Ed Wood (1994) - Burton & Depp - September 18, 2012 Review

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Although you do know the movie is factually a crock, though (and no, I'm not talking about the Orson Welles scene)?

- Wood was not "picked out of the air" for screenplays, "Jail Bait" had already turned a profit, and that gave him an industry reputation for getting Girl-Delinquent/Youth-Warning scripts done quickly (including his uncredited work on "The Violent Years")
- Wood's partner Alex Gordon, who wrote the story for "Bride of the Monster", pitched it to Wood, and first introduced him to Lugosi, never even exists in the movie.
- Lugosi never went into foul-mouthed rants about Boris Karloff; although Bela often told the story about turning down Frankenstein, the two remained friends. (And of course, Bela eventually did play Frankenstein, at the end of "Ghost of".)
- Wood didn't shoot the home-movie footage to make Lugosi "feel better" after coming out of rehab; he already had Lugosi contracted for a new movie ("The Ghoul Goes West", mentioned in the movie about five years earlier than he thought of it), and the test footage was all that was shot before Lugosi's death and the deal fell through.

Basically, the whole movie was a sort of fantasia based on the two pages of description from Medved's Golden Turkey Awards, like a fourth-grader writing his school report out of the World Book Encyclopedia.
(Oh, and it was supposed to be for Michael Lehmann to direct, but Disney had just done Nightmare Before Christmas and though Burton would be "more monster-movie-y".)
Still, I guess that makes it a better example of Golden Turkey Awards on film than "It Came From Hollywood".

None of which makes the film any less enjoyable. It's Burton's best picture by a long shot, and I've been waiting forever to see it released on BD...watching literally every other Burton movie get released before it...so this will be a day one purchase.

Originally Posted by EricJ

No, but at least they read MORE THAN ONE BOOK before writing the screenplay!

Some of them...like the writers of Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story...don't even bother to read ONE book, seemingly.

[blurayisnice]

Glad didn't ordered the DVD. Never seen this movie, I'll wait till the blu-ray is released .

[ACMutd]

Yay! This would defiantly be a day one for me, but unfortunately I will be gone during the fall this year.

[luwanda]

Been on my wishlist for a long time.. at last! day 1

[Gardenofstone10]

I feel this one is such an underrated Burton/Depp film and certainly one of, if not their best together. I cant wait to pick this one up!

[TheBluRayPrince]

Originally Posted by blurayisnice

Glad didn't ordered the DVD. Never seen this movie, I'll wait till the blu-ray is released .

I'll just give you one bit of advice: don't heighten your expectations too high and don't expect a fast movie. Okay so that's two bits.

One reason I never enjoyed the film is because my friend, who likes it, said it was one of the best movies ever. I liked the movie, from an objective point of view in terms of writing and style, I just didn't enjoy it. I was expecting a highly entertaining and funny film, but I was extremely bored since the movie is slow. There is comedy, but here and there.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by TheBluRayPrince

I'll just give you one bit of advice: don't heighten your expectations too high and don't expect a fast movie. Okay so that's two bits.

One reason I never enjoyed the film is because my friend, who likes it, said it was one of the best movies ever. I liked the movie, from an objective point of view in terms of writing and style, I just didn't enjoy it. I was expecting a highly entertaining and funny film, but I was extremely bored since the movie is slow. There is comedy, but here and there.

And yet, my personal opinion is that the movie is thoroughly hilarious and perfectly paced. Perspectives clearly vary.

I certainly agree that it isn't one of the best movies ever, though. But it is Tim Burton's best film, in my opinion...by a country mile.

[K i r a]

I've yet to see this film, and will DEFINITELY watch it on Blu-ray!

[santasangria]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

None of which makes the film any less enjoyable. It's Burton's best picture by a long shot, and I've been waiting forever to see it released on BD...watching literally every other Burton movie get released before it...so this will be a day one purchase.



Some of them...like the writers of Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story...don't even bother to read ONE book, seemingly.

Did Edward really have scissor hands? Seems unlikely....

[Show spoiler]

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by K i r a

I've yet to see this film, and will DEFINITELY watch it on Blu-ray!

This is me as well. I studied Wood in Film School for a brief period in a course of cult/niche filmmakers. I'll eventually pick it up, but the Fall is getting too crowded to declare this a day one purchase.

[venusiansky]

Cool film about a very interesting film maker. I actually like Plan 9 from Outer Space . I haven't seen Ed Wood in a while, so this will be one to pick up on BD.

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

None of which makes the film any less enjoyable. It's Burton's best picture by a long shot, and I've been waiting forever to see it released on BD...watching literally every other Burton movie get released before it...so this will be a day one purchase.

Agree.I mean - who cares?I hadn't heard of him (Wood) until i watched this fantastic movie.Ok,it's loosely based on Wood's life..so what?Granted,many ppl will find Lawrence of Arabia terribly inaccured too.I'm pretty sure,though,term inaccurate could be used for literally every biopic movie ever made.We all know that,when it comes to make a movie based on historical events,Hollywood is taking a plenty of liberty on their hands.Only someone with very limited brain capacity would think otherwise.
Every fan of Edward D.Wood Jr. should be thankful to Burton and Disney for making this wonderful movie,and thus promoting/celebrating Wood's life and work through this highly enjoyable flick.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Ed Wood on blu?!? I'm in like Flynn.

[The_Donster]

I think this will be a first day or week buy for me too. Love this movie, just like I love Bridge over the River Kwai. This, like Wood is filled with historical inaccuracies and I hope they eventually make a movie to pay tribute to the remaining survivors of that camp. Still, I enjoy that movie despite knowing the true story.

[MykeHavoc]

I doubt there was ever any desire to tell a straight biopic. Ed Wood is a fairy tale grafted onto some real-life eccentric personalities of the 50's.
It's a perfect film as far as I'm concerned. I too am aware of the "truth" behind it all, but I would never let that hinder my enjoyment of the film.

[Akijama]

Officially announced for September 18th!

In an early alert to retailers Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (owner and distributor for Touchstone Pictures) has made public plans to bring the 1994 Tim Burton directed film “Ed Wood” starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, Vincent D’Onofrio and Bill Murray to Blu-ray Disc on September 18th. Tech specs and bonus materials for the release have not yet been detailed. Also, the title is not yet available for pre-order over at Amazon but stay tuned.

[dsman71]

Mine !!

[Stratton]

'PULL THE STRING PULL THE STRING' Ya Baby Bring it on!!!!!

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by Stratton

'PULL THE STRING PULL THE STRING' Ya Baby Bring it on!!!!!

This bit is too funny! Me and my bro crack up laughing every time on this bit. You'll never pull a string again without thinking of this line...

I think he says just before this..."Wait!......(PULL THE STRING! PULL THE STRING!)"

[Stratton]

Originally Posted by JimDiGriz

This bit is too funny! Me and my bro crack up laughing every time on this bit. You'll never pull a string again without thinking of this line...

I think he says just before this..."Wait'!......(PULL THE STRING! PULL THE STRING!)"

You're right dude. I forgot to put the 'Wait' quote in there. One of my favorite and most laughable moments in movie history! Check out the technical staff's facial expressions. Do they look stunned or what?, especially the producer George Weiss character!