Favorite Tim Burton movie?

[Fugitoid Jones]

Tim Burton is without a doubt my favorite director. He is the reason I studied film in college. His movies are often visually interesting, while the stories' focus is normally on a sympathetic misfit. He's directed box office hits in the 80's, 90's, and the 00's. Even if you don't care for most of his movies, almost everybody can choose at least one movie of his that they thoroughly enjoy. So what's your favorite?

(Some of you may be wondering why I did not include The Nightmare Before Christmas. That is because Tim Burton did not direct that movie, he wrote and produced it.)


I had to go with Batman, with Pee Wee's Big Adventure as a very close second. Batman just has everything for me; my favorite director, my favorite superhero, and my favorite actor (Jack Nicholson) playing my favorite super villain. It just doesn't get much better than that, IMO.

Now, while I do love Burton's movies, I'm under the belief that his last great movie was 1999's Sleepy Hollow. After that, his movies range from good (Big Fish, Sweeney Todd), to decent (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride) to bad (Planet of the Apes, Alice in Wonderland). Everything leading up to Sleepy Hollow, is pure gold as far as I'm concerned.

[Hero]

I like that one with Johnny Depp in it :).

===HERO

[rufus]

Totally in the Minority,but I have always Loved Batman Returns tied with Beetlejuice and Mars Attacks.

[Logan]

Edward Scissorhands, followed by Ed Wood and the Batman films. Love Burton's early work in particular, but I always look forward to his films.

[Luzmagica]

My prefers are : Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow and Batman.... :tgrin:

I dont like nothing of Sweeney Todd.... :tgrumble:

[Abnormal Freak]

I'm not big on Burton. Style over substance and I don't particularly like the style.

That said, Pee-wee's Big Adventure is one of my absolute favorite movies. Brilliant.

[TheCanadiandrome]

Gotta go Beetlejuice

[AT-Man]

Beetlejuice for me too, both Batmen take the second place.

[RiddleOfRevenge]

I adore Tim Burton, he's also my favourite director.

I don't really have an overall favourite movie. That decision is too hard to make.

[gobo]

Tim Burton In Love, starring Johnny Depp

[Slap-Happy]

Probably a tie between Pee Wee and Beetlejuice. Gonna have to go with Pee Wee on the poll though.

After those, probably Batman and Edward Scissorhands.

[Wildgoose]

Mine favs: Edward, followed by Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, Sweeny Tood and Alice

[Abnormal Freak]

Forgot to mention Ed Wood. Not including The Nightmare Before Christmas (as mentioned, that's Henry Selick's film; Burton never even visited the set he was too busy), it's the only non-Pee-wee Burton film that I love. Brilliant. I think Burton's at his best when he scales back the wacky set designs and slightly dark themes and just focuses on comedy.

[ToTheNines]

Being Christmastime and all, I just watched Batman Returns today... what a ****ing piece of pig poo that movie is. It's not really Burton's fault I guess, the script is a God damned train wreck on paper. So yeah, that didn't be my vote.

I love the first Batman, Pee Wee, Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice though.

[Mandi-chan]

For me my absolute favorite Tim Burton movies are Sleepy Hollow and Sweeney Todd: his two best films in my book.

A close third would be Batman Returns.

Aside from Mars Attacks (I HATED this movie-thought it was so bad), I've enjoyed/loved all of Burton's movies that I've seen (have yet to see Ed Wood *waiting for it for Netflix Instant Streaming* and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory *honestly have no desire to see this one*).

[Spitfire]

Burton is an interesting guy with a unique style. Sadly his style has become pretty common fair now and isn't very unique anymore. I think his best, and in my opinion last really good, film was Sleep Hallow. It had all the elements of a Burton movie which served the dark fairy tale style quite well. It was nice to see him cut loose and do something R rated as well.

Being Christmastime and all, I just watched Batman Returns today... what a ****ing piece of pig poo that movie is. It's not really Burton's fault I guess, the script is a God damned train wreck on paper. So yeah, that didn't be my vote.
Funny I thought it was the best of the 4 Batman films before Nolan took over. Not a fan of his first Batman movie as it felt really subdued and had way too much Prince in it. Jack's Joker never did much for me either. What I like about Returns was it fit his style so well. It's probably the only time we will ever see a mixture of something dark and Gothic with a slight Adam West vibe to it. Forever and Batman and Robin attempted the West thing too but went way too far with it and it came out disastrous.

