The Final Cut: A Closer Look At Flight Plan, The Corpse Bride

This Week, The Final Cut takes a closer look at two of this weekends nationwide releases- Flight Plan with Jodie Foster, and The Corpse Bride with Johnny Depp.  Also out this Friday are Oliver Twist directed by Roman Polanski; Proof, starring Gwyneth Paltrow; Roll-Bounce with Bow Wow and Nick Cannon; and in limited release, Daltry Calhoun starring Johnny Knoxville.  You can check out The Final Cut’s recommendations after the jump, and if you’ve had the chance to catch any of this weekends flicks, feel free to leave your opinion in the comments.

Flight Plan

Starring: Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sean Bean, Erika Christensen

“Flying at 40,000 feet in a cavernous, state-of-the-art 474 aircraft, Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster) faces every mother’s worst nightmare when her six year-old daughter Julia vanishes without a trace mid-flight from Berlin to New York. Already emotionally devastated by the unexpected death of her husband, Kyle desperately struggles to prove her sanity to the disbelieving flight crew and passengers while facing the very real possibility that she may be losing her mind. While neither Captain Rich (Sean Bean), nor Air Marshal Gene Carson (Peter Sarsgaard) want to doubt the bereaved widow, all evidence indicates that her daughter was never on board, resulting in paranoia and doubt among the passengers and crew of the plane. Finding herself desperately alone, Kyle can only rely on her own wits to solve the mystery and save her daughter.”

While there aren’t many reviews floating around the internet for this film, most of the ones that I did get my hands on weren’t very flattering.  It seems the biggest flaw this film has is that it is so unbelievable.  While some critics complained that the final act was too absurd, others have said that the entire movie is just too far out to ever gain any credibility.  One even describes the film as tedious.  What ever the problem, or shall I say problems are, I think I’ll probably pass this film up, and it might be best if you do, too.

The Corpse Bride

Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman

“Victor (voice of Johnny Depp) lives in a small European village in the 19th Century, where he is pledged to marry his sweetheart Victoria (voice of Emily Watson). However, while walking through the woods on the way to their wedding, he sees the hand of a skeleton and, to amuse himself, he puts Victoria’s wedding band on its finger. It isn’t long before Victor discovers this was a big mistake; as it happens, he has put the ring on the finger of the enchanted Corpse Bride (voice of Helena Bonham-Carter), and is whisked off to a dark and mysterious netherworld where he is now betrothed to the beautiful but sinister spirit. While Victor is fascinated with the wonders of the land of the dead, he also knows that Victoria is the woman he truly loves, and he searches for a way back to his own world.”

The latest film from director Tim Burton, The Corpse Bride is not just visually stunning, but also brings a good storyline to the screen that will leave you feeling all warm inside.  This movie will definitely remind you of The Nightmare Before Christmas, not just because of the stop-motion animation, but because Burton’s directing style is just so unique.  I think Peter Howell of the Toronto Star put it best when he said, “If his The Nightmare Before Christmas from a dozen years back was a treat for the eyes and mind, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride goes double or nothing by being a delight for the ears and also the heart.”  When you get to the box office your next time around, treat yourself to this film…I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!