By AMANDA THOMAS

ajt008@latech.edu.

 

We have all seen this movie before. It is called “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” sparks the dark side of the imagination but the plot fails to deliver.

It’s a haunting tale of an awkward and shy groom, Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), who has been prearranged to marry the timid yet determined Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson).

 Victor’s parents Nell and William Van Dort (Tracey Ullman and Paul Whitehouse) are wealthy fish merchants and from the marriage will save Maudeline and Finnis Everglot (Joanna Lumley and Albert Finny) from becoming penniless aristocrats.

 On the night of the rehearsal, Victor is unable to recite his vows and somehow manages to set his future mother-in-law’s dress on fire.

He flees to the woods to clear his head and practice his vows when the infamous Corpse Bride of the underworld (Helena Bonham Carter) assumes they are being spoken to her and claims Victor has her husband.

Victor must now find a way to return to his flesh and blood true love, Victoria, in the land of the living.

Of course, no one can hold a candle to the musical genius of Danny Elfman and the creative film-making duo he and Burton make.

The stop motion animation captivates each character’s personality artistically and accurately from the tip of their nose down to the way they waddle.

Burton pays grave attention to detail for even the nameplate on the piano says Harryhausen, a tribute to the late Ray Harryhausen, a legendary stop motion animation artist.     

Surprisingly, the underworld of the dead is full of more life, color and laughter than the land of the living above.

The same liveliness exists in the talents of the actors and creators, but the story is lacking in depth and interest. Overall, it’s just dead.