The Depp/Burton/Elfman Effect

What makes a movie great? Is it the actors? Or the directors? Or the soundtrack? Why not all three? In our house we go by the Holy Trinity of movies. These movies have three things in common. (but not limited to) For the actor; Johnny Depp. For director; Tim Burton, and for our soundtrack person; Danny Elfman. As a bonus, we also have Our Lady of Perpetual Talent: Helena Bonham-Carter. So let's talk about the pairing of movies that have these talented people involved.

I remember a time when I really hadn't given it much thought on how one movie connected with another. Movies were movies as eggs were eggs. When I met my husband, he pointed out the Holy Trinity of movie combos. He had always been a big Johnny Depp fan. As well as a Tim Burton fan. So we went through our combined collection of movies and matched them up by who directed or produced the movie, who starred in it and the genre.

Edward Scissorhands. Classic, right? Iconic and weird. Delightful and thought provoking. Johnny Depp at his finest. Tim Burton as director and producer. Again, perfect. Burton knows his stuff. Yes, he's weird, but it's the good weird. Soundtrack by Danny Elfman, our magician of music and former band member of Oingo Boingo. There is our Holy Trinity. So now the path begins.

Burton's movies have this cohesive magic. Granted not all his movies exhibit the Holy Trinity, yet still, he weaves his enchanting abilities and you realize that maybe just maybe you have learned a life lesson. Your thoughts have been provoked. Something truly wonderful has happened to you. That's the goal, right? First this, then that.

So here is my personal list and not necessarily in order. For your consideration:

1. Edward Scissorhands-1990. Directed by Tim Burton and soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Starring Johnny Depp as the main character. Diane Wiest, Winona Rider, Vincent Price, Alan Arkin and so forth. Most of us know the story. A kind and caring scientist creates a boy (or perhaps a son). The Scientist teaches him about being human. Before he can give Edward real hands, the Scientist has a heart attack and dies. The boy is found by kindhearted Diane Wiest, who takes him home and takes him in. And so the story unfolds.

2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-2005. Directed by Tim Burton and soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Starring Johnny Depp as Willie Wonka. This is the iconic remake of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Based off the novel by Roald Dahl. Also starring Freddie Highmore, Helena Bonham-Carter, Deep Roy, Christopher Lee and so on. A little boy who is very poor, finds a magic ticket granting access to the famed factory of the mysterious and elusive chocolatier, Willie Wonka. Excellent lessons on the subjects of gluttony, greed, pride as well as the negative effects of too much of everything.

3. Alice in Wonderland (live action)-2010. Directed by Tim Burton. Soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Starring Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. A star studded cast: Helena Bonham-Carter, Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Crispin Glover and so forth. Another classic children's book retold as a live action movie, with a twist. We find Alice grown up and facing marriage to a horrid man. What's a girl to do? Fall down a rabbit hole and face the Red Queen, of course.

4. Sleepy Hollow-1999. Here is yet another classic tale. Based off of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. Directed by Tim Burton. Soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Johnny Depp is casted as the easily frightened Ichabod Crane. Once more, a star filled supportive cast: Christina Ricci, Christopher Walken, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Christopher Lee, Richard Griffiths and Ian McDiarmid. Here we have the fascinating tale of Ichabod Crane facing the Headless Horseman in a wonderfully frightening account that is pure Burton.

5. Corpse Bride-2005. An animated stop motion delight. Directed by Tim Burton. Soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Starring the voice of Johnny Depp as Victor Van Dort. Followed by the voice talents of Helena Bonham-Carter, Emily Watson, Christopher Lee, Danny Elfman, Tracey Ullman, Joanna Lumley, and Albert Finney. A murdered girl, an arranged marriage, overbearing parents, a visit to the land of the dead and a loathsome bad guy. The moral of the story: Love strengthens the bonds of friendship and sets you free.

That should get you started. So on to new discoveries, and search for other Burton/Elfman movies sans Depp. Such as Nightmare Before Christmas, suitable for Christmas and Halloween. Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, the ghost with most. Batman and Batman Returns, also starring Michael Keaton as the lead. Or Frankenweenie, said to be a life long goal of Tim Burton to write and direct a movie based on his love of classic horror stories. It's a wonderful take on the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

So this is where I leave you, ready to make the discoveries of talented directors, actors and soundtracks. Grab some popcorn, snacks and drinks. Settle down for some fun, some movie magic and a night in. Enjoy your journey of first this, then that.