Product Description

Tim Burton is one of the great modern-day visionaries of cinema, a director who has fabricated his own deliciously nightmarish universe in movies as extraordinary as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and Mars Attacks! - not to mention his twisted take on the tales of Batman, Sleepy Hollow, and Planet of the Apes. Coinciding with the release of his re-imagining of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with long-time comrade Johnny Depp, this updated and fully illustrated new edition of the definitive Burton interview book casts light on Burton's Burbank childhood, his early work at Disney, the recurrent themes and stunning designs of his movies, and the creative obsessions that fuel them. One of the best - selling books in the series, this brings his career right up to date Includes interviews on all of his most recent films, including the long awaited Charlie and the Chocolate Factory He never gives interviews, so this is the one opportunity film fans will have of hearing Tim Burton's opinions on his work

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14833 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Hollywood's relationship with Tim Burton has always been a little uneasy. A fiercely individual artist working within the constraints of the studio system, Burton has made some incredibly successful films--notably the 1989 blockbuster Batman and its first sequel--but the industry just doesn't know what to make of him. In the Foreword to this book, Burton favourite Johnny Depp (Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow) observes that "I have never seen someone so obviously out of place fit right in. His way."

Taking the form of an extended interview, Burton on Burton allows the director space to discuss his films, and to digress where this seems illuminating; it also includes an impressive selection of film stills and Burton's drawings. Mark Salisbury does not so much question Burton, as guide the director through his own career, commenting where necessary but managing never to seem intrusive. Burton discusses his childhood and his often unhappy time at Disney ("I would sit in the closet a lot of the time and not come out"), before moving on to offer a fascinating insight into his idiosyncratic body of work.

Burton comes across as a man in love with "the joy of creating", but one who is refreshingly lacking in pretensions. He describes himself as a "commercial director", taking the financial investment which is put into his films very seriously, and saying of his work that "I'm very wary of analysing it too intellectually." At the same time, he has a genuine enthusiasm for cinema, discussing his influences--which range from Godzilla to Fellini--but stressing that he never aims for a literal homage to a favourite film. The director's enthusiasm is infectious. This an essential volume for Burton's fans, and an entertaining read for anyone else--it's hard not to like a director who (discussing Mars Attacks) declares that "It seemed like a good idea to just blow away celebrities with ray-guns." --John Oates

Customer Reviews

Like its subject... dark, involved, and challenging
If you've seen Tim Burton in a broadcast interview, chances are that you know that he is not the most fluid of speakers, and for this reason I approached this extended interview with trepidation. However, beneath the sombre dust-jacket is an energetic and lively human being, who infuses the most simplistic life experiences with an infectious enthusiasm which makes this book an absolute joy.

The prose simply sparkles with intelligence, and probably just scratches the surface of his brilliance. Burton impresses with his underlying sense of artistic integrity, but amazes with his heartfelt discussions about art and character. He wants you to share the sense of fun that these experiences have given him, and speaks passionately on many aspects of life. Here is someone not afraid to relate the most pedantic details if he considers them to have impacted his vision, and this is where the book excels most. In many ways, the talk about his actual films is comparatively mundane when compared to recollections of the experiences that shaped them.

Topped off with a selection of Burton's distinctive artwork, this is a fine addition to the library of any movie fan, and it will leave you in awe of one of a cinematic talent that defies categorisation. In the foreword, Johnny Depp calls Burton a genius, and having read the man's take on the world, I think that it's a label I wouldn't argue with. This book is an exemplary example of the interview form, and proof that the best medium for preserving discussion will always be the written page.

"Burton on Burton": Entertaining First Look at Film Genius
For over a decade, the man has delighted and haunted(in a good way)audiences around the world. What is going on in the mind of the genius who has provided us with such popular hits as "Batman", the fairy tale, "Edward Scissorhands", and the critically acclaimed Ed Wood? Well, Burton on Burton gives us one of the clearest visions yet, describing his journey from an oddball child in the suburbs of California to his job as an unfulfilled Disney animator, to his current success. For the average Burton fan, the book will entertain and provide deep insight, but not so much related to Burton as a person, but Burton as a filmmaker. The chapters hide him behind a mask, much like his film's characters, never really letting the reader past the superficial. There are times when Burton comes close to opening up, describing his joy of spending time in the cemetary as a teenager, or his feeling of seclusion growing up, but for the most part, he focuses on his movies or other actors, or his success. Is it enough? Well, for most filmmakers, I wouldn't believe so... But there is a wonderful child-like quality to Burton, a truthfulness in his writing that somehow gave me just enough information to know that I liked him as much as I thought I had. The book could have used more of his lovely, peculiar artwork, and I do hope to know more about this genius in the future... But for what it is, "Burton on Burton" is a good first look into the life of a man who dwells in the dark in order to bring light to his audiences..................................................................................................................by peter fawthrop, greenville college, greenville, IL 62246------please feel free to write me!

Good, Not Excellent.
As Director Tim Burton leads us through his Dark & Mysterious life through the lens, he talks freely on the tones and depth of his work, including his earlier shorts 'Vincent' and 'Frankenweenie'. Beginning with an intriguing foreword by Actor Johnny Depp that tells all on his first encounter with Burton and their friendship as it stands. Written in interview form and full of Burton's own conceptual art, stills from movies and most interestingly his break through in the Disney Studio's. A bit depressing as if we are made to feel sorry for him, but a good book nevertheless.