good at, he excelled at with this movie, and it was thrown on top of a good story with great acting. Very happy. And, of course, Danny was amazing.
I just went to see Big Fish for the second time, now that it’s playing everywhere. I liked it even more than the first time I saw it, and I was able to recognize the music better. I got shivers during the last shot when the fish jumps out of the water and that heavy theme plays (hopefully it was due to the movie and not the zero-degree weather here in New England). So many people in the theater were sobbing hysterically, but I couldn’t help but feeling really happy when the credits began rolling. I might just go to see it again for a happiness booster!
I saw it last night, and I have to say that I didn’t find it to be as moving as many people have said they did–but that’s probably just because I don’t have a good relationship with my father (and I don’t care to). That said, I did really enjoy the film, and I think it’ll be one of those movies that I enjoy more and more on repeated viewings.
I am surprised people are saying the movie is a mature effort for Tim Burton. I wouldn’t say that, but oddly enough that’s the main thing I’m thinking about the score, is that it’s a mature score for Elfman.
And I can’t believe I’m saying that, because that term gets so overused when talking about art. I hate it even more because the word implies that the artist will not continue to develop and change . . . but, oddly enough, that’s the word that keeps popping into my head when I hear the score.
Well…it’s like that episode of the Simpsons where Homer becomes an artist, and after unleashing his birdhouse from hell piece, the people left in disinterest because it was the same thing…artists need to reinvent themselves, otherwise their work suffers…And by that i mean people will get bored.
So then Homer floods the entire town of Springfield, and there you have it…reinvention -or something like that.I think Big Fish was a horrible film on all fronts. Elfman’s music isn’t even music. It sounds like someone left a bad cd of commercial music (on low) on some jukebox.
reinvent themselves? or, run out of ideas and can’t even rip themselves off anymore.
the music was non-existant. danny says himself he is sick of film scoring, so he probably didnt try.
I am not an Elfman hater, but Big Fish was the worst film i’ve seen in years, and I have seen many. How can you guys be so utterly jaded? Is anyone in here over 18?
best wishes to Danny in future endeavors.. Burton is a lost case…never talented, always ripped everyone off, but danny udually did that also, exept for his greats. ( I hpoe not! ) and remember always.. Burton DIDNT direct Nightmare, the best Danny Elfman score/lyrics. They really dont work well together, minus Scissorhands and Beetlejuice.
I hope Big Fish wins no awards, as if awards meant anything
Eh it was great…
Actually it’s NOT great…it’s not greater than great – it’s greater than GREATEST.
No i don’t have Direct TV….
Sincerely,
John Amenta…You know you’re right – Oscars don’t mean a damn thing. If at all, it’s a matter of quality over quantity. And in cases of exception where you have flicks like Titanic, where quality and quantity are joined, you have a great film.
Dear Message Board Loser for A Sec,
Please ask your Mom before using the Internet.
Thank you.
“the music was non-existant. danny says himself he is sick of film scoring, so he probably didnt try.”
the hell are you talking about
Bodhi diesn’t like kids on this messageboard, which is indicative of his age.
If he’s sick of film scoring, then he would have stopped by now. That’s his career. If he’s going to retire, then he might just do so at 62, but i doubt it. Artists never stop…if they were going to do that in the first place then why bother going into it? You can’t punch a time card for inspiration. Even if he’s married…
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