StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Blucher One of the worst movies I've ever seen

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Steffi_P One of the stupidest trends in modern children's TV and literature is this notion that kids should be protected from the darker things in life, and that anything made with them in mind should be unfeasibly cheerful and inoffensive. This is nonsense. Kids get enough rose-tinted syrup in the form of cough medicine, and as the Grimm brothers knew they like a good exhilarating scare as much as the rest of us.Frankenweenie sees a young Tim Burton reworking the Frankenstein story around a young boy and his beloved dog. Burton and co-writer Leonard Ripps have drawn especially from the 1931 movie version with Boris Karloff, borrowing motifs such as the burning windmill and a twitching hand (or tail, in this case) to indicate re-animation. Of course, most youngsters (indeed most contemporary viewers) will not realise what these are references to, and there's a level of meaning that's only for the film buffs in the audience, who may find themselves chuckling at the more satirical nods. It's the kind of insider wink that cinema, even children's, was full of at this time – think of the clip from The Quiet Man in E.T. (1982). But this in no way diminishes what we see on screen, and it's nice that kids (a lot of whom won't know the Frankenstein story at all) will simply accept the movie in its own right, and be touched by it for its own message, which incidentally has a rather different slant to that of Mary Shelley's novel.This was one of Burton's earliest efforts at live-action, his work prior to this largely being in animation. He's good for a beginner, his horror-geek background showing with some of the basic but little-known tricks of the genre, such as keeping open doorways or corridors at the back of shots for a sense of unease. As in his later career, he creates a generally strange look with lighting and expressionist design (which even at this early stage he clearly took a personal hand in – check out the oddball graveyard), and using the weirdness of the shot for mood and emphasis. For example, in the classroom scene, Burton cuts to a weird low shot with wide-angle lens, making the teacher look really ominous at the point where he explains about the use of electricity to create movement in animals. Burton has the sense not to overuse such tricks, and carefully tempers the quirky visuals in line with what is going on in the story.As a finished piece Frankenweenie is certainly no masterpiece, and its inventiveness is betrayed by a rough, haphazard look. Its story idea is clever but the script could certainly use some emotional development and improved dialogue. The casting choices seem a bit makeshift too, Daniel Stern looking nowhere near old enough to have a son that age. Still it works well enough as a short, an appetite-whetter to go before a main feature. However the 1980s Disney chiefs were appalled, fired Burton and put the movie in the vault, deeming it too scary for kids. They should have looked a little closer at their own history. Classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio and Dumbo each have their own frightful and disturbing moments. The writers and animators back then knew that terror and darkness is something kids need to go through. And, as with those older Disney movies, Frankenweenie rewards its young audience with light and happiness at the end.

bts1984 It's easy to see where this wonderful little tale got its inspiration from. It was from the 1931 film 'Frankenstein', which is only strengthened by the fact that this is filmed in black and white. This short is like a lighter version of 'Frankenstein'. It's more cute than scary or macabre, although it still has some of that familiar dark feeling. Above all the things, this is film-making of quality, with awesome visuals in a Gothic style.The music is terrific, the pace is excellent, the locations cinematography is marvelous, the characters are generally likable, the actors are great, there is humor... it's a little movie that oozes charm and nostalgia.Barret Oliver, the cute kid from 'The Neverending Story' (1984) and 'D.A.R.Y.L.' (1985), is once again terrific, here as Victor Frankenstein. Shelley Duvall aka "Olive Oyl" offers another great performance as Susan Frankenstein. Daniel Stern is Ben Frankenstein. Even here he already showed potential as a comic (and this was years before becoming a superstar with the first two 'Home Alone' movies). Even looking younger and without beird and mustache, ain't no mistaking on that "Marv" face.And there is also Sparky the Bull Terrier, awesome as Sparky (just like his name in real life). Sparky is a nice name for a dog. Bull Terriers have got to be among the most peculiar-looking dogs, in great part thanks to their unique head in the shape of an egg.The title 'Frankenweenie' is unusual. I can perfectly see where it got the "Franken" from. As for the "weenie", it probably is meant to make one realize it's a "kid's version" so that it's suitable for kids to watch and not scary like the original tale.This "piece of a watchmaker's shop" is the best thing Tim Burton ever did. This is his masterpiece.Title in Portugal: 'Frankenweenie', I guess.

Mightyzebra ...Yet sweet at the same time! This film is based (obviously) on the original story on Frankenstein and yet it is about a dog who comes back to life. The dog is the sweet part of this film, the rest of it is at times funny, at times a little mediocre and at times spooky.At the beginning of Frankenweenie, we meet a young boy called Victor and his dog Sparky. He is playing ball with Sparky one day, when Sparky runs out to catch the ball on the road and he is run over by a car. We then see a spooky and surreal pet graveyard, where Sparky is buried. Victor misses Sparky with every molecule of his heart and when his science teacher shows a way of using electricity to make animals come back to life, Victor is off and bringing his beloved dog back from the dead...Unfortunately, I spent the whole of this film wondering how scary it would get, which is why I did not enjoy it so much at the time. When I look back on "Frankenweenie", I can see its good points properly and ignore the freaky parts and look more on the sweet parts. I originally liked this film for the plot and for the dog, the human characters just came in the way a little bit for me, but now I see them as the enhancers of the story. After all, Victor is the person responsible here for giving life to Sparky, just as Professor Frankenstein creates life in his monster in the original book (which I have not read, but know the basics about).This very good Tim Burton creation can be seen on the same DVD as "The Nightmare Before Christmas", which is very convenient. I recommend this to people who are not faint-hearted and who like dogs. Enjoy "Frankenweenie"! :-)

Scars_Remain If you love Tim Burton, you'll be sure to love Frankenweenie, it's as simple as that. it contains a great story, great characters/actors, wonderful visuals, brilliant comedy and much, much more. I had the treat of seeing it on the new Nightmare Before Christmas box set and it is an awesome film to own. It truly is inspiring to see one of my favorite filmmaker's early work and it makes me wanna go out try to do my best on making a similar film.This is the perfect short film to watch with the whole family and it's highly recommended. Be sure to get it with Nightmare Before Christmas set!