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Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Magical, with scares most 10-year-olds can handle.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships, friendship, loss
updated 09.21.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Love and selflessness are presented neatly in this quirky fairytale.
  • Role models:

    The central characters are intensely well-meaning; the evil villain never stood a chance agaisnt them. They are thoughtful, caring and, for the most part, unselfish. The main character, Emily, ascends to heaven after she has released Victor to his true love, Victoria, and protects him from a dastardly villain.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some scariness (crows in trees, talking skeletons, and dead bodies with rotting flesh and maggots).
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Some spicy sayings but nothing too out of line.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The skeletons drink, but it's clearly fantasy.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride was written by Cynthia Fuchs

Parents need to know that this movie includes multiple references to dead bodies, skeletons, decay, and death, though all in good fun. The corpse bride's eye pops out occasionally, to show the talking maggot who lives inside and offers romantic advice. The story concerns a young man and woman who meet for a marriage arranged by their parents, both families in need of money. The young man's betrothal to the corpse bride leads him to contemplate his own death, in order to fit in with her friends. Song and dance numbers feature skeletons, corpses, and ghosts. Both sets of parents are using their children to achieve money and status. And when the live bride-to-be asks the local pastor for help, the film raises questions concerning the effectiveness of organized religion.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the dilemma facing Victor, who comes to love both the corpse bride and his arranged bride and so must choose between them.
  • How do Victor's and Victoria's parents pressure them to marry?
  • How might Victor have handled the confusion he felt differently to avoid hurting Victoria's or the Corpse Bride's feelings?
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More on Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

What’s the Story?

TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE begins as Victor Van Dort (voiced by Johnny Depp) and Victoria Everglott (Emily Watson) are to be wed in an arranged marriage. Their parents -- nouveau riche Nell and William Van Dort (Tracey Ullman and Paul Whitehouse) and recently poor gentry Maudeline and Finis Everglot (Joanna Lumley and Albert Finney) – expect the marriage to leave both families better off, either by means of money or class status. When a nervous Victor flubs the ceremony rehearsal, Pastor Galswells (Christopher Lee) sends him off to practice his vows. Stumbling around in the dark woods, Victor finally seems to get it right, slipping the ring onto what seems a twig. But no: the wood is really the skeletal finger of the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter). Victor is transported immediately to the Bride's netherworld. Though Victor wants to get back to Victoria -- currently menaced by a next suitor, the devious Barkis Bittern (Richard E. Grant) -- he is also sympathetic to the sweet Bride's lonely plight, and he waffles, lies, and generally watches his life and possible death go on around him.

Is It Any Good?

This movie is self-consciously clever. Victor is an exceedingly empathetic sort, but he is, after all, a bit of a wimp who spends so much time trying to please everyone else that he loses sight of what he wants for himself. Corpse Bride follows Victor's coming to terms with himself, as he figures out what he does want. Lucky for him, Victoria and the Bride are both very understanding. And lucky for us, the stop-motion animation is delightful. Though the story runs thin quickly, the visual show remains airy and charming. Especially if you don't mind the clattering of bones during dance numbers.

Movie Details

Studio: Warner Independent, Director: Tim Burton
Run time: 74 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/23/2005, DVD release: 1/31/2006
MPAA Rating: PG for scary images

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Perfect for everybody

    Movie is really good!And it's not scary!Most 9 years old kids can handle!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Another excellent Tim Burton movie. Great for older kids, but might be too scary for the little ones.

    This movie is truly a work of art. It is morbid, dark, and basically all-around weird, and any fan of Tim Burton will love this film. It does have a great deal of death imagery and potentially frightening images, but most older children will see it in the humorous and lighthearted way in which it was intended. The movie has brief mild profanity ("d--n" and "bloody", to be precise), but it is very hard to catch, and will probably fly right over childrens' heads. Of course, this movie is entertaining for everyone: adults, children, and teens, just like most of Burton's films. This movie could not have been better other than the fact that I wished it lasted a couple of hours longer than it did. I heartily recommend this to everyone.

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    a good movie that has it's ups and downs.

    The movie is good and has it's scary and intense moments. There is no over the top gore just some talking skeletons, mildly scary looking dead bodies, and some scenes of peril. This movie is good but could be to scary for younger kids.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    People were nice. I, personally would've married the corpse bride.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Excellent Film

    This is a great film and I don't think there is anything inappropriate in it. Although, it may be scary for very young children.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Excellent Film

    This is a great film and I don't think there is anything inappropriate in it. Although, it may be scary for very young children.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    This was a spectacular movie. although I watched it when I was very young, I never thought that I would be saying this, but after watching t a few nights ago, there are some parts that a child wouldn't quite understand.

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    little kids will get scared.

    i liked this movie a lot.It contains scary parts that kids 5 and under should not watch.Theres also a scene where a skeleton briefly smokes and you see other skeletons with beer bottles and they do a very scary dance.(it is clearly a bar.)mild suggestive humor is the only other problem.

  9. I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    One of the Spookiest Animated Movies I have ever seen!

    The movie is cute, but spooky. Wouldn't reccommend for any younger than 9, unless your child (and/or brother or sister) is VERY mature for his/her age. It's spooky, but cool. I was a very mature seven and I loved this movie, as well as my friends of the same age. My sister, however, who is aging normally, was seven last year and this movie scared her to death. The reason I put "Too Violent" was because it is spooky. I reccommend this to all audiences of 9 and up and make sure this is on your Halloween Playlist!

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Good movie!

    It was a very well done movie, much funnier than I was expecting. I don't recommend it for any child who's scared of skeletons or zombie-like creatures, no matter how funny they are.

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0

    Creepy, Funny, Wierd!

    This Movie Is Creepy But Kinda Funny Wierd

  13. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in Montana
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

    very creepy

    i think this movie is cool and very creepy

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    fine movie

    i think this movie is normal its not appropiate or innappropiate

  15. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0

    A four year old can watch this!

    The darkness was a bit depressing. But a four year old loves this movie, so, why not?

  17. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    not sure

    my mom thinks its stupid she will not let me see it i wanted to see it but now that you menchenge it lokks stupid you may like it but if you ask me avoid tim burton and the nightmare before christmas rocks but this sucks

  18. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Nevada
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 1.0

    Bone chilling comedy

    I liked the movie. I found some real cool movies for kids on youtube. These are the BEST I've ever seen and they keep adding a new one each month. These movies were made by a 16 yr. old. Check em out at: http://www.youtube.com/user/ManikaMovies

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0

    Going in my collection

    Can be dark and spooky but definitely a keeper. (Great music too)

  20. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    That years Nightmare Before Christmas runs deep and aces the music

    I loved it, I think ages 11 is the perfect age

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