adonis98-743-186503 A young boy sets out to revive his dead pet using the monstrous power of science. Frankenweenie is definitely a short that is quite interesting and pretty good for such an old film that was released in 1984, the acting was fine and pretty solid and i was suprised when i saw Shelley Duvall (The Shining) and Daniel Stern (Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York) as the little kid's parents it was definitely unexpected. Burton also works quite well with black and white and this film definitely needed something like that. The storyline was pretty sweet and interesting plus the music was very dark something out of Beetlejuice or Batman and fits well with the tone of the movie. (7.5/10)

Tejas Nair Sad, I watched it after watching the remade version. I cannot believe Tim Burton was fired for making this. Yeah, I agree it is too dark for the 80s theme, but it's got matter. A simple, odd story about how far a kid can go to bring back his lovable dog Sparky!The concept is inventive and Burton has done a stupendous job with both the versions. Music is spooky, screenplay is good and everything gels in this 30 minutes of classic thriller! Watch it before you watch the critically acclaimed 2012 remake!WATCH OUT FOR: the serious slapstick!Language: No | Sex: No | Violence: No

elshikh4 This Tim Burton movie, produced by Disney while Burton's first career there as a conceptual artist, is the weakest movie by him I have seen to date. And notice well that that comes from someone who adores him !In his previous movie (Vincent) Burton advised us about accepting the uncommon ones as they could be exceptional, through a tale of a talented, not understood, kid. Being uncommon is a subject I'm convinced Burton has suffered from early in his life, especially in Disney, putting in mind his eccentric imagination and instant craze of the whole horror genre. Now with (Frankenweenie) he counties the trouble of his lead kid in (Vincent); where both refer to none other than Burton himself. It's about winning the appreciation of something dear and lovely that may seem ugly or horrific for others, which could equal a different talent or a superficially unpleasant person, or – simply – a moviemaker who's interested in such matters. The thing, here, is that Burton wanted to be himself and Disney's as well. And that's where the taste got mixed up.The movie is dark, with an idea of accepting the zombie (!). In the same time, it tries to allege a happy end where the entire refusing mob – of that zombie – turns into caring, loving and rescuing friends, actually with the "bride" of Frankenstein, sorry.. Frankenweenie, moment; it's a very happy end !I thought that Burton maybe would have preferred an end where the dog and the boy die, as long as that society expels them form its understanding or mercy. Or maybe the boy would be saved by the dog which got to die later as a martyr of sacrificing or a murdered of mala fides. However, he gave us that extremely smiling end to lose being a scary melancholic tale, while not being a colorful gay Disney movie either. This movie stood on the middle with no satisfaction or beautiful special taste.The direction isn't dazzling or interesting; the resurrection scene – which is the best scene – is just fair, and the steadicam's shots were done before in The Shining (1980). The images of the neighbors getting horrified by the zombie, absolutely innocent, dog were exaggerated and unbelievable. All the sets didn't harmonize with the huge very artistic pet cemetery's set. The sense of humor is totally lost (a spoof of Frankenstein my foot !), only a lame line about the mother's sister, which looks finally a bit misplaced. And the dog's make up as zombie is so primitive, silent movies primitive ! The music is the sole great factor, however of course not redeeming enough. I didn't wonder when I read that Burton was fired from Disney for "wasting" their resources on films like this. It has nothing to do with their known by heart goods. At any case, he would return to the same subject, accepting and appreciating the uncommon, many times throughout his next smarter years to an extent makes (Frankenweenie) a hasty rehearsal for (Edward Scissorhands) six years later.So it's, at best, a hasty rehearsal more than a movie. It belongs to Burton's world, but not as balanced or enjoyable as the rest of his works. And it couldn't gain being a raven or a pigeon, ending up as something in between, badly hybrid ! P.S : unlike many, including Burton himself, I don't see this movie as a short remake of Frankenstein aimed at children. I deem it a short dark remake of the decade's icon E.T, with the same suburban, friendship between a kid and uncommon creature, hateful grown-ups, sympathetic parents, chase to destroy the creature, that creature's power of goodness, and happy end with the long-wanted appreciation achieved.

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.