Corpse Bride - What it's all about

Nobody actually thought Tim Burton was making an animated feature that was just about a human marrying a corpse right?

The Corpse Bride does feature the voice talents of Christopher Lee, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

This is about this Victor guy (Johnny Depp) who was suppose to marry a Victoria girl. While out about in the forest late at night practising his wedding vows, he "accidentally" marrys this dead bride - Emily. Victor and Victoria had fell in love at first sight and really did feel hopeful for a blissful ever after with each other till death do they part. However the corpse bride was certain Victor was the man who would complete her last wish. As the story developed over the next hour, I kind of think Victor and Emily should get together cause they do have genuine common interest in music and piano. But in the end, Victor got together with Victoria (as planned) and Emily transformed into butterflies.

The whole movies says alot about love and marriage in the 21st Century. Let's start with the wedding rehearsal which lasted over three hours because Victor couldn't remember his wedding vows, hence the need to practice in the forest at night. The pastor was extremely particular about the right order of things and having the ceremony well-rehearsed, as if the wedding was important only as an opportunity for the invited guests to serve as witnesses to a civil contract signing ceremony that was proper and conform to social norms.

Now isn't that what marriage is about these days? A social institution. With laws and rules as in a contract and holding the people involve in the civic union responsible for each other.

And what about Victor and Emily? They sure had more things in common (other than one being dead, the other alive). But somehow, Victor, who had fallen in love at first sight, and a certain personal responsibility over Victoria because he had promised her and they were betrothed anyway.

It does reflect on certain aspects of modern life. Should responsibility govern who we choose to live the rest of our lives? Should a social contract between two humans be held against them till death do they part? Or divorce, whichever comes sooner. What if someone better does come along. Are we to give up? Does that make us better humans? Is that what being civilised is all about?

If these thoughts don't run through your mind after watching the Corpse Bride, it's ok. It's still extremely entertaining.

Four Brothers with Marky Mark and his funky bunch was really good entertainment as well. Lots of memorable quips like "I can drink you under the table." "Probably but we ain't talking about drinking sperm right now." and Mark Wahlberg got all the good lines.

But seriously, I thought the movie's plot was similar to alot of hongkong flicks involving themes like brotherhood, loyalty, triads, gangs and you know, the John Woo A Better Tomorrow and Hero series of movies. Lots of gun fire ballets, car chases, family feuds, gangs, corrupted cops, strong family ties. Now John Singleton is a man who has given us Boyz n the Hood as well as 2 Fast 2 Furious. I think he has combined both elements into this movie, strong acting/cast from the former and commercial appeal from the latter.


Ok, still not watched Lord of Dogtown.

I hope Eric Khoo and Wong Kim Hoh's Be With Me will be shortlisted for Foreign Oscar next year.