Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) met Wynona Ryder (Stranger Things) at the premiere of her movie Great Balls of Fire back in 1989. One year later, they were starring together in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands. The American Gothic, a romantic fantasy film, earned $86 million at the box office and was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the film's debut, Disney has decided to release the movie on 4K for the first time. This special limited-edition also comes in a steelbook case, making the purchase even more attractive.
A door-to-door Avon saleswoman, Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest; Apartment 7A), decides to knock on the door of the decrepit mansion just outside of her neighborhood. When the door opens, she finds a young man (Depp) - an android, really - with scissors for hands. Discovering his maker had died before finishing him, Peg brings Edward home with her to live with her family. There, he falls in love with Peg's daughter, Kim (Ryder), while becoming the talk of the town. However, Kim's boyfriend doesn't like Edward and turns the town against him. Ultimately, what starts as a witch hunt ends in deadly consequences for both Edward and Kim's boyfriend, Jim (Anthony Michael Hall; Reacher).
At this point, anyone who knows anything about Tim Burton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) as a writer/director is aware that his stories are weird and his direction is excellent, and Edward Scissorhands is no exception. They also know he has a long-time working relationship with Johnny Depp, which began on Edward Scissorhands. Burton's knack for picking talented actors is part of what makes him a success, and choosing Depp for the lead role was brilliant. Depp's performance, along with Ryder's, makes this bizarre premise for a film actually work. The rest of the cast is outstanding, no doubt due to Burton's direction.
Thanks to the video and audio upgrades, the excellence doesn't end with the story and cast. The Dolby Vision visuals are practically perfect (in every way - wait, that's a different movie). Color saturations are deep and true, and shading is immaculate, especially in the darker scenes. Those scenes that are shot in daylight are bright and vibrant, showing off every minute detail like Kim's dress and each scar on Edward's face.
The Dolby Atmos audio matches the video presentation in every way. Dialogue is clean and clear while the surround speaks envelops the viewer in the ambient noise. This is especially evident every time Edward quickly snaps his scissors together to create some concoction, whether it be a Topiary, ice sculpture, etc. Danny Elfman's (The Nightmare Before Christmas) score is also highlighted beautifully, immersing the room and a melodic, if sometimes chaotic, orchestration.
The combo pack comes with the 4K and Blu-ray Discs and the digital download, and the beautiful yet haunting steelbook packaging is fitting for a movie of this kind. Unfortunately, the extras are all previously released and few and far between. They include: Featurette - Peek behind the scenes and hear the cast & crew of Edward Scissorhands discuss Burton's unique, modern reinterpretation of Frankenstein, Audio Commentary by Director Tim Burton, and Audio Commentary by Composer Danny Elfman.
Edward Scissorhands offers a wonderful, if offbeat, story told by a great, if offbeat, director and a cast of Oscar-nominated actors. It hits all the important movie plot points like the unlikely romance, the bully who ultimately gets his, and the outcast who wins over the people around him, but who still remains an outcast through it all.
This SteelBook is a gift for almost any Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, or Edward Scissorhands fan. I highly recommend purchasing one before they are all gone.
Grade: A-
