I admit that I tend to give more importance to some stories than they realistically have. I guess that Corpse Bride is one of them. I'm going to justify that by two simple facts. One, I'm a big fan of Tim Burton, and two, I love cartoons! Sure, there have to be a few more, but these two are the first ones that come to mind.
So, basically, the story is this: Victor is supposed to marry Victoria, but just can't seem to get his vows right. He goes to a forest to practice them and there he accidentally marries a corpse, Emily. Isn't it great?
My general opinion on Tim Burton these days is that he should take a giant brake from filming with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. I love all three of them and I think they've made some great stuff together, but right now I think everyone is fed up with the two of them in crazy, out of the ordinary roles. My impression is that he just makes movies around the two of them, fitting the roles to match the actor, instead of trying to find the perfect actor for the role. I don't know how often that is among directors (there is the whole story with their muses), but Tim Burton is starting to be a bit unimaginative and boring. Let's dress up Johnny and Helena in a costume and make them do weird, crazy shit! Victor looks just like Johnny Depp and Emily looks just like Helena Bonham Carter. That being said, I did like them in this movie, but too much is too much.
Beneath a simple story, there lies a deeper message. One I liked the most was exploring the concept of marriage. Victor comes from a rich family, but their wealth is newly acquired. Victoria is from a noble family, but unfortunately, the family wealth is no more. Victor's family needs social status, Victoria's family needs the money. There is no thought of love here. Nobody cares if the two people are even going to like each other, let along love the other one. The wedding is stopped after Victor is too nervous to say the vows. Aren't the vows lovely: With this hand I will lift your sorrows, your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine, with this candle I will light your way in darkness, with this ring I ask you to be mine.
I always enjoy a nicely told love story, but it's important to note that Corpse Bride isn't a typical love story. In the beginning we see a moment between Victor and Victoria. I'd say that the emphasis was on Emily and her failed marriage, the one the left her as the Corpse Bride. At first, we get the impression that she isn't bitter, but as the story progresses, it's easily seen that Emily still holds a grudge (perfectly understandable, I'd say) and that she's having a difficult time letting go of her past life. She doesn't want to understand that Victor has a life above the Earth and will do anything she can to bring him to the afterlife.
There's a glitch, Victor can't stay in the afterlife as the only living thing, he has to stop hi heart forever in order to give it someone forever. Victor and Emily organize a wedding in Victor's world and decide that in the end, Victor will die. I thought it was symbolic and beautiful in a creepy, eerie sort of way.
I found myself thinking a lot about the portrayal of the afterlife. I don't know if it's heaven or hell, or maybe just some sort of limbo, but it's unusual seeing that everyone gets to go to the same place after they've gone. It's as if they're saying that just by enduring everything in the life of the living, you deserve to go to the same place. The afterlife isn't perceived as a punishment or as a reward for your actions during your life. It's more of a next thing, just a natural progression, where you continue your life in almost the same way as you lived it.
Tim Burton decides to give us a happy ending. Emily realizes that, no matter what the social norms and the proper thing is, you can't make someone love you. She finally finds her peace leaving us with the message that, in the end, the only thing we do need for love is a beating heart.
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