Every time I see this film, I see more things to admire in it.
Alan Arkin´s trademarked deadpan nonchalance serves this film well. As Peg´s husband, he´s the perfect "Oh" response to the new family member, and his reaction to Edward´s struggle to eat a simple meal is as priceless as Depp´s performance. And then there´s Kim (Winona Ryder). The daughter who´s dating a "cool" guy at school, while this outcast who obviously has a crush on her has to live out his unrequited love under the same roof. It´s a bizarre Romeo and Juliet tale of ill-fated love as well, with Edward having to deal with Kim´s abusive (and crime-oriented) boyfriend, Jim (Anthony Michael Hall). Some of the minor performances feel minor, but there are enough strong reactions to Depp´s portrayal to make for a solid film.
Video:
Hi-Def makes the visual style of this film really pop out, but one suspects that the 18mbps transfer (MPEG 2) was a deliberate attempt to not draw too much attention to a master that isn´t as pristine as could be. Some scenes show slight graininess, usually ones with atmospheric sky for background, which briefly breaks the plasticine Hi-Def look. But the colors appear to be fully saturated and the black levels are strong. The film is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen.
I have to say, though, that there were a half-dozen points where there was a slight "hitch" in the playback. Is it my Samsung player, or the disc? Too early in the development of Blu-ray to tell, probably, but worth mentioning.
Audio:
Lately Fox has been releasing their Blu-rays in DTS HD Master Lossless audio. This one´s in 4.0, with additional options in Spanish or French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and subtitles in English (CC), Spanish, Cantonese, and Korean. The sound is very good, but not so exceptional that you find yourself catching your breath during some of the effects. What you notice, though, is that it seems perfectly suited for Elfman´s magical score, as if it were mastered with the music in mind. There´s a nice concert sound to it all.
Extras:
Neither Tim Burton nor composer Danny Elfman is the sort of fellow who´d be a blabbermouth you wouldn´t want to be trapped next to on an airplane. On each of their commentaries there´s more dead air than on most of these things--so much so that you wonder why they couldn´t have shared the microphone, or been spliced onto the same commentary track by a skillful editor. But, there you have it: the same two "okay" commentaries that were on the 10th anniversary edition DVD. Also included from that DVD release is a brief featurette that feels more like a pre-release promo. Missing is an art gallery, but I for one don´t fault Fox for not thinking it worth going to a 50-gig disc just to add a few stills. Rounding out the bonus features is the original trailer.
Bottom Line:
John J. Puccio was disappointed by the film, and said so in his review. But every time I see this film, I see more things to admire in it--from Kathy Baker´s performance as the clichéd oversexed housewife who looks, walks, and acts like Peg Bundy--to Price´s poignant face while viewing his "creation," as if it summed up an entire career looking into the face of things that are different or evil. It´s a film where I could have seen myself giving it a 6 or 7 out of 10 when it first came out, because it´s really pretty straightforward on the surface and some of the minor performances aren't inspired. If you can´t appreciate all of the different ways you can "read" this story (and I think this comes from multiple viewings), "Edward Scissorhands" feels too easy, too unsatisfying--especially the ending that lapses into something of a Hollywood cliché.
Unless, of course, you consider it a retelling of "Frankenstein" who, as Burton puts it on the commentary track, just happens to live in Martha Stewart´s neighborhood.
Video:
Hi-Def makes the visual style of this film really pop out, but one suspects that the 18mbps transfer (MPEG 2) was a deliberate attempt to not draw too much attention to a master that isn´t as pristine as could be. Some scenes show slight graininess, usually ones with atmospheric sky for background, which briefly breaks the plasticine Hi-Def look. But the colors appear to be fully saturated and the black levels are strong. The film is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen.
I have to say, though, that there were a half-dozen points where there was a slight "hitch" in the playback. Is it my Samsung player, or the disc? Too early in the development of Blu-ray to tell, probably, but worth mentioning.
Audio:
Lately Fox has been releasing their Blu-rays in DTS HD Master Lossless audio. This one´s in 4.0, with additional options in Spanish or French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and subtitles in English (CC), Spanish, Cantonese, and Korean. The sound is very good, but not so exceptional that you find yourself catching your breath during some of the effects. What you notice, though, is that it seems perfectly suited for Elfman´s magical score, as if it were mastered with the music in mind. There´s a nice concert sound to it all.
Extras:
Neither Tim Burton nor composer Danny Elfman is the sort of fellow who´d be a blabbermouth you wouldn´t want to be trapped next to on an airplane. On each of their commentaries there´s more dead air than on most of these things--so much so that you wonder why they couldn´t have shared the microphone, or been spliced onto the same commentary track by a skillful editor. But, there you have it: the same two "okay" commentaries that were on the 10th anniversary edition DVD. Also included from that DVD release is a brief featurette that feels more like a pre-release promo. Missing is an art gallery, but I for one don´t fault Fox for not thinking it worth going to a 50-gig disc just to add a few stills. Rounding out the bonus features is the original trailer.
Bottom Line:
John J. Puccio was disappointed by the film, and said so in his review. But every time I see this film, I see more things to admire in it--from Kathy Baker´s performance as the clichéd oversexed housewife who looks, walks, and acts like Peg Bundy--to Price´s poignant face while viewing his "creation," as if it summed up an entire career looking into the face of things that are different or evil. It´s a film where I could have seen myself giving it a 6 or 7 out of 10 when it first came out, because it´s really pretty straightforward on the surface and some of the minor performances aren't inspired. If you can´t appreciate all of the different ways you can "read" this story (and I think this comes from multiple viewings), "Edward Scissorhands" feels too easy, too unsatisfying--especially the ending that lapses into something of a Hollywood cliché.
Unless, of course, you consider it a retelling of "Frankenstein" who, as Burton puts it on the commentary track, just happens to live in Martha Stewart´s neighborhood.
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[release]22112[/release]