Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Martin Landau
‘Spectacular Stop-Motion’
“Frankenweenie” is a black-and-white stop motion film directed by Tim Burton. Its screenplay is written by John August. This film features the voices of Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Atticus Shaffer, Martin Landau, and Catherine O’Hara. Its plot revolves around the relationship between a boy named Victor (Charlie Tahan) and his dog Sparky. When Victor’s dog gets killed, he decides to perform a science experiment to bring him back to life, not knowing the disastrous consequences that will come with his decision.
Making a black-and-white stop motion movie requires skills and courage. It also needs a devoted crew. After years of producing ordinary films, Tim Burton has finally returned to form as a director. “Frankenweenie”, his latest feature, is an emotionally resonant, funny, and heartwarming film that is undeniably entertaining. Relying on fantastic voice-performances, great stop-motion execution, and an admirable score, this is one of Tim Burton’s best movies in years. The black-and-white cinematography is surprisingly engaging and works tremendously, setting a dark tone for this film. It makes a wonderful combination with the magnificent stop-motion animation. Even though Danny Elfman’s score is reminiscent to his “Batman” composition, it enhances this movie to another level.
Charlie Tahan delivers a decent voice performance as Victor. His character is very developed and profound, making him an interesting main character. Atticus Shaffer steals the show as Edgar, a hunchback kid with a deformed face. Shaffer does a great job delivering lines, making Edgar a funny and strange character. The rest of the cast including Winona Ryder, Martin Landau, and Catherine O’Hara is terrific.
While this film succeeds in many areas, it suffers from a slightly conventional conclusion that brings it down. Otherwise, this movie is certainly worth a watch. Recommended for all fans of Tim Burton’s movies.
3.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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