Edward Scissorhands is a lot of things. It’s fantasy. It’s romance. It’s sinister. It’s heart-warming. It’s a film for all ages. Putting all that aside, it’s first and foremost, a Tim Burton film. Yes, hate him or love him, there’s no denying the man has a distinct style. Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means a Burton fan-boy. I like most of his films, but some are just complete and utter crap (I’m looking at you, Alice in Wonderland). Edward Scissorhands isn’t much different from Burton’s regular style, but for some reason, it seems to work much better than most of his films. Probably because this movie has style and substance, something which his more recent films are short in (again, sorry to point the finger, but Alice in Wonderland is the perfect example of this).

Regardless of whether or not you’re fond of the Burton-esque style, you should like this film, because at the end of the day it’s just a damn good flick.

By now, even if you haven’t seen the movie, I’m sure you know the basic plot. Edward Scissorhands is a man who has scissors for hands. While Scissorhands may not actually be his surname (I highly doubt it!), there’s no denying it’s catchy.
Ed lives alone in a gothic mansion, until one day, a nice woman drops by and takes him back to live with her (as you do!). As you might expect, being so “different” means that things aren’t so simple for Edward. Much time at the beginning of the film sees him attempting to do simple everyday things, but failing miserably. This sort of thing works in two ways. In one way, it’s terribly saddening to see him struggle with even the easiest tasks. But, in another way it works as pretty good comedy material. Particularly for the younger audience, who may neglect to sympathize with poor Ed.
I’m sure there’s a whole lot of people out there who get a good kick out of watching him failing several times to eat one measly pea from his plate. Those people are in luck, as there are plenty of similar moments throughout the film.

I, on the other hand, often fell into the former state of mind. I couldn’t help but feel something deeper for Edward in certain parts of the film, rather than simply laughing at his efforts. I think Burton has a lot to say about people who are “different” from us, and in terms of analysis in that domain, there’s a lot the film has to offer. I won’t bore you with my critical analysis, but I think it’s worth complimenting Burton on making the film so multi-layered and accessible to all ages. (Some jokes are specifically targeted at older members of the audience, such as the women practically having orgasms whilst getting their hair cut by Edward!). So, kudos to him on that front.

Genre-wise, I guess the film could be considered a love-story at heart. It all starts when Ed lays his eyes on a picture of Kim (Winona Ryder). He falls instantly in love. When the two first meet, things are awkward. Kim apparently thinks him as nothing more than a freak. However, predictable as it may be, she starts to feel for him. Perhaps only sympathy at first, but that starts to evolve into something so much more. Kim finds herself defending Edward, even putting him ahead of her own boyfriend, whom she later breaks up with. It’s a cliché love story, in one sense. Beautiful girl sees past the man’s physical flaws, and realizes how he’s beautiful on the inside. But, in another sense, it’s sort of tragic. Blood is spilt along the way, and in the end they never do end up together for eternity, like many would have predicted. Still, the movie gets its heart from the relationship between Edward and Kim, and it does very much end on a positive note.

This was Burton’s first collaboration with Johnny Depp, and certainly one of their best. Depp has since proved himself to be the master of playing all things weird, but his first may just be his weirdest character ever. The performance is excellent, and it needs to be. Although the dialogue is minimal for Edward, things like facial expressions and subtlety are of huge importance, and Depp executes them like the pro he is. Winona Ryder is as cute as ever, and is a fantastic choice for the role of Kim. Damn, if her dancing in the snow wasn’t the most adorable shot in the whole movie. The two have good chemistry and it’s a pleasure to watch.

Visually, as I mentioned before, it’s typical Burton. Although, he does favor the bright, multicolored suburbs over the more classic dark, gothic locations for most of the film. We are often so blinded by the color that the last few scenes at the end, with the snow in the night, are almost a relief. I think he strikes a good visual balance though, and obviously the very creation of the title character is one of Burton’s most inspired visual ideas. Musically, he’s backed up as usual by Danny Elfman, who executes a brilliant score. It perfectly matches the magical atmosphere of the movie, and is one of his better efforts.

Edward Scissorhands is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. It can be seen from many different angles. Critically, there’s a lot to be analyzed. The film often touches on very sinister matters, but never fully delves into them. Depending on how you look at the film, it can be dark or light. I’d like to think that it’s mostly the latter, and it’s much more enjoyable when you watch it from that point of view.

A genuinely excellent movie, and my favorite Burton movie yet! If that isn’t enough incentive to watch it, then I don’t know what is.

Oh, and a side note: Johnny Depp is still irresistible to women with scars and scissors for hands. Is there any way to make that man unattractive? Seriously…

   -- Joe O'Brien