Living Lessons from Corpse Bride

AgapePress ^ | September 30, 2005 | By Dr. Marc T. Newman

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

(AgapePress) - Stories resonate most fully with us when they contain timeless truths, or when they convey a sense of the world as it should be. Despite the fantastic circumstances present in Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Burton manages to infuse his comically gruesome story with just the kind of moral arc that can move an audience. You'll know you're hooked when you start rooting for Emily, the slightly decomposed Corpse Bride.

Fair warning -- this analysis contains significant spoilers, so if you have not yet seen Corpse Bride but intend to, print this article and put it away until you have viewed the film. Feel free to print and take the discussion card from MovieMinistry.com as well, to guide the after-film discussion.

[craig_eddy]

Bump for later reading

[End Times Sentinel]

I'm probably not going to contribute much to a discussion of the article, but I'm posting this in the hopes that some folks who have seen the film can give me some advice.

My kids' favorite movie is Nightmare Before Christmas and they've been dying to see this movie.  They're 6 and 4, which seems kind of young, but they LOVE ghoulish things.  If it's border line, I'm probably going to take them, but if you've seen the movie, what do you think- get away with it, or disaster in the making?

Thanks in advance.

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[supercat]

The movie is no more gory than Nightmare Before Christmas. Despite the somewhat supernatural plot, the film's underlying moral messages are good ones. Honor and self-sacrifice are rewarded, while vilainy is not. I enjoyed Danny Elfman's music though I found some of the lyrics hard to understand.

Probably the biggest weakness of the film is that because there's a sense that the movie will end 'justly', many of the plot twists are entirely predictable. It's obvious what has to happen to reach a 'just' conclusion and, sure enough, it does. The movie survives, however, because it's driven not just by plot, but also by the characters and performances.

If your kids enjoyed Nightmare Before Christmas they'll probably enjoy Corpse Bride. The film comes across much better than the previews would suggest. If you see it, I'd be interested to know what you think.

[End Times Sentinel]

If you see it, I'd be interested to know what you think.

Thanks for the insight, supercat.  I'll freepmail you when we see it and let you know what we thought, probably this weekend.

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)