Movies

While horror films are not my usual cup-of-tea, Edward Scissorhands, directed by no-less than Tim Burton, offers lessons about life that every bully in society should listen to.  Edward is played by Johnny Depp who also now stars as the Mad Hatter in Disneys Alice in Wonderland.  His crazy fairy-tale personality is very apt for his role as Edward, a Frankenstein-like monster created by a mad inventor (Vincent Price).  His love interest is Kim (Winona Ryder).    Kims boyfriend is Jim (Anthony Michael Hall).  Her mother is Peg (Dianne Wiest).  Her brother is Kevin (Robert Oliveri), and her father is Bill (Alan Arkin).  Edward is also seduced by Joyce (Kathy Baker).

The story of Edward is told like classical mythology.  Kim, now as an old woman, narrates to her granddaughter the origin of snow, and in the process, Edwards tragic life and their love story unfold.  There was once an inventor like Dr. Frankenstein, who created a machine, later remodeled to resemble a boy.  The boy had scissors for hands, but the inventor created human hands for him.  Unfortunately, he suddenly died of a heart attack before he could replace Edwards scissor hands with human ones.  So Edward was left unfinished.  Lonely and miserable, he lived on a Gothic mansion on a hill until he met Peg, who took him into her home.  Pegs family and neighbors eventually adjusted with Edward, who used him for trimming and cutting hair.  But Jim, Kims boyfriend, and Esmeralda, a religious fanatic, hated him.   He is also seduced by Joyce, who wants to set up a salon with him.  But he manages to get away.  Later, Jim involves Edward in a crime by using his lock-picking skills to break into his parents house.  The burglar alarm sounds and everyone escapes except Edward.  He is arrested, but is later released after examining his state of mind.

Fortunately, the law enforcer was kind to him, but Joyce accused him of rape.  This made his neighbors fearful of him and the family who took him in.  During Christmas, he autistically creates a detailed sculpture from a block of ice, while ice shavings fall, producing snow.  Unfortunately, Edward accidentally cuts Kim and Kevin as a result of the recklessness of Jim and his drunken friend.  The neighbors think that Edward did it on purpose, so he had to flee back to his hill-top mansion.  But Jim organizes a mob to run after him.  Kim gets there first, but Jim eventually catches up and attacks Edward.  Unfortunately, Kim gets involved, and because Jim hurt her, Edward retaliates and kills him.  Kim confesses her love for Edward and convinces her neighbors that Jim and Edward attacked and killed each other.  Edward continues to live and creates snow which falls upon the valley.

Depps gentle portrayal of Edward is deeply moving.  Although he is a machine, his acting made it very human.  His tender love story with Kim, combined with his family scenes is truly heart-warming.  One can really connect with him and feel his sorrow.  Ryder was also fantastic.  They had great chemistry together.
The technique of using color highlighted the difference between his world and the world around him.  His mansion and his clothes are dark, grey, somber and dull.  While the clothes, cars and houses of his neighbors were very colorful.  Furthermore, the background music surrounding Edward was strange and dreadful, but other people had lively music.  The costume and make-up also made him look frightening yet gentle.
In the end, this is a film for everyone to see.  It makes you realize the bipolar world that we live in, and it helps you to understand the marginalized sectors that people hurt.  If only people could be more kind and respectful of each others differences, then maybe the world could be a better place.