Blu-ray Review: Forget ‘Dark Shadows,’ Pick Up ‘Ed Wood’ For Your Burton Fix

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CHICAGO – There are very few directors who have a more distinct career halfway point than Tim Burton. With very few exceptions, I vastly prefer the first half of his career, when he took chances on films like “Edward Scissorhands,” “Batman,” and the great “Ed Wood,” recently released on Blu-ray for the first time to coincide with the Blu-ray release of “Dark Shadows” and the theatrical release of “Frankenweenie.”

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-ray rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

The jury is still out on “Frankenweenie,” although buzz is good and we’ll have a full review next week, but Burton’s career has been so disappointing lately that it’s fun to go back to when his movies had that distinct energy and creativity that’s lacking now. “Ed Wood” is simply a great film, filled with love for moviemaking, love for eccentricity, and just love for life in general. It’s one of Johnny Depp’s best performances and you’ve never heard anyone suggest that Martin Landau didn’t deserve his Oscar. There’s nothing new to the Blu-ray — the special features are just imports from the DVD — but the movie still feels fresh.

Ed Wood was released on Blu-ray on September 18, 2012
Ed Wood was released on Blu-ray on September 18, 2012
Photo credit: Lionsgate

Synopsis:
Experience Tim Burton’s acclaimed, true-life story of the wackiest filmmaker in Hollywood history, Ed Wood, for the first time on Blu-ray - complete with a new digital restoration, featuring enhanced picture and sound. Celebrated actor Johnny Depp stars as the high-spirited director who never let terrible reviews or hostile studio executives derail his big-screen dreams. With an oddball collection of showbiz misfits, Ed takes the art of bad moviemaking to an all-time low!

Billy Murray, Sarah Jessica Parker and Academy Award winner Martin Landau (Best Supporting Actor, 1994, Ed Wood) are hilarious in this warm and witty comedy. Relieve every madcap moment like never before on Blu-ray!

StarClick here to buy “Ed Wood”

Special Features:
o Deleted Scenes
o Making Bela Makeup Featurette
o Production Design Feature: Pie Plates Over Hollywood
o Behind The Scenes: Let’s Shoot the F#%@r!
o The Theremin Documentary
o Audio Commentary With Cast and Filmmakers
o Music Video Composed By Howard Shore

“Ed Wood” stars Johnny Depp, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Landau, Lisa Marie, Patricia Arquette, Bill Murray, and Max Casella. It was directed by Tim Burton and released on Blu-ray on September 18, 2012.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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