MovieChat Forums > Big Fish (2004) Discussion > Tim Burton.... I love/loathe you.

Tim Burton.... I love/loathe you.

posted 11 years ago by WingsOfWax
4 replies | jump to latest

Burton is great. I love his ideas and his visions. But the last good Burton movie I saw was the Corpse Bride. Before that, it was Sleepy Hollow. Now how come I like a director so much, but think his movies are rather boring? I couldn't sit through any of his latest Depp movies, not one.

I have tried getting into Big Fish on several occasions (after all, it is highly rated here on IMDB), and man, here's what stops me every time.

McGregor is terrible as the young father. His accent is just awful. I enjoyed the hell out of him in Trainspotting, but seriously, this is just mis-casting.

The son starts by telling us how he hates his father's stories. Then he proceeds to tell them to us, the viewers. When that baby-story gets told, I cringe. I continue to cringe every time McGregor's accent comes back to start a new, awful story.

The story feels like a big excuse to tell a lot of silly stories, wrapped around some kind of father complex that should have been explored more. Less ridiculous stories, more on the father complex; that would have made for a better movie.

Now don't get your panties in a bunch; I am just trying to tell you how I feel about Burton. Nothing more, nothing less.

[–] Mhjm6 11 years ago

The very nature of his style is bound to bring scattered opinions. He's my favorite director for his mixed visions and I think Big Fish is his sweetest, most beautiful "light" film so far. Ewan Mcgregor looks just like a young Albert Finney, if you haven't checked Finney's profile pic lately. Maybe they don't do perfect southern accents being European but I'm not picky. He is as good here as he is a young Alec Guinness' Obi Wan in Star Wars. Personally I like and own all of Burton's movies except Mars Attacks because I think it's a pretty pointless film that could have worked as a short film like Vincent or Stainboy's series. My three favorite ones so far are Sweeney Todd, Big Fish and Beetlejuice. So it's good he's made as much of an impact in the industry as to draw as many different opinions as possible and coin the term "Burtonesque."

[–] Sauvage_98 11 years ago

But the last good Burton movie I saw was the Corpse Bride. Before that, it was Sleepy Hollow. Now how come I like a director so much, but think his movies are rather boring? I couldn't sit through any of his latest Depp movies, not one.

actually, his last good movie was his latest movie which is Frankenweeni. the guy is still making good movies so stop this "his last good movie was..". before Frankenweeni it was Sweeney Todd and before that there was CATCF and Corpse Bride and before that there was Big Fish. all of these movies are masterful. his latest Depp movies were 2 and not 20 and they weren't that bad. i enjoyed them.

[–] Farshnoshket 11 years ago

I liked your subject line because I am very hit or miss with Burton. I'm not going to get into his other films, but for me Big Fish was a grand slam for Burton. The story is not only beautiful, but it is a story so built for Burton, as if telling these gigantic stories should be something bad? The stories are built for the screen and Burton's style was right on target. Personally I enjoyed Ewan in the role and thought he was quite entertaining and convincing, even with an accent.

Big Fish is an amazing adventure much larger than life itself. To me it's Burton best piece of work. Just so much fun to watch, over and over, and quite woeful as well. The film is rich, very rich and maybe too rich for some, but to me it is just the right amount of rich. There should be more films like it.

[–] WingsOfWax 11 years ago

Let me qualify my statements about Big fish...

While I think the movie as a whole suffers from the mentioned over-the-top stories, I really enjoy the movie when it's focusing on the son. The actor is fantastic; maybe that's why I dislike McGregor so much; in comparison, he falls flat, to say the least.

The ending is phenomenal; the son takes the part of the father as the protagonist of the fable, and it works. The movie works on all levels: Emotionally and technically.

So when I say that I love and loathe Tim Burton, Big Fish is a perfect example. The fable parts are cringe-worthy while the parts focusing on the son are nothing short of brilliant.