[ToTheNines]

Funny I thought it was the best of the 4 Batman films before Nolan took over. Not a fan of his first Batman movie as it felt really subdued and had way too much Prince in it. Jack's Joker never did much for me either. What I like about Returns was it fit his style so well. It's probably the only time we will ever see a mixture of something dark and Gothic with a slight Adam West vibe to it. Forever and Batman and Robin attempted the West thing too but went way too far with it and it came out disastrous.

Funny, I rather like Batman Forever.

But like I said, me hating wasn't really about Burton's directing. The characters had no good motivations and Batman is hardly in it at all. Then the rocket launching penguins are just too much for me.

[Slap-Happy]

I think Batman Returns is easily one of the most, if not THE most boring Batman film.

[ToTheNines]

I think Batman Returns is easily one of the most, if not THE most boring Batman film.

Mhm. Plus there's just about 0 connection to the previous film aside from 2 quick chats about Vicki Vale... it really doesn't even deserve to be called a sequel. Or have "Batman" in the title.

I think I would have titled it: An Oswald Cobblepot Christmas.

[Abnormal Freak]

Being Christmastime and all, I just watched Batman Returns today... what a ****ing piece of pig poo that movie is. It's not really Burton's fault I guess, the script is a God damned train wreck on paper. So yeah, that didn't be my vote.

I want to love Returns, I really, really do. It was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I still adore the music, the set designs, the effects, the cinematography, the atmosphere, the way it's a gothic winter wonderland, the crazy circus gang, and even the cast and acting.

But, as you say, the script is so friggin' awful, and I see that so much more now than I did as a young'un. And agreed with your later post: the penguin march just really kills all enjoyment I could receive from that film. It's hard for me to ever want to rewatch this movie again. I know I will, and I know I will several times. (And I really wish the Blu-ray transfer weren't a steaming pile of poo.) But I don't know how much I'll enjoy it. There are pretty visuals, there's an amazing score, but the whole thing is so empty.

And two little details that really put this high on the Stupid scale: when Batman is playing for the people the audio of Penguin insulting them and he does a record scratch...on a f***ing CD; and the other is when Bruce rips off his mask at the end, saying they should turn Shreck in—but if Shreck had lived, he would know Batman's true identity. Those two details murder me.

Burton's first Batman flick, while I don't love, it's loads better in so many ways. It doesn't look very gothic, but it has this different visual style that I find really appealing. It, too, has some fantastic set designs, matte paintings, effects, and all that good stuff. It's a beautiful film (and thankfully, the Blu-ray for this one doesn't look like a turd), and that's...pretty much all I like about the movie, music score aside, although it's overall far more tolerable than the sequel.

But Batman also has a really aggravating detail (well, a lot of them, really, but this one chafes my pole the most): Bruce sleeping upside down. Like he were a bat. Haw haw. Real funny, Burton. For that and all the other stupid things in the first film, I'm convinced you could've had the best writer in the world for Returns and Burton still would have mucked it up. If he loved The Killing Joke so much and hated everything else Batman, why couldn't he have played either of his B'man films straight with great characters and dialog like the comic and not added in all the retarded crap? And Nicholson's Joker sucks. He just does. Can't understand the people who say he's a great Joker. It's just Jack Nicholson playing Jack Nicholson in clown paint with a hint of Cesar Romero. It sucks.

Nolan Batman... There's some retarded stuff in those films, too, but nothing nearly as camp and outrageously bad, and they're really good movies overall, so I can forgive the weak spots.

[ToTheNines]

And two little details that really put this high on the Stupid scale: when Batman is playing for the people the audio of Penguin insulting them and he does a record scratch...on a f***ing CD; and the other is when Bruce rips off his mask at the end, saying they should turn Shreck in—but if Shreck had lived, he would know Batman's true identity. Those two details murder me.

First one... yes stupid.

Second one, LMAO. There was no ****ing point to doing that in the first place! She already knew Bruce was Batman. So why would he show off his ugly Michael Keaton puss? I dunno, dumb movie haha.

[Ashangelo]

Sweeney Todd.

I was obsessed with this movie when it first came out. I think the whole 'Johnny Depp singing' thing is what really won me over, but still a very good movie regardless of this fact.

[Cowabunga Carl]

I would have to go with Big Fish. For me it was an amazing movie because it wasn't what I was expecting from him. It was so much different then his other things. It would be followed by Sleepy Hallow, and then Sweeny Todd.

[Fugitoid Jones]

Funny, I rather like Batman Forever.

But like I said, me hating wasn't really about Burton's directing. The characters had no good motivations and Batman is hardly in it at all. Then the rocket launching penguins are just too much for me.

Sooo....rocket launching penguins are too much, but the Riddler stealing brainwaves from people using their tvs is ok?

[ToTheNines]

Sooo....rocket launching penguins are too much, but the Riddler stealing brainwaves from people using their tvs is ok?

Batman Forever didn't even try to be half as "dark" as Returns did. So, yes.

[Logan]

Watched Batman Returns on Christmas day. I think I'm going to establish that as a yearly tradition from now on.

[Samhain]

Beetlejuice for me. That is my wife's favorite movie so we have alot of memories when we watch it. I have seen it over 50 times and it never gets old.

[Sage Ninja]

Sleepy Hollow. For some reason I just love this movie. It just had all the right elements for me and I just enjoyed it very much.

[Jelly Bean]

I picked Sweeny Todd Demon Barber even though I hate musicals. Corpse Bride made me want to throw up...but some how Sweeny Todd didn't. :-?

I dunno I just felt Corpse Bride tried too hard to be as good as The Nightmare Before Christmas and did not reach it. Plus...ew! having a romance with a corpse? Necrophilia vibes....:dead::sick:

[Jester]

Ed Wood, but mainly because I loved Ed Wood's "work" first. :P

[TonySiegel]

Torn between Pee Wee's Big Adventure & Batman Returns... edward scissorhands is classic as well

[NameGoesHere1066]

the Batman movies, Sweeny Todd, Edward Scissor Hands, Sleepy Hollow and Beetle Juice. I ultimately picked Sleepy Hollow though.

How come The Nightmare before Christmas isn't up there?

[Fugitoid Jones]

How come The Nightmare before Christmas isn't up there?

Because Tim Burton didn't direct it. He came up with the story and produced it.

[Jelly Bean]

Because Tim Burton didn't direct it. He came up with the story and produced it.

that doesn't count? He came up with the story. :(

[Guitar_Raph]

To me, it was a tie. I liked Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, but it doesn't compare to the 1971 musical classic.

I voted for Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Gotta like the Hollywood chase scene & the motorcycle bar club, where he does his silly Tequila dance.

[Fugitoid Jones]

that doesn't count? He came up with the story. :(

Well, I was mostly asking for people's favorite movie directed by Tim Burton. Guess I should have specified that in the original post.

[UsagiYojimbo]

I really dig Tim Burton... so this one is tough for me. I think everything he did up to Ed Wood (and even Mars Attacks) was fantastic. After that it seems he just started remaking stuff with Sleepy Hollow, etc.

It's really a toss up for me... I love Pee-Wee, Batman, Batman Returns and Ed Wood the best. Also Beetlejuice is classic Burton. I picked Batman, though.

[Panda Khan]

Mars Attacks and Batman are my favorites.

[Raven]

Right after Halloween, my wife and I try to watch Edward Scissor hands. Kicking off our Christmas movies we watch up until Christmas.

As for my favorite, it would be Big Fish. It was a reserved Tim Burton, not over the top (I guess you could argue that point) but I like the more human elements in it and how the Father saw his life. I kind of think we all imagine our lives a little exaggerated then what they may be.

[Donnie]

Soon you can include Ab Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in this list! That looks SICK.

I'm going with Sleepy Hollow...I love the historical setting, colonial New England. Great cast, great acting, superb throughout...

Beetlejuice and Scissorhands were always favs as well, and recently Sweeney Todd.

[Walkabout]

Like the OP, Ive gotta go Batman (89) and Pee Wees Big Adventure as a narrow second.

I love ...returns and Beetlejuice too, but yeah.

His early movies are brilliant, I dont go too much on his later films to be honest.