Customer Reviews

Frankenweenie [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Frankenweenie is a funny and well made spoof or parody of several 1930s horror films using contemporary time. Tim Burton did a wonderful job of telling his story in less than 30 minutes. It is really too bad that the studio has not rereleased this very funny film. I'll be sure to get it when it becomes avalable.

This "Frankenstein monster" film by Tim Burton is a perfect model of compact and compelling storytelling; it brilliantly distills into thirty minutes what normally takes two hours. Frankenweenie is about love, acceptance, and redemption, and it's got a good moral. It's in black and white (which looks great!), it's funny, and, for younger children, even a little scary. Frankenweenie is my hero! (P.S. See if you can spot the clue that Frankenweenie has nine lives)

It's a twisted variation on all of the "boy and his dog" movies on the market. It's also a modern suburban reinterpretation of Frankenstein. And it's one of Tim Burton's first efforts as a movie director.

Burton's quirky, dark sense of humor and drama is very apparent in this early effort.

Tim Burton always has such a clear vision in all his movies, from the photography, to the story, right down to the music, -and this one is no exception. If you ever get a chance to see this short film, DO SO! It's classic Burton even though it was made before he became a well known and deservedly well respected director. Tim Burton is the only film maker that made me uncontrollably cry in a public theater EVER. That was for Edward Sissorhands. All his movies get to me emotionally. Frankenweenie always tears me up at the end, but fear not, it does has a happy ending. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I tell you, SEE THIS FILM if you ever can. You'll totally love it! Thanks Tim, for being such a dedicated and consistent visionary!

This movie is about a Bull Terrier that gets hit by a car and is brought back to life by his boy as a franken weenie. A must see for BT owners and everyone who loves them! So cute but dont rush out and buy this because it comes free on the nightmare before christmas DVD!

WOW! 13th to review this film. 13 is MY number!

This film is truly the famous launch pad of Tim Burton, the reason Pee Wee Herman chose him to direct PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE, and the reason we have Burton still working like the madman he is.

In 1984, the year I got married, Burton was a film school student...or else he was working for Disney, I forget. He'd made an animated short, the incredible VINCENT, and was fishing around for a chance to do a short live action piece.

Thank the Monster Heavens, he got his wish! Daniel Stern, Shelly Duvall, the great Joseph Maher, the ever-sweet Barret Oliver...Burton got them all and shot a 40-minute piece that would have made Hitchcock a black-and-white version of green with envy.

This film is a deeply personal super-favorite because I came to it late, as did everyone. It still shocks me how modern and fitting this movie is. Shooting it in black-and-white may have been a mere whim of Burton's, but I see it added immensely to this movie. Doing B&W for B&W's sake makes me see red. Burton did it because it was the right thing to do, and cheaper. It is also a personal favorite because who knows what effect this may have had, had it been seen by a general audience. It's that good. This above any other film could have been the true start of the independent film movement.

The Frankensteins (dad Daniel Stern, mom Shelly Duvall, young Victor Barret Oliver) are a pleasant, normal family and they love their young Victor. One day Victor's pit bull terrier, Sparky, is whacked by a car. Inspired I suppose by YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and a possible family heritage, Victor gets to work. An incredibly funny, subtle and heartstring-tugging mess ensues, and there I leave my synopsis. Sorry, because for some stupid reason this is only available on VHS at the moment: the BIGGEST film injustice since I don't know when. Maybe since LEGION.

This early Tim Burton short movie is silly but fun. It was on TV years ago and I just wanted to see it again. I love the title. It's kind of a cult classic in our family. I'm showing it to my grandchildren now at Halloween just for fun and to keep the silliness going.

Set in contemporary suburbia, young Victor Frankenstein happily plays with his aptly named bull terrier "Sparky", when the tragic happens... the spunky pooch is hit and killed by a car. Crushed, Victor struggles to acclimate to life without him, when he receives the bright Promethian idea to re-animate Sparky after watching the science teacher demonstrate electrical muscle spasms with an "ex-frog".

He rushes home to bring his beloved canine partner back to life. Under the suspicious gaze of a neighbor, he gathers the necessary equipment from the garage, and sneaks out to the pet cemetery to disinterr the pup, anxiously awaiting the next storm to arrive, which is fortunately within a couple night's time.

Predictably, after studying through several books on the subject, he actually manages to revivify Sparky, who now resembles a patchwork puppy, bolts, scars, and all. Joyful to be reunited with eachother, all seems well until Sparky decides to run amok through the neighborhood, although most of the panic is due to the hysterical nature of a neighbor lady and a whining little girl.

When his parents realize that Sparky is actually alive again, they accept his return from the grave, welcoming him back to the family. Eventually, in a classic Hammer scene relative to the tale, the dog retreats to a windmill followed by Victor and the Frankensteins, where it is set ablaze by the frightened mob. Sparky 'justifies' himself by saving the boy, but is consumed in the inferno. Realizing that he saved the boy, everyone now seeks to resurrect Sparky again, via the combined electricity from all their automobiles with battery cables. And thus, little Victor is again reunited with his beloved friend, with a possible 'bride' to boot.

Frankenweenie is a delightful little tale about a boy and his dog which would be appreciated by Infernal Progeny and Tim Burton fantoms alike, with that pleasantly oddball twist on a classic.
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* This film, along with 'Vincent', is provided as a bonus feature on the Special Edition Nightmare Before Xmas DVD.

I show this movie to my fifth graders every Halloween. They get a kick out of the touching story and the adults who come to the party dig the references to the classic Frankenstein movies from the 30's. There is something for everyone in this movie. Tim Burton showed us a bit of his budding genius with this short. A must have for any Tim Burton fan.

I showed this movie to my 8 and 6 year old for halloween. I vaguely remember this movie from when I wad a kid but I did remember liking it. Really short but was good Cuz it was a school night and the kids loved it. My 6I year old cried and we had to reassure her that Frankenweenie was ok. she now watches it in her room...I guess she's over it now ;-) Wish it was a dvd but what can one expect since its an old movie .