Way Back Wednesday - Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride is a 2005 musical "stop-motion-animation" film directed by Tim Burton. It is set in a fictional Victorian era village in Britain and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.

Johnny Depp was the voice of Victor Van Dort and Helena Bonham Carter voiced Emily (the Corspe Bride). When a shy young Victor fails to recite his vows properly at his wedding rehersal to a complete stranger Victoria Everglott (voiced by Emily Watson), he flees to practice his vows in the woods.

But in typical Burton fashion, when Victor finally gets his vows correct, he accidently places the ring on the finger of the Corpse Bride and ends up in the afterlife known as the "land of the dead."

While Victor tries desperatly to get home, he finds out that his wife-to-be will be marrying someone else to save her family from the poor house. The man she is being forced to marry is the evil Lord Barkiss, who is only after Victoria for her money (not knowing that she and her family are now completely broke). When Victor and the rest of the dead finally get to the land of the living, a shocking discovery is made which reveals how the Corpse Bride died.

This is a charming comedy with interesting twists and turns.

Favorite quotes:

Victoria Everglot: Hildegard, what if Victor and I don't like each other?
Maudeline Everglot: Hmpf! As if that has anything to do with marriage. Do you suppose your father and I "like" each other?
Victoria Everglot: Surely you must, a little.
Maudeline Everglot, Finnis Everglot: Of course not!

Victor Van Dort: I want some questions! Now!
General Bonesapart: Answers... I think you mean answers.
Victor Van Dort: Thank you, yes, answers. I need answers.

The Corpse Bride: Isn't the view beautiful? It takes my breath away. Well, it would if I had any.

[Bonejangles creeps up behind Finnis; his eye falls into Finnis' bowl]
Finnis Everglot: There's an eye in me soup.

The Corpse Bride: [about Victor's dead dog, Scraps] What a cutie.
Victor Van Dort: You should have seen him with fur.

[Victor has snuck away from the Corpse Bride to find Victoria and listens to the arguing Everglots]
Finnis Everglot: If ever I see that Van Dort boy, I'll strangle him with my bare hands!
Maudeline Everglot: Your hands are too fat, and his neck is too thin. You'll have to use a rope.

Victor Van Dort: I've got a... I've got a dwarf, and I'm not afraid to use him!

The Corpse Bride: [about Victor] He's not my boyfriend, he's my husband.

Way Back Wednesday - Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 fantasy film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. This is a suburban fairy tale of an artificial man named Edward (Johnny Depp), who is an unfinished creation with scissors for hands. Edward is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter.

An Avon lady, Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest), discovers the half-finished experiment, Edward, of a mad scientist (Vincent Price) living in the neighborhood's old abandoned castle. The scientist died before replacing Edward's large shears with real hands. When Peg attempts to bring Edward into her suburban world, to live with her husband (Alan Arkin) and daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder), her gossipy neighbors have a field day.

Edward's hands are dangerous, yet capable of creating beautiful topiaries from ordinary garden shrubbery. This film is full of awkward, funny, and poignant situations and is a story about tolerance, difference, and creativity as much as it is a story of a young man's coming of age.

Favorite quotes:

Kim: Hold me.
Edward: I can't.

Peg Boggs: The light concealing cream goes on first. Then you blend, and blend, and blend. Blending is the secret.

Jim: [after seeing Edward accidentally cut Kim] Hey! Now you've done it!
Kim: It was just a scratch Jim, really!
Peg Boggs: What's going on?
Jim: Call a doctor, he skewered Kim!
Kim: He didn't skewer me!

Bill: Sweetheart, you can't buy the necessities of life with cookies.

Jim: Forget about holding her hand, man. Think about the damage he could do to other places.

Bill: Soup's on!
Edward: I thought this was shish kabob.

Jim: I'd give my left nut to see that again.

Edward: Goodbye.
[Kim kisses Edward]
Kim: I love you.

Kim: You see, before he came down here, it never snowed. And afterwards, it did. If he weren't up there now... I don't think it would be snowing. Sometimes you can still catch me dancing in it.

Burton in Wonderland

Need I say more ... ??

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Dark Shadows News

(Photo copyright Retrothing.com)

According to the Dark Shadows News Page blog, MTV's Movie Blog has interviewed Tim Burton on his upcoming Alice in Wonderland film, where he touches on the upcoming Dark Shadows movie project, which he is attached to direct.

I am such a geek when it comes to Dark Shadows! I cannot wait to see this movie. Of course, I was so excited for a new Planet of the Apes movie and then I wasn't crazy about Burton's interpretation - although I love Burton's other works. But I have high hopes for Shadows!

Free Flowing Friday

Welcome to Free Flowing Friday, an inside look at the things clogging my brain this week.

1.) It has been over a week since Michael Jackson died and he is still dominating the news. I grew up listening to the Jackson 5 and I was a huge fan of Thriller, but enough is enough. Do all the news channels have to be MJ all day, all the time? His family are in my prayers, but please let the man rest in peace.

2.) I'm missing my baby, Christine, more than ever. She's been gone for 2 weeks now - one more week to go. There is going to be a huge celebration on Saturday, July 11th for family and friends of all the students.

3.) I'm meeting with 2 of my writing buddies after work this afternoon - we are going to work on query letters. I'm so glad I have a group of writing friends I can get together with - I think all writers thrive when they have someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of.

4.) Mercer County now has its own Arts Council - way cool! Joy Mosko, wife of MCSH Drama teacher Dustin Mosko, has filed for local incorporation of the Arts Council. The purpose of the Arts Council is to support local performing and visual artists, present their art to the community and create arts events to enrich local culture.

5.) Maximum, blowing things up weekend at Twin Hills Drive-In tonight. Not only are they featuring 2 blockbuster movies - TRANSFORMERS II and STAR TREK - but you will also be able to see the Harrodsburg fireworks display from Anderson-Dean Park. Come on out and join the fun - box office and concession stand open at 6:30 and fireworks start at dusk. Where else can you see 2 HUGE movies and fireworks for only $5 for adults and $2.50 for children?

6.) Finished Stephen King's DUMA KEY - what a great book! I haven't read some of King's newest books because I haven't been enjoying the direction he was taking his books. DUMA KEY goes back to basics and King has told a wonderful story. The book is 607 pages of pure fun!



7.) I'm thinking I may have to re-read HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE to get ready for the movie premiere on July 15 - as if I haven't already read it at least 5 times. We have been without a new Harry Potter for way too long, so I am so looking forward to the newest movie release.

8.) Today completes my first 2 weeks of being the Gardening Examiner for the Lexington group of Examiner.Com. Thanks so much for everyone who has visited and special thanks to everyone who has left a comment. If anyone has a specific topic they would like to see me cover, please feel free to let me know.

9.) Although my writing muse has been in overdrive recently, my head is in a dark place - hence the 3 murder stories I've written over the past 2 weeks. What's up with that? I have so many projects I need to be working on, but it's hard to do when the muse hijacks your brain. Who knows? Maybe someone is trying to tell me something.

10.) I've been looking forward to seeing Johnny Depps's new movie, PUBLIC ENEMIES, but Silas House has panned it. I love House's writing and appreciate his opinion, so now I'm torn about seeing the movie. Do I want to pay over $8 to see Johnny and risk being disappointed? I'm still riding the fence.


As usual, my brain is crammed full of too many things, so this is only a highlight of a few. I'm looking forward to a great holiday weekend, and I hope you are, too!

Johnny Depp and Rex Mundi

Johnny Depp has bought the film rights to the world of Rex Mundi - see Times Online for the entire article and a chance to download the 1st issue.

The critically acclaimed Dark Horse Comic by writer Arvid Nelson and artist EricJ and Juan Ferreyra is a religious murder mystery. Like Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, which came after it, Rex Mundi deals with shadowy religious societies, codes embedded in famous paintings and books, Templar Knights and the secret of the Holy Grail.

Dark Shadows 2010

According to a post on Shock Till You Drop, there may be life in the 2010 adaptation of Dark Shadows:

"A Japanese press schedule published by Warner Bros., which you can see in its entirety here (unfortunately, it's in Japanese), has the Johnny Depp-produced Dark Shadows feature film positioned for a winter 2010 release. That's just overseas, but it gives you a good idea of when the studio might have it ready for us here in the States."

As you will recall, Johnny Depp bought the rights to Dark Shadows after Dan Curtis - the creator - died in 2006. Warner Brothers will be teaming with Depp's Infinitum-Nihil and Graham King's GK Films to develop a feature based on the '60s daytime supernatural soap opera.



There has been no word on casting, but it is rumored Depp will play Barnabas Collins - be still my beating heart!! It is also rumored that Tim Burton will direct. Depp and Burton working on Dark Shadows - that is a perfect combo in my opinion.

Because I'm a Dark Shadows addict, I am watching for any and all news concerning this projects.

(Photo from Dread Central)

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Depp In the Hand of Dante

Johnny Depp's production company Infinitum Nihil has acquired screen rights to the Nick Tosches novel "In the Hand of Dante." The novel will be developed as a potential star vehicle for Depp.

Infinitum Nihil also is working with GK Films and WB on a film transfer of "Dark Shadows" that will have Depp playing Barnabas Collins.

Read the full article from Variety.

Burton in Wonderland

I love Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, and whenever they work on a movie together, it's that much better! I have always been a fan of Alice in Wonderland, so I am excited by the collaboration of these two on a beloved project.

Here is a first look at Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

First look at Johnny Depp, aka The Mad Hatter. This character has always been scary to me, but Depp looks downright frightening!

Also starring in the movie are:
Mia Wasikowska as Alice
Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen
Anne Hathaway as The White Queen
Alan Rickman as the Caterpillar
Crispin Glover as the Knave of Hearts
Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum
Michael Sheen as The Cheshire Cat

Christopher Lee is also rumored to be included in the cast.

The film is scheduled to be released on March 5 of 2010.