Edward Scissor Hands - film Review

Fig.1. Edward Scissor Hands, 1990 (poster art)

Edward Scissor Hands was a film directed by Tim Burton and released in 1991. Despite it being Tim Burton's usual dark and gothic style, the film had a truly gentle and heartwarming feel to it. Much like Beauty and the Beast, the film was also a fairytail romance between an outsider (Edward who has scissors for hands) and Kim, a normal teenage girl.

Fig.2. Edward Scissorhands, 1990(Film still)

The film was set in suburban Burbank, California, with its massed produced and identical looking houses. The houses actually come from Tampa, Florida. They painted all of the houses to a certain colour scheme of "sea-foam green, flesh, butter and dirty blue..." The Film Producer, Denise Di Novi said that "The houses hadnt been sold yet. You know, It was like having your own little backlot to shoot in." (AnOther, 2015)

Fig.3. Edward Scissorhands, 1990(Film still)

In fact many say that the film setting and narrative was a personal reflection of Tim Burtons childhood: "Inspired by the director's own disaffection towards his suburban youth." (AnOther, 2015)
Tim Burtons conveys this "disaffection" by placing Edwards dark, mysterious castle in the center of the neighbourhood, creating an obvious juxtaposition between the bright neighbourhood and the out of place gothic castle.

You could say that the film had a surrealist setting as it  combines  suburban America with a fantasy castle. Ordinarily, the two could not go together. Many of the camera angles show this surealist aspect from Edwards perspective looking down from his castle at the suburban neighbourhood.

Production designer Bo Welch helped Tim Burton achieve this contrast, bearing in mind that CGI and green screens hadn't been invented yet! There's one scene in the movie when Peg (Kims Mother) is seated in her car and looks through her side view mirror at the mysterious castle standing there. "The castle she see's is actually a small study model, propped up on a c-stand." (AnOther, 2015)

Green foliage and bushes surrounds the exterior of the caslte. The bushes take on different forms, including a Giant Hand. Another thing you could say that was out of place! However the audience then later learns that its Edward who makes these creations by cutting the bushes with his scissor hands! Inside the castle is many empty spaces filled with a few rundown bits of machienerey and equipment. A staircase entwined with cobwebs leads you to the top of the castle, to a place which looks like an attic but with nothing inside it. They always keep the lighting dull within all the rooms of the castle, helping to portray Edwards sad and isolated character.

Fig.4. Edward Scissorhands, 1990(Film still)

Tim Burtons Character teaches us about accepting difference.  However you can't doubt that the mise-en-scene of the film helps achieve this too.

"Its is a fairytale, but a fairytale with a moral." (Vincent Price, 1990) actor- "The Inventer" from the film.

Fig.5. Edward Scissorhands, 1990(Film still)

Illustration list:
Figure 1. Edward Scissorhands, 1990 (poster art) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Scissorhands(Accessed on 10 November 2016)  

Figure 2. Edward Scissorhands, 1990 (Film still) https://filmharlot.wordpress.com/2012/06/11/edward-scissorhands-analysis/ (Accessed on 10 November 2016)  

Figure 3. Edward Scissorhands, 1990(Film still) https://flexpointe.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/mise-en-scene-edward-scissorhands/ (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Figure 4. Edward Scissorhands, 1990(Film still) http://www.scenesisters.com/2014/04/edward-scissorhands-1990-review.html (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Figure 5. Edward Scissorhands, 1990 (Film still)  http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/8102/ten-things-you-might-not-know-about-edward-scissorhands (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Bibliography:

AnOther, (2015) 'Ten Things You Might Not Know About Edward Scissorhands' In: AnOther [online] At: URL: http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/8102/ten-things-you-might-not-know-about-edward-scissorhands (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Edward Scissorhands - Hollywood Backstories - PART1 (2008) [user-genereted content online]EviLQuicK, 31 Aug 2008 At URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaPob-C7Z3E (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Edward Scissorhands - Hollywood Backstories - PART2 (2008) [user-genereted content online]EviLQuicK, 31 Aug 2008 At URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwF08JlauAY (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Thumb Nails @Phil are these Thumb Nails on the right track?

Motion Path Retro Rocket - Maya Tutorial

Motion_Path_Retro_Rocket from Jennifer Ball on Vimeo.

Starting Points for Building Shapes - Photoshop Experimentation

In Photoshop I created some Custom Shapes, using Leigh Bowery's work as my inspiration. Doing this has given me a starting point for when I come to designing my buildings. Though these ideas are abstract and incomplete, I hope to portray a more darker and disturbing atmosphere within my thumbnails.

Key Frame, Scripting Dynamic, Simulation

'What if? Metropolis' OGR - 02/11/16

'What if? Metropolis' - OGR by Jennifer Ball on Scribd

La Belle et la Bête - Film Review

 La Belle et la Bête

This film adapted by Disney in later years is an absolute favourite of mine.  I am absorbed in the loneliness, love and romance that the film deals with. 

Fig.1. La Belle et la Bete (poster art)

The original story directed for film by Jean Cocteau however has a Cinderella feel to it.  Belle, the favoured daughter, is not treated well by her siblings . When her father wanders in the forest, he picks a flower for Belle but is captured by the Beast who lives in the castle.  Beast says that the man must die unless he sacrifices his own daughter allowing her to come and live with him in the castle.

Fig.2. La Belle et la Bete (film still)

Belle’s nature is evident as she willingly offers herself to save her father.  Whilst initially she is frightened by the beast, she soon develops a love for him.  Beast is scared that if Belle ever left that he would die from a broken heart.

Jean Cocteau directed a film that allows adults to escape and see life through the eyes of a child with all its fantasy, wonder and excitement.  This film was set against the backdrop of WWII ending, so in fact the audiences were looking for an escape from the impact of war: death, injury, austerity and politics.

Cocteau and his cinematographer Henri Alekan used reverse and slow-motion shots, mirrors and other camera tricks to striking effect.  "The black and white photography in contrast to the light gives the film a truly ethereal and dream like quality".  (Letterboxd)

Fig.3. La Belle et la Bete (film still)

This is evidenced in scenes showing the interior of the castle.  The  rooms come alive using unusual lighting techniques.  In one scene, a shadow grows enormously and appears to push open the doors of the castle. Belle’s room contains plant forms and is magical in its theatrical representation of bedding, furnishings and mirrors. It is truly enchanting.

Other effects create the scene where Belle’s father walks through the hall of living candelabras.  This sequence was shot in reverse to give the impression that the candles are magically lit by themselves. Such scenes create an almost supernatural atmosphere.

Cocteau was a sick man when he directed this film. Despite the pain of his condition he wrote daily, his diary of the film.  He was criticized for his lack of camera movement at one time and in defence he wrote on one Wednesday evening:

“In a spirit of instinctive contradiction, I am avoiding all camera movement, which is so much in the fashion that the experts think it indispensable……..I’m finding it very difficult to make the artists understand that the style of the film needs a lack of naturalness and a kind of super natural relief"

The film creates a sexual tension between the Beast and Belle but it is also created amongst the audience.  Strangely, even when the Beast is transformed into Prince Charming, the audience are left disappointed and longing for their old Beast back.  It is said that Greta Garbo yelled at the screen when she saw the film shouting; “I want my beautiful beast back!"

I echo her words!

Illustration List:

Figure 1. La Belle et la Bete (poster art) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_and_the_Beast_(1946_film)#/media/File:La_Belle_et_la_B%C3%AAte_film.jpg (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Figure 2. La Belle et la Bete (film still) https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Belle+Beauty+and+the+Beast+vs+Horse&view=detailv2&&id=F53EF45BD6EEA4F44A4D798C1A3706665D605ADC&selectedIndex=0&ccid=JFaIDlTA&simid=608009143800891205&thid=OIP.M2456880e54c09a1cae345c79c442f868o0&ajaxhist=0
(Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Fig.3. La Belle et la Bete (film still) http://gwarlingo.gwarlingo.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/beauty-and-the-beast-1946-Belle-and-knife-550x447.jpg (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Bibliography:

Letterboxd, 'Beauty and the beast 1946 Jean Cocteau' In: Letterboxd [online] At: URL: https://letterboxd.com/film/beauty-and-the-beast/ (Accessed on 10 November 2016)

Gwarlingo, 'Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beat : More Than Meets the Eye' In: Gwarlingo [online] At: URL: http://www.gwarlingo.com/2012/jean-cocteau-beauty-and-the-beast/ (Accessed on 10 November 2016)