The Art of Tim Burton

Director Tim Burton is known for his dark and eccentric films such as Beetle Juice, Edward Scissorhands, Mars Attack, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow, and Sweeney Todd to only name a few. His most recent directorial work Alice In Wonderland is in theaters. Although his films are more prominent, Tim Burton is an illustrator, painter, and photographer. In 1997, he published a book of illustrated poetry titled, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories.

The Museum of Modern Art (Moma), in New York City, is temporarily exhibiting many of Burton’s private artworks. The collection spans over 40 years, before the inception of his career to demonstrating the conceptualization of his distinguished characters in the apexes of his career through doodles on notebooks and napkins, sketches on drawing pads to canvas paintings. The exhibit includes movie costumes, figurines, movie posters, and video clips. For more detail information on Tim Burton’s temporary exhibit visit Moma, and online exhibit is available for viewing.

Concurrent to the exhibit inception, a book was created through garnering Burton’s artworks, making it a comprehensive presentation of the innovative mind of Burton with narratives from personal friends. Many of the illustrations are displayed in Moma. However, this book is not sold in Moma or popular websites. The book can be purchased at Steeles Publishing. There are two editions standard and deluxe, differing by deluxe edition including a cloth slipcase, hand signed inside cover, and a limited edition (of 1000) signed lithograph. Currently, the deluxe edition is sold out, but I was fortunate to receive it as a Christmas gift. Recently on ABE, I saw one copy selling for over $1000; it originally sold for $299. It is an exquisite book to own for a Tim Burton fan.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - A Short Story and A Movie

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Many books when adapted for the motion pictures, has subtle changes, sometimes-vast changes. When short stories are adapted for the motion picture, it is highly likely that there will be vast changes.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald is about 26 pages. Consequently, it is expected to have many aspects in the film that was not present in the book. Although the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt will not be release in theaters until December, around Christmas time, viewing the trailer demonstrates detail contrasts.

The first distinction between the short story and the movie is the physical appearance of Benjamin Button at birth. Granted that books have more leeway than the movies, the book describes Button as an old man with a long grey beard whose legs hang from the hospital’s baby crib. However, in the movie, Button is small as an average baby but appears to be a septuagenarian with aged wrinkled skin. Another distinction that immensely changes the story is Benjamin Button’s cognitive ability. In the book, when born Button’s has the intellectual level of a wise elderly man, but in the movie, Button’s intellectual level is of a normal infant.

The short story has a theme that while Button gets younger so does his intellectual ability correspond with his physical changes; he is finally in harmony physically and intellectually, and eventually is socially accepted. Fitzgerald short story demonstrates that Button had an entire life experience, as would a normal person even though he has had an aberrant beginning. Thus, there is a major theme difference between the short story and the movie. Lastly, in the book, Button’s father never leaves him on a stranger's doorsteps. In my perspective, it is essential for Button to be raised by his relentless father who has a mindset that his child is average, because it illuminates the second half