Wildly imaginative from the get-go, Tim Burton’s original creation is still just as charming and entertaining as it was upon first release. Michael Keaton is perfect in the title role, while Burton has him surrounded by top-notch leading and supporting talent, including a typically hilarious Catherine O’Hara and a star-making turn by Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz. The movie itself moves at breakneck speed and Burton is in complete command of the medium here, gleefully showing off his funhouse of a movie and its practical effects like a kid in a candy store. Danny Elfman’s score has aged particularly well, and remains one of the most identifiable aspects of the movie.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
