A review of "Edward Scissorhands

Confessions of a Film Junkie: A Review of “Edward Scissorhands”

By: Brian Cotnoir

                One of my favorite films of all-time is “Edward Scissorhands”, which tells us the story of a young man named Edward, who was created by a scientist, played by the late and always amazing Vincent Price, to look and act like a real human being.  Unfortunately, the scientist dies before Edward could be completed and thus he is left all alone up in the scientist’s mansion with giant scissors for hands.  Edward spends his entire life up in the scientist’s mansion, until one day an Avon sales woman, named Peggy, decides to head up to the dark mansion, in hopes of making a sale.  After she finds a clearly frightened Edward she decides to invite him home with her.  Against all odds, Edward becomes a hit with just about everyone in neighborhood.  The neighbors are all fascinated by this man with scissors for hands and do their best to make him feel welcome.  Edward eventually falls for Peggy’s daughter Kim, who is played by Winona Ryder.  Kim intially rejects Edward, but as the film progresses she begins to like him more and more.  This friendship between Edward and Kim incites many violent confrantations from Kim’s jealous, macho-man boyfriend, played by Anthony Michael Hall.  What follows next is a whirlwind of romance, discovery, art, and crimes of passion.                                                                                                                

     It should come as a surpise to no one that the person who directed “Edward Scissorhands” was the always creative and always bizzarre, Tim Burton.  Everything Burton did to this film is amazing.  I especially like how he made all the houses and cars in the neighborhood these bright and obnoxious colors.  Growing up as an angsty teenager, I always saw those bright colroed cars and homes as a representation of how fake and phony the world really is and how everyone is always trying to cover up its imperfections and indiscretions.                                                                                                                                                    

       The star of the film is noneother than Johnny Depp.  I always like when Tim Burton and Johnny Depp do film collaborations with one another because it always results in an epic film with a creative story and fun cast.  Even though Depp is the star of the film, he really does not have many lines, which I do like.  Most of the film shows Edward exploring and discovering the world around him.  I really like his facial expressions throughout the film; they are priceless.                                                                                                                

      I’ve always believed that the one thing that makes a really good actor is not the lines they read, or how they speak, or what accent they use; I believe that the one thing that makes a person a good actor or actress is their ability to envoke a response without saying a word.  Depps facial expressions fill your heart and your mind with feelings of humor, sympathy, and a deep understanding.                                                      

     Everything about “Edward Scissorhands” is great; the casting, the acting, the story, the music, the setting, the cinematography, absolutely everything.  “Edward Scissorhands” is just simply one of those perfect films that come along once in great time.  Everytime Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Danny Elfman collaborate together you can guarentee that your end results is going to be one amazing film.  If you don’t like “Edward Scissorhands” than you have no soul!