Customer Reviews

Edward Scissorhands

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

So far this is the best I've heard from Danny Elfman and I'll be stunned if I ever hear him do better.

This is a most magical, sad, fun, beautiful, touching, wintery experience. A musical journey. This is one of those rare and special times where the score of the movie carries it along and punctuates it in such a way that the movie could be seen as, on one significant level, a story told in pictures and music. This is a score without which the movie would be just inconceivable.

Danny Elfman is the perfect musical counterpart to genius Tim Burton. This music like Tim Burton's movies has the truly unique ability to convey the dark and the cold and the tragic in a way which is tender, melancholic, hopeful, innocent, heartbreaking and magical, rather than evil.

Every track is wonderful. The instrumentation and the use of magical, "wintery" choruses create a fantastic feel. The Introduction is so sweeping and inviting, Storytime beautifully conveys the opening context of the film as a bedtime tale of a grandmother's youth, The Castle On The Hill puts us back in time and into that story made vital in its telling, Beautiful New World is charming, The Cookie Factory is so much fun, the Ice Dance, short, climactic, romantic and (not to overuse this word!) magical. Edwardo The Barber features some delightful, quirky, skillfully mad violining to accompany Edward's charming haircutting exploits. Death! is so tragic, and the ending tracks tell the story of the rest of the exciting action and fated climax of a poignant and beautiful film in a way analagous to the film itself, with subtlety and power rather than sentimentality. And the music comes full circle with the return to the grandmother and the closing credits. And just for fun, there's the perfectly odd and slightly melodramatic Tom Jones "With These Hands" thrown in as an extra treat.

Elfman at his best. Perfect winter music. Gets better with every listen. I don't know how better to describe this experience.

My first exposure to any form of "Edward Scissorhands" was hearing "The Grand Finale" on one of Danny Elfman's compilation discs. I must admit, I was reduced to tears only a minute into it. The sense of melancholy tragedy and childhood sweetness blended together in the cue is nothing less than heartbreaking, even outside of the context of the film. The score is worth getting for that one track alone, but there is much more here to enjoy as well. Elfman runs the full range on this ablum, from goofy to dramatic to bittersweet, all building up to that spectacularly devastating finale. I've been listening to scores for years now, but I have yet to encounter one which has such profound emotional impact (especially if you've seen the film). I guess I'm just a romantic at heart, and that's right where this music hits you.

Self-taught Danny Elfman says to the effect that the one thing he *loves* is sad music. His film music has a haunting, dark quality to it, but it's not so much sad (not as in lamenting) as it is poignant. And unless there's something else more poignant running through Elfman's head that he hasn't written down yet, the score to *Edward Scissorhands* could be the one complete statement of his love. The music here reflects the musicbox innocence, the snowy purity, and the dark mystery, as well as the quirky humor in some of the jazzier, big-band arrangements that helps move Burton's film along. The themes here are melodically simple, and, like Horner's score to *Glory*, which also uses very simplistic themes, the boys choir helps give the music a delicate color of beauty. With strings and celeste unfolding the harmony, Elfman's score is not only a perfect match with the atmosphere of the movie, but stands as enchanting absolute music.

This is a glorious Danny Elfman score featuring a boys choir with the orchestra. It has a German Impressionistic flair at times, with a spice of Gothic at others. Also woven in is a 50's utopic surburban sound, as would be used in old commercials. It's tendresse, and, at times, poignant aspects are evident in the music. It can be thrilling, and also heartwrenching. Elfman's imagery is very good here. Its opening is a dark and spooky choir/celeste mix. Another fine track is the Ice Dance which is the love theme. It shows the hopelessness of attraction, and the happiness of difference. A sharp track is Death where you can almost see the sharp shears. The Tide Turns features fight, tantrum, and warning music all together. The final confrontation renders tears, And the Farewell and Grand Finale are absolutely Marvelous resolvers that break the heart and take your breath away. A soundtrack almost better than the movie itself, this CD is a must.

Elfman and Burton is basically Willams to Spielberg. This has to be the best soundtrack, Elfman ever did. If Elfman were to quick making music, this could be his greatest achivement ever. The music is beautiful and flawless. This is an example of when the movie wouldn't be the same without the music. The music is what MAKES the movie. The soundtrack starts off with the wintery feel to it and with a side of playfulness with "Introduction." The soundtrack then goes with "Storytime", which includes some of 'Ice Dance' and some other tracks. Edwardo the barber is fun. While 'Death!' can bring anyone to tears, within minutes. Some highlights of this cd is:

-Introduction

-Storytime

-Ice Dance

-Death!

-The Grand Finale

-The End

The sound quality is nice. This soundtrack is wonderful and magical. This is truly what a soundtrack should sound like. Recommend for anyone who is 1. a fan of the movie, 2. for sensitive type, 3. Anyone who wants to hear good music.

Wow. This is possibly the saddest, most charming, quirky, most perfect score you can come across. It is nothing short of astounding. The movie's story is enough to make you long for a tissue, but with music like this, any sensitive person will be bawling. This music touches the heart like no other music can. If you haven't seen the movie, you should buy it now! As for the soundtrack, you should get it and lose yourself in it's perfection.

Writer/producer/director guru Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, and Johnny Depp round off the trio in EDWARD SCISSORHANDS that seems to have worked well for them so far (cf. other films such as SLEEPY HOLLOW, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, CORPSE BRIDE).

In particular, Burton's direction and storyline here create a character in Edward that is sensitive and loving, with a child-like naïvité, but who is grossly misunderstood and feared. Depp's masterful acting complements the story wonderfully, making the viewer surprised by Edward's uniqueness, but also compelled by his sense of compassion and unjust treatment.

Elfman's accompanying score is delicate and tender, and it simply couldn't be better. In true Elfman style, we find that we can be both comforted by his music and, at the same time, be left with a sense of unease that perhaps things aren't as pristine and perfect (in the quaint town here EDWARD is set) as they seem. Indeed, Elfman's score includes a gentle choir, wistful strings, and soft bells. At every turn Edward makes, Elfman's music is there guiding your ears and your mind through a world that is new, exciting, fantastic, but somehow dark and mysterious. Highly recommended.

Danny Elfman truly is a master of Film Scores. This Score is happy, sad, light, and heart-wrenching. Danny Elfman and Tim Burton are Excellent together. I recommend all of Elfman's scores, but this one is among my highest recommendations.

By far the best track on this album by far is "Ice Dance". This track is soothing, uplifting, and and very beautiful.

Danny Elfman is by far the best film composer, I recommend this album with 5 STARS!!!

I am (almost) ashamed to say that I have only seen the movie recently, thanks to the wonders of cable TV. (As well as the reference to the movie in Seinfeld.) I recall having seen ads for the movie when it played in theatres and thinking that this was not for me. What a fool! A beautiful fairy tale. THEN I paid attention to the score and I finally have listened to the CD and am listening to it now as I type this review. (If you see tear stains in this message, those who have heard the CD will know why.) Beautiful does not do the music justice and this guy is not ashamed to say that The Grand Finale found him wiping tears as they coursed down his cheeks. A mesmerizing soundtrack that will touch you deeply. A true hidden treasure! Add this to your collection now!

Tim Burton has his sidekick: Danny Elfman

This couple is as efficient as the "Spielberg-Williams" item.

Elfman's music fits every movie and especially this one.

The score has been used for ads and other movies!

It became a classic... Elfman's style is unique and movie scores such as Sommersby, beetlejuice, batman, red dragon, big fish etc... show this composer's exceptionnal talent!

BUY this soundtrack! NOW ;)