Tim Burton Day

As I've been sitting on my comfy couch with my daughters watching "The Nightmare Before Christmas" for about the 97th time this month, my mind has been a'wandering (I know this isn't an actual word, but it was used on an episode of Friends I watched yesterday and it stuck, so hush).  I think Tim Burton is one of the best directors there has ever been - and not just because he casts Johnny Depp in nearly every film of his - and even though lately he seems to want to put his very odd wife in all of his films. 

Editor's Note:  Although I'm paying tribute to Tim, John Hughes will now and forever be my MOST favorite director.  Just wanted to put that out in the universe.

Since I've deemed today Tim Burton Day, I'm going to share with y'all the best of his films.  In my opinion, of course.   Which is a much better opinion than that stupid Ebert guy.  Seriously.  He should be fired.

Without further ado, here we go:

MARS ATTACKS!

 Even though this movie is utterly ridiculous, I love it! If you've never seen it, pick a day

 when you have absolutely nothing else productive to do and watch it.  You'll thank me, I promise. 

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Despite having seen it so many times now I know every word (thanks to my girls),  I still think it's awesome. 

BATMAN RETURNS

I still remember being very young and thinking how cool it would be to dress up like

a cat like Michelle Pfeiffer.  In my defense, I was way too young to realize she was crazy. 

 Also, De Vito played Penguin fabulously.

BEETLEJUICE

One of the best films ever made.  Michael Keaton was excellent, and the supporting cast was awesome, too.  

Seriously, who didn't love watching Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones dancing to the Banana Boat Song?

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

The film that began an infatuation with Johnny Depp that

would last a very, very long time. In fact, it's still going strong...

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

I think Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter was a genius idea.  This film was brilliant. 

I've liked every film of Mr. Burton's that I've seen.  There are a few of his I've yet to watch, but I'm planning a Burton Movie Marathon Day in the near future!

What films of his do you love?

Movie Delight Monday

Halloween is only two weekends away, which means the next two Movie Delight Mondays will feature horror movies!

Last Monday I chose the Scream Trilogy, and the week before that was Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Today I'm going with a little-known but TERRIFYING film. My older cousins made me watch it once when I was in second or third grade, and it still scares me to this day.  So, it might not actually be all that terrifying, but I'm too chicken to watch it again and find out!

The film I'm referring to is:

Editor's Note:  Again, since this movie terrified me so badly, I have not watched it since that first time, nearly twenty years ago.  As such, this review is based on extremely vivid memories and the help of IMBD for names and a few details.

The film starts out with a family, consisting of a snobbish father, his hateful new wife and his daughter, Judy finding themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere as a storm is moving in.  Judy is a small girl who is quite timid and not too fond of her new stepmother. 

The family realizes they are near a large mansion, so they seek shelter there.  An elderly couple lives in the mansion, and soon another stranded motorist, Randy, arrives with two punk, Madonna-looking chicks he picked up along the way.  The couple invites them all to stay until the storm passes. 

It becomes evident nearly immediately that the old couple is extremely odd, and they reveal that they make dolls and puppets. 

As they all retire to bed for the evening, we learn more about the stranded people, and that all but Randy and Judy are evil, mean or theiving people.  Of course, all bad people must be punished....

The dolls begin coming to life and killing off the people who need punishing.  In grotesque, freaky and horrifying manners they all start to bite the dust, one by one.   We learn more about the old couple and why the dolls are killing everyone, but the information doesn't stop the murders. 

The movie ends with the suggestion of a sequel, as most horror movies do.

If you're brave (which I'm not), below you can watch the original trailer for the film.

Watch it if you dare!