I sort of fell in love with Tim Burton for creating such a creature. Johnny Depp is perfect as Edward; he is achingly affecting and unbearably pretty. He is silent to the point where you would kill somebody just to hear his sweet, gorgeous voice; it truly is frustrating. Mostly though, he says it all with his bright black eyes. He has that frozen, scarred face, and the black, childlike smile.
He lived alone in a gothic, musty mansion with a fantastic collection of topiary animals that he sculpted himself with his scissors for hands. He was created when a lonely inventor, engaged in fancified cooking experiments, decided to turn one of his cookie-cutting machines into a companion to chat with and instruct in the wonders of art, poetry and etiquette. But just before he can finish Edward off, he drops dead, and Edward never gets real hands. He is alone in a world he knows only from the old magazine clippings he keeps near his bed of straw.
I cried every time his face broke when the pastel coloured Florida neighbours ostracised him. I cried when he tried to comfort those he loved, only to draw blood. When Kim, the girl he loves, reaches out to Edward, he pulls back his sharp, cold hands in despair. The memory of the way she then wraps his arms around her & holds him satisfies us all even though the ending is heart wrenching and sombre. Edward then embarks upon a life poignant solitude reminiscent of Batman atop of Gotham tower.
We find out that it was Edward who created snow. Slivers of ice from his furious sculptures fell down upon the neighbourhood. That was supposed to be a consolation. It wasn't. I wanted him to live his life with Kim.
The gorgeous cinematography was by Stefan Czapsky.
Cast:
Johnny Depp.... Edward Scissorhands
Winona Ryder.... Kim Boggs
Dianne Wiest.... Peg Boggs
Anthony Michael Hall.... Jim
Kathy Baker.... Joyce Monroe
Robert Oliveri.... Kevin Boggs
Conchata Ferrell.... Helen
Caroline Aaron.... Marge
Dick Anthony Williams.... Officer Allen
O-Lan Jones.... Esmeralda
Vincent Price.... The Inventor
Alan Arkin.... Bill Boggs
Susan Blommaert.... Tinka
Linda Perri.... Cissy
John Davidson (II).... Host - TV
Biff Yeager.... George
Marti Greenberg.... Suzanne
Bryan Larkin.... Max
John McMahon.... Denny
Victoria Price.... TV Newswoman
Stuart Lancaster.... Retired Man
Gina Gallagher.... Granddaughter
Aaron Lustig.... Psychologist
Alan Fudge.... Loan Officer
Steven Brill.... Dishwasher Man
Peter Palmér (I).... Editor
Marc Macaulay.... Reporter
Carmen J. Alexander.... Reporter
Brett Rice.... Reporter
Andrew B. Clark.... Beefy Man
Kelli Crofton.... Pink Girl
Linda Jean Hess.... Older Woman/TV
Rosalyn Thomson.... Young Woman/TV
Lee Ralls.... Red-Haired Woman/TV
Eileen Meurer.... Teenage Girl/TV
Bea Albano.... Rich Widow/TV
Donna Pieroni.... Blonde/TV
Ken DeVaul.... Policeman
Michael Gaughan.... Policeman
Tricia Lloyd.... Teenage Girl
Kathy Dombo.... Other Teen
Rex Fox.... Police Sergeant
Sherry Ferguson.... Max's Mother
Tabetha Thomas.... Little Girl on Bike