These pictures are everywhere, which is why I'm only posting two of them. I'm beginning to think that Johnny Depp does Tim Burton's movies just so he can wear the bizarro make-up. Burton's take on Carroll will either be genius or crap. I'm hoping for the former, but bracing for the latter. Don't get me wrong, I love Burton (hate me all you want). Edward Scissorhands remains one of my favorite modern movies. From Pee-Wee's Big Adventure and Beetle Juice, to Batman and the overly maligned Mars Attacks, Burton's stamp is both indelible and instantly recognizable. Of course, there's Planet of the Apes (a deeply-flawed movie I still manage to enjoy). And I don't mind repeating how much I HATED Sweeney Todd. Burton managed to transform Sondheim's lush tragic operetta into a cheap horror-show. And no offence, Depp fans (and I am one), but Johnny was horribly miscast. 
Of course, Depp is brilliant in Burton's arguably best film Ed Wood.
Of course, Depp is brilliant in Burton's arguably best film Ed Wood. Then again, I am one of a few true fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which follows Roald Dahl's book so much more closely than the Gene Wilder version.
So, we will wait and see. Will Burton tap into the young genius he once was and deliver a dazzling, dizzying Alice in Wonderland, or will he resort to cheap camera tricks, weird makeup and bad CGI ?
JA over at MyNewPlaidPants said that the image of Depp's Mad Hatter looked like "if Elijah Wood and Carrot Top had a baby." I tend to agree with him. It will certainly be the Halloween costume for 2010 (seriously, how many Jokers did you have ringing your doorbell last October 31st?). And of course, I am very much looking forward to the Burton-produced CGI fantasy 9, coming this September. So what do you think?
And now, on a not entirely unrelated note...
I found this on Towleroad. The embedding has been removed, but I can still link you to it. A dear friend of mine is exceptionally coulrophobic. Of course, all of his friends torture him about it (and yes, I am guilty of it, too). So I sent him this link as a bit of revenge fantasy:
If I could have embedded that video, it might have ended up as a "Gayest Thing..." post. I guess I'll have to just tag it as "Randomly Funny." I put these items together, because Depp's Mad Hatter certainly carries an air of "Evil Clown." Don't you think?
And how have you been? You know I love to hear from you. Help me through my aforementioned grief, and leave a comment.
More, anon.
Prospero
He directed & films adore- Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Pee-wee's Big Adventure. He has done movies that I detested- Plantet Of The Apes (why remake it?)& Big Fish.
ReplyDeleteI have high hopes for Dark Shadows.