How to describe a Tim Burton movie? The writer, director, producer, and illustrator has been sharing his visions of love, children, fear, and beauty with moviegoers for three decades now. His stories are equal parts juvenile and macabre. His characters are dark but whimsical, haunting yet delicate. His affinity for thematic binaries is what makes him such a singular visionary.
Burton shows off each of his unique and recognisable cinematic strengths in his latest blockbuster, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, out September 30. The movie blends the romance of Burton's Big Fish, the animation of Frankenweenie and Corpse Bride, the oddities of Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the hauntingly homey mansions of Beetlejuice and Dark Shadows. The motley crew of children is also reminiscent of the brave creatures in James and the Giant Peach.
The film stars Eva Green (who also appeared in 2012's Dark Shadows, a remake of the 1960s television series with the same name) as well as Hollywood stalwarts like Samuel L. Jackson and Judi Dench. The film also acts as an introduction to a slew of child actors (like Hugo 's Asa Butterfield) who perfectly marry the darkness of Addams Family kids with the curiosity of X-Men students. The heroic quest of Butterfield's character, Jake, takes him on a journey through which he discovers time travel, treachery, and true love. The visuals are intoxicatingly dreamy, especially when seen in 3-D.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is the director's 18th movie in 30 years, and just as Burtonesque as his first. In preparation for his latest release, let's revisit 15 of his most iconic moments on the big screen.
Beetlejuice (1988)
Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice remains one of the best antiheroes of all time. Only Burton could make scenes with this greasy, buggy character dazzling despite the surrounding backdrop of hellish degradation.
Video via YouTube.Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Yes, you did get chills over this unconventionally intimate scene between Kim (Winona Ryder) and Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp). The ice flakes showering Kim as Edward chisels away at a sculpture of an angel in her likeness are a sign of true love.
Batman Returns (1992)
Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman is absolutely purr-fect. "Meow."
Video via YouTube.The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Burton created a new world for children and adults, Halloween-lovers and Christmas-obsessives alike. But even within this cinematic gem, Jack's revelatory "What's This" montage stands out. The stop-motion animation would become Burton's trademark for future films like Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie.
Video via YouTube.James And The Giant Peach(1996)
"Family" is an ensemble scene in which the lonely James finally realises this unlikely bunch of bugs and insects could in fact serve as his de facto kin. The touching scene was executed with the help of Henry Selick, a stop-motion director, who also helped Burton bring to life the iconic characters in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Video via YouTube.Mars Attacks! (1996)
Burton's movies are charming, childlike, dark, and in this case, humorous. Mars Attacks! is a completely bizarre alien intruder movie that boasts a hilarious, starry ensemble: Jack Nicholson, Martin Short, Jack Black, Danny DeVito, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Natalie Portman. The Martian Madame perfectly spoofs the stereotype of the "ideal woman": all looks, no substance, and a total man-eater. Abandoning his trademark stop-motion for the more budget-friendly CGI, Burton still created a cult-classic film.
Video via YouTube.Sleepy Hollow(1999)
Hello again, Mr. Depp. Burton's favourite bloke and Christina Ricci team up to illustrate Washington Irving's particularly gloomy and spooky world of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. In this scene, the clever Ichabod Crane (Depp) shows an innocent Katrina Van Tassel (Ricci) how to humanely capture a bird using an optical-illusionary tool called a thaumatrope. With no truly scary scenes, the only thing this lightweight horror movie screams is "Tim Burton!"
Video via YouTube.Big Fish(2003)
"They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops. And that's true." Only Burton could take the chaos of a circus and turn it into a glimpse of true love.
Video via YouTube.Corpse Bride (2005)
Has a skeleton ever looked as elegant and posh as the Corpse Bride? Burton has given us over a decade's worth of amazing Halloween costume ideas, and this movie may be his most impressive. This final butterfly scene is as sweet as it is heartbreaking, and — paired with the music — it's especially reminiscent of the snow dancing scene in Edward Scissorhands.
Video via YouTube.Charlie And The Chocolate Factory(2005)
Burton's vivid remake of another Roald Dahl classic ( James and the Giant Peach being the director's first) is as visually appealing as it gets. While many purists prefer the original film starring a brilliant Gene Wilder as the deranged Mr. Willy Wonka, no one can deny the wild imagination and special effects that went into this version. What better scene to reflect the quality of animation than Violet Beauregarde (AnnaSophia Robb) turning into a monstrous blueberry?
Video via YouTube.9 (2009)
Burton takes us far into the future with 9, which follows a trio of rag-doll figures as they figure out how to save humanity in their postapocalyptic world. In this scene, the characters 9, 7, and 5 meet the final two members to round off their crew: mute twins 3 and 4. Keeping up with Burton's themes, this seems like a children's movie, but it's much deeper and darker than say, Disney's Wall-E.
Video via YouTube.Alice In Wonderland (2010)
There are almost too many visually delightful moments in Burton's Alice remake. His visions of C.S. Lewis' characters are even more peculiar than the author could have dreamed. One of the best scenes? The tea party hosted by the Mad Hatter (Depp), of course.
Video via YouTube.Frankenweenie (2012)
Burton first brought Victor Frankenstein, and his Frankenweenie pet Sparky, to life in 1984. More than two decades later, he remade it once again with a little help from Disney. But really, who else could get away with making a 3-D, black-and-white, stop-motion film about a boy who brings his dead dog back to life? Twice? Only Burton.
Video via YouTube.Dark Shadows(2012)
Burton loves his remakes. The original Dark Shadows television series aired in the late-'60s to early-'70s, so of course Burton had to mirror that iconic decade in his new film by featuring Alice Cooper. The mansion's opulent decor, muted lights, and cold exterior make it the perfect setting for a vampire's reintroduction to the world.
Video via YouTube.Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (2016)
For his latest creation, Burton brings to life Ransom Riggs' magical and wonderful book Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. It's Burton's most lively adventure film to date, and also his most jubilant.
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