Product Description

Adventures of a creature left unfinished by his inventor. Instead of hands, he has sharp shears of metal.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 3-JUN-2003
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1878 in DVD
• Brand: DEPP,JOHNNY
• Released on: 2000-09-05
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, THX, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 105 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Edward Scissorhands achieves the nearly impossible feat of capturing the delicate flavor of a fable or fairy tale in a live-action movie. The story follows a young man named Edward (Johnny Depp), who was created by an inventor (Vincent Price, in one of his last roles) who died before he could give the poor creature a pair of human hands. Edward lives alone in a ruined Gothic castle that just happens to be perched above a pastel-colored suburb inhabited by breadwinning husbands and frustrated housewives straight out of the 1950s. One day, Peg (Dianne Wiest), the local Avon lady, comes calling. Finding Edward alone, she kindly invites him to come home with her, where she hopes to help him with his pasty complexion and those nasty nicks he's given himself with his razor-sharp fingers. Soon Edward's skill with topiary sculpture and hair design make him popular in the neighborhood--but the mood turns just as swiftly against the outsider when he starts to feel his own desires, particularly for Peg's daughter Kim (Winona Ryder). Most of director Tim Burton's movies (such as Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman) are visual spectacles with elements of fantasy, but Edward Scissorhands is more tender and personal than the others. Edward's wild black hair is much like Burton's, suggesting that the character represents the director's own feelings of estrangement and co-option. Johnny Depp, making his first successful leap from TV to film, captures Edward's childlike vulnerability even while his physical posture evokes horror icons like the vampire in Nosferatu and the sleepwalker in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Classic horror films, at their heart, feel a deep sympathy for the monsters they portray; simply and affectingly, Edward Scissorhands lays that heart bare. --Bret Fetzer

Amazon.com
Edward Scissorhands achieves the nearly impossible feat of capturing the delicate flavor of a fable or fairy tale in a live-action movie. The story follows a young man named Edward (Johnny Depp), who was created by an inventor (Vincent Price, in one of his last roles) who died before he could give the poor creature a pair of human hands. Edward lives alone in a ruined Gothic castle that just happens to be perched above a pastel-colored suburb inhabited by breadwinning husbands and frustrated housewives straight out of the 1950s. One day, Peg (Dianne Wiest), the local Avon lady, comes calling. Finding Edward alone, she kindly invites him to come home with her, where she hopes to help him with his pasty complexion and those nasty nicks he's given himself with his razor-sharp fingers. Soon Edward's skill with topiary sculpture and hair design make him popular in the neighborhood--but the mood turns just as swiftly against the outsider when he starts to feel his own desires, particularly for Peg's daughter Kim (Winona Ryder). Most of director Tim Burton's movies (such as Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Batman) are visual spectacles with elements of fantasy, but Edward Scissorhands is more tender and personal than the others. Edward's wild black hair is much like Burton's, suggesting that the character represents the director's own feelings of estrangement and co-option. Johnny Depp, making his first successful leap from TV to film, captures Edward's childlike vulnerability even while his physical posture evokes horror icons like the vampire in Nosferatu and the sleepwalker in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Classic horror films, at their heart, feel a deep sympathy for the monsters they portray; simply and affectingly, Edward Scissorhands lays that heart bare. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

One of my favorite movies
Edward Scissorhands is and has been one of my favorite movies. True, it is not going to be a movie that most people can get into, but this can be said for most of Tim Burton's films. I would not suggest those who have not seen this movie to buy it, but to rent it first... though I can say that for just about any movie.

DO NOT BUY THIS BASED ON 5 STAR REVIEWS - rent it first or buy a cheap used DVD if you must. I've found that most people find this too weird for their taste. Which is expected; not everyone will like the same things.

I will say that I am disappointed in the hype that has surrounded this and many other films in the last few years, endorsed by those who have yet to see the film because they "have to". This will lead to many good reviews and many disappointed buyers. remember - rent first.

That said, this film is one of my favorites. I have always liked the oddity of Tim Burton's work (with the exception of Sweeney Todd, but I never like that musical anyways) and this is one of his early showcases of said odd work. I loved this movie as a child, and can still watch it and be amused. It is a combination of comedy and drama, ending somewhat tragically. I felt the story was complete, having a strongly defined beginning, middle, and end. A good deal of the styling is obviously that of the late 80's and early 90's, but this can be said for many films of the time. This is also Vincent Price's last movie.

Johnny Depp is always fantastic
This movie never gets old. Johnny's character is so innocent and sweet, you can't help but love him. The whole Tim Burton effect is evident also. It's a win win movie and I'll never grow tired of it.

A Fun, Quirky Film
"Edward Scissorhands" comes from the fertile mind of Tim Burton. Telling the story of an outcast learning to be accepted by society and of its dark side, it manages to balance the line between funny and touching without breaking into pathos. The whole cast is strong and it is notable that this was Vincent Price's last film role. This is a film that should be seen more than one time to get all the little nuances and set pieces in it. Do yourself a favor and buy this DVD.