The entire neighborhood is constructed, describe the colors used in the neighborhood scenes?
The neighborhood is quite bland. All of the houses appear to be painted one color and the grass is as clean and green as a golf course. Besides the colors, they all appear quite symmetrical with the same green hedges and backyards.
What could be the desired effect in use of color?
It was likely used as a way to represent how everything appears so regular and alike within the neighborhood. While the colors do appear a tad flashy, it does give a sense of how everything appears normal or otherwise basic within the community.
As the woman drives up to the haunted house there is background music playing. What is the desired effect of this music? Describe two other places in the film where the soundtrack or film score affected your viewing of that scene.
In that particular scene, the desired effect was to make a sort of mysterious tone. This actually matches well with the sudden changes of the bright green grass of the neighborhood to the half-dead forest and black surface of the mansion. The background music assists in this moment to immerse the viewer in the first exploration the woman has into the mansion and the first in-depth look the viewer has into it. The film impressively uses the music in the opening credits as the chimes of bells in the music help to create a chilling tone. This matches perfectly with the first glimpses of the dark architecture of the mansion and the apparent winter weather. The film also uses its music to its advantage when Edward is trapped within Jim's house. The fast pace of the music helps sets a tone as you can see the panic in Edward's face as he desperately claws at the door knob trying to escape.
How does the costuming set the main character, Edward apart from the other community members and why do you think Edward to be so visually different? How does this help the actor portray his role?
This goes back to the original idea of how the rest of the neighborhood is so colorful, as well as its residents. Everyone appears so expressive, which matches their personality, as well as connected. This is why Edward's appearance looks so different from everyone else. His dark clothing, pale complexion, facial scars, and rough boots make him so diverse from the rest of the community. This is something, however, that you would expect from a monstrosity that is brought into society, but if he doesn't LOOK like a monstrosity then it wouldn't be as effective.This is something the director was likely going for, if a person acts like a monster, talks like a monster, and even believes he is a monster then that's good acting, but if he doesn't actually appear like a gloomy person than everyone might as well suspect that he's a social outcast that has stayed out of the sun for far too long. His clothing, like the rest, also matches his personality. He's been disconnected from society and therefore lacks common sense and learns these traits as he goes. This sort of portrayal can help the actor understand that since he doesn't appear like any of the extremely colorful people on set than he shouldn't act like hes at a Halloween party, he should act like someone he doesn't fit in.
What is Tim Burton (Director) saying about the nature of conformity in this film? How does he use color and visual imagery to drive home this point?
Likely saying how in terms of the nature of conformity how the socially unaccepted are accepted. Edward, who has been isolated from reality and society for all of his time alive, is suddenly pulled into reality, and is almost immediately accepted as the highlight of the neighborhood. He even cooperates with others better than the others within the neighborhood, and even befriends the local police after his arrest, which later saves life (oh, spoilers). Tim uses colors very well within the film, as described before, to show how different Edward is from the rest of society. His pale complexion and dark clothing doesn't correspond well with the rest of the bright and flashy environment. It shows how disconnected he is from everyone else and his inability to blend, even though he is virtually accepted in everyone's eyes.
Is Edward a tragic figure? Why or why not based on the outcome of the film.
Originally, I was going to say no, seeing as how since Edward isn't really getting involved in these situations so much as he is pulled into them. Being disconnected from the rest of reality, he simply has no common sense and learns the difference between right and wrong and good and evil as the story evolves. I never though of him to be a person that does these acts selflessly as a human, but is just an ironically popular figure that is exploited. Halfway through the film that opinion changed when it is revealed how Edward's true love, Kim, is unfairly taken from him and this shows his first negative emotion as an actual person. Later he accidentally injures Kim, which practically turns him against everyone else, except Kim...because she loves him...and all those little things. It feels a bit symbolic when he removes his attire that he has kept on since he first entered the neighborhood, and quickly sinks back into that ideal of what an actual monstrosity is, as he wreaks havoc upon the works of art he made for everyone else, utterly destroying them. Then in a final scene, he mistakingly injures Tim, and like a scene out of Frankenstein, is forced back into his mansion by an angry mob. Then I took a look back: He rejects one person who is in love with him for the one he loves, he injures the one he loves, he becomes isolated from society yet again, and the people who once trusted him now perceive him as a threat. All of these changes I felt rounded him into a tragic figure rather than an inconveniently placed one.
What are some of the highlights, twists and turns of the story?
-When Edward rejects Joyce, she becomes infuriated and claims he attempted to "rape" her.
-Edward mistakingly injures Tim with his "scissorhands" after pushing him out of the way of a moving car.
-He mistakingly injures Kim with a clumsy move that causes Jim to force him away.
-He falls back into isolation within the roof where he was first discovered by Peg.
-Despite his rather off-putting appearance, he appears to be quite the ladies man, as two women fall in love with him.
Research online what people Tim Burton consistently works with for his productions and list three here. Discuss why creatively this might be important for a Director.
-Johnny Depp (this film! :D)
-Danny Elfman
-Helena Bonham Carter
I feel as though this technique is a way of sticking to a style. When you have a certain flow of writing or managing that you like, you don't tend stray from that path, at least too far. So, working with certain collaborates offers the chance to remain within the same style of writing without suffering from loss of experience. Knowing an actor's or writer's strengths and weaknesses makes them a whole lot easier to manage and puts a relief on the director so that he can maintain his way of creativity without sacrificing anything.
Well, those are my views on Edward Scissorhands, and as expected, Tim Burton didn't fail me (at least yet.). Overall, it's very memorable, symbolic, can appeal to most audiences, and delivers a positive message. Except to children. The only positive message they would get is not to run with scissors.
As the woman drives up to the haunted house there is background music playing. What is the desired effect of this music? Describe two other places in the film where the soundtrack or film score affected your viewing of that scene.
In that particular scene, the desired effect was to make a sort of mysterious tone. This actually matches well with the sudden changes of the bright green grass of the neighborhood to the half-dead forest and black surface of the mansion. The background music assists in this moment to immerse the viewer in the first exploration the woman has into the mansion and the first in-depth look the viewer has into it. The film impressively uses the music in the opening credits as the chimes of bells in the music help to create a chilling tone. This matches perfectly with the first glimpses of the dark architecture of the mansion and the apparent winter weather. The film also uses its music to its advantage when Edward is trapped within Jim's house. The fast pace of the music helps sets a tone as you can see the panic in Edward's face as he desperately claws at the door knob trying to escape.
How does the costuming set the main character, Edward apart from the other community members and why do you think Edward to be so visually different? How does this help the actor portray his role?
This goes back to the original idea of how the rest of the neighborhood is so colorful, as well as its residents. Everyone appears so expressive, which matches their personality, as well as connected. This is why Edward's appearance looks so different from everyone else. His dark clothing, pale complexion, facial scars, and rough boots make him so diverse from the rest of the community. This is something, however, that you would expect from a monstrosity that is brought into society, but if he doesn't LOOK like a monstrosity then it wouldn't be as effective.This is something the director was likely going for, if a person acts like a monster, talks like a monster, and even believes he is a monster then that's good acting, but if he doesn't actually appear like a gloomy person than everyone might as well suspect that he's a social outcast that has stayed out of the sun for far too long. His clothing, like the rest, also matches his personality. He's been disconnected from society and therefore lacks common sense and learns these traits as he goes. This sort of portrayal can help the actor understand that since he doesn't appear like any of the extremely colorful people on set than he shouldn't act like hes at a Halloween party, he should act like someone he doesn't fit in.
What is Tim Burton (Director) saying about the nature of conformity in this film? How does he use color and visual imagery to drive home this point?
Likely saying how in terms of the nature of conformity how the socially unaccepted are accepted. Edward, who has been isolated from reality and society for all of his time alive, is suddenly pulled into reality, and is almost immediately accepted as the highlight of the neighborhood. He even cooperates with others better than the others within the neighborhood, and even befriends the local police after his arrest, which later saves life (oh, spoilers). Tim uses colors very well within the film, as described before, to show how different Edward is from the rest of society. His pale complexion and dark clothing doesn't correspond well with the rest of the bright and flashy environment. It shows how disconnected he is from everyone else and his inability to blend, even though he is virtually accepted in everyone's eyes.
Is Edward a tragic figure? Why or why not based on the outcome of the film.
Originally, I was going to say no, seeing as how since Edward isn't really getting involved in these situations so much as he is pulled into them. Being disconnected from the rest of reality, he simply has no common sense and learns the difference between right and wrong and good and evil as the story evolves. I never though of him to be a person that does these acts selflessly as a human, but is just an ironically popular figure that is exploited. Halfway through the film that opinion changed when it is revealed how Edward's true love, Kim, is unfairly taken from him and this shows his first negative emotion as an actual person. Later he accidentally injures Kim, which practically turns him against everyone else, except Kim...because she loves him...and all those little things. It feels a bit symbolic when he removes his attire that he has kept on since he first entered the neighborhood, and quickly sinks back into that ideal of what an actual monstrosity is, as he wreaks havoc upon the works of art he made for everyone else, utterly destroying them. Then in a final scene, he mistakingly injures Tim, and like a scene out of Frankenstein, is forced back into his mansion by an angry mob. Then I took a look back: He rejects one person who is in love with him for the one he loves, he injures the one he loves, he becomes isolated from society yet again, and the people who once trusted him now perceive him as a threat. All of these changes I felt rounded him into a tragic figure rather than an inconveniently placed one.
What are some of the highlights, twists and turns of the story?
-When Edward rejects Joyce, she becomes infuriated and claims he attempted to "rape" her.
-Edward mistakingly injures Tim with his "scissorhands" after pushing him out of the way of a moving car.
-He mistakingly injures Kim with a clumsy move that causes Jim to force him away.
-He falls back into isolation within the roof where he was first discovered by Peg.
-Despite his rather off-putting appearance, he appears to be quite the ladies man, as two women fall in love with him.
Research online what people Tim Burton consistently works with for his productions and list three here. Discuss why creatively this might be important for a Director.
-Johnny Depp (this film! :D)
-Danny Elfman
-Helena Bonham Carter
I feel as though this technique is a way of sticking to a style. When you have a certain flow of writing or managing that you like, you don't tend stray from that path, at least too far. So, working with certain collaborates offers the chance to remain within the same style of writing without suffering from loss of experience. Knowing an actor's or writer's strengths and weaknesses makes them a whole lot easier to manage and puts a relief on the director so that he can maintain his way of creativity without sacrificing anything.
Well, those are my views on Edward Scissorhands, and as expected, Tim Burton didn't fail me (at least yet.). Overall, it's very memorable, symbolic, can appeal to most audiences, and delivers a positive message. Except to children. The only positive message they would get is not to run with scissors.
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