Now Over 5500 Reviews and (near) Daily Updates!

WELCOME! Use the search engines on this site (or your own off-site engine of choice) to gain easy access to the complete MAKSQUIBS Archive; more than 5500 posts and counting. (New posts added every day or so.)

You can check on all our titles by typing the Title, Director, Actor or 'Keyword' you're looking for in the Search Engine of your choice (include the phrase MAKSQUIBS) or just use the BLOGSPOT.com Search Box at the top left corner of the page.

Feel free to place comments directly on any of the film posts and to test your film knowledge with the CONTESTS scattered here & there. (Hey! No Googling allowed. They're pretty easy.)

Send E-mails to MAKSQUIBS@yahoo.com . (Let us know if the TRANSLATE WIDGET works!) Or use the Profile Page or Comments link for contact.

Thanks for stopping by.

Friday, May 16, 2008

THE CORPSE BRIDE (2005)

Tim Burton ’s recent output* has been so dispiriting that this delightful piece of macabre musical comedy is a double pleasure, though you have to wonder how much credit is due Burton & how much is Hollywood ‘credititis.’ It’s a companion piece to THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS in technique & tone and with much the same pros & cons. The basic story here (nervous groom awakes jilted corpse) doesn’t have the propulsion of TNBC, but tuner Danny Elfman shows a lot more variety (a big concerted number is like a Gilbert & Sullivan first act finale). Alas, catchy melodies still elude him. But the voice casting is superb, the look is both gross & elegant, and it’s all wrapped up in 87 delicious minutes.

*Ah, but this was written before SWEENY TODD came out, so perhaps I shall sing a sweeter tune shortly.

No comments: