Tim Burton's 'Frankenweenie' in IMAX 3-D
A Review by Ken Kiunke
Staff Writer
 Tim Burton's new version of Frankenweenie is now playing in IMAX 3-D at the Esquire IMAX theater in downtown Sacramento, CA. Burton's original version of Frankenweenie was a 30 minute live action short starring Daniel Stern and Shelly Duvall, produced in 1984 while he was originally under contract to Disney Studios. Unhappy with the results, Disney let Burton go; and of course, he went on to gain his fame and fortune creating films like Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, and the first Batman film in 1989. Photo: Frankenweenie and his dog
 Burton has returned to Disney for several films as director or producer, including the animated Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach, and his unique version of Alice In Wonderland. He began work on remaking Frankenweenie in 2006, and filming started in 2010. The new version takes the idea and plot from the short film and expands on it, adding more characters and creatures, and making use of the freedom of stop motion puppet animation to expand the creative possibilities within the framework of the story. This film could really be thought of as a companion piece to Burton's earlier Corpse Bride in style and tone. And though it has echoes to Nightmare Before Christmas, it doesn't have the same level of poetry and exuberance. Photo: Tim Burton working on the stop motion puppet animation
 The story is basically a boy and dog tale, except the boy happens to be named Victor Frankenstein, and lives in a town populated by a strange mix of fairly ordinary people and characters pulled from horror movies. His new science teacher, a bizarre character himself, finds a class populated by Victor, a hunchbacked Igor look-alike, a Frankenstein's monster (or is it Herman Munster?) look-alike, a shy Goth girl, a larger version of Pugsly Addams, and a girl who listens to the dreams of her cat, Mr. Whiskers, to predict her classmates' futures. A Japanese boy is also in the mix as a tribute to the 50s Japanese monster movies. The town is a timeless place, but generally seems to be set somewhere between the 1950's and 1980's. New Holland is a curious name for the town – it was the original name for Australia, but was probably chosen to justify the large town windmill featured in the story. Photo: the classroom in Frankenweenie
Like his namesake, Victor discovers how to reanimate the dead after tragically losing his only friend, his dog Sparky. (Despite the title, Sparky is a pit bull, not a “weenie dog”.) Mix in science fair, competitive classmates, an angry town mob, and some very creative new monsters, and you have a rollicking good spoof of monster and horror movies, all shot in black and white to give it that classic B-movie monster chiller horror movie feel.
 Burton makes some unusual choices in this film. A middle class suburban loving and supportive mom and dad, who just happened to be named Frankenstein, name their son Victor, apparently having never heard of the original story. And none of the other parents seem to notice that their kids all look like horror movie characters. In another ironic twist, we see the puppet animated mom and dad watching an actual old movie on TV (real people, not puppets...) And the town has a large pet cemetery, where citizens build monuments to their deceased dogs, cats, bunnies, turtles, goldfish (and I think I saw a squirrel statue as well...) Photo: Sparky, the dog
The voice actors featured a few well-known performers, but I was glad not to know who they were until the film was over; that way, I did not think of them when hearing the characters speaking. But of course I could almost place a few of them, and enjoyed the “of course” moments when reading the credits at the end. Seeing the film in IMAX and 3-D makes it a totally immersive experience. The screen fills the entire wall, so the images are complete within your normal field of vision. Plus the resolution is crystal clear, and a step up from regular 3-D. Add the surround sound and you can get lost in a compelling film.
Danny Elfman's score adds much to the film without ever particularly standing out, which should be the goal of a film score anyway. The images and story are a bit intense, and probably not suitable for the youngest viewers. It is rated PG, but my 11-year-old companions were not scared; they enjoyed it and felt it would be OK for kids of 8 or 9 years old. Of course, the timing is perfect (along with “Hotel Transylvania” in current release) for the Halloween season. My son and his friend enjoyed both films, but thought Frankenweenie had the better story.
Photo: Frankenweenie
Frankenweenie is currently playing at the Esquire IMAX theater in downtown Sacramento, a comfortable venue for family theater enjoyment, centrally located at 1211 K Street (adjacent to the Convention Center). For information, go to the Esquire IMAX website for shows and show times www.imax.com/oo/esquire-imax/ or call 916-443-4629. Enjoy the IMAX experience soon.
Free parking is at the Capitol Lot on L & 10th Streets, weekdays after 5pm, and all weekend with validation sticker. Present your parking ticket at the Box Office. Matinee specials, Mon-Fri before 5pm, Sat and Sun before 2pm, all feature film tickets are $13; all traditional IMAX tickets are $8. Also at the IMAX El Dorado Hills location. For birthday parties and field trips email, aatilano@imax.com or phone: 916-446-2333 x200, For events, fund raisers, IMAX educators and private screenings, email wrussell@imax.com or phone 916-446-2333 x201.
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