I\’ll start this by saying that I love Tim Burton. I wanted to love Planet Of The Apes despite what the critics said but they were right — despite the visuals it was not a good film. This is something of a kindred spirit in that the visuals far outweigh what the rest of the film brings to the table. It is a meringue: it looks pretty but it is lacking in substance. What it lacks is a soul. Which is odd — we know he can do this. Why does it seem empty though?
There are wonderful touches, wonderful flourishes of imagination, wonderful set pieces and wonderful actors. Strange then that it should still seem that there is something lacking, but that is the sad truth. Whereas Edward Scissorhands seemed a complete world and had a spark, aagh, how many ways to say it? Visually exciting, a technical marvel, but no heart beating at the centre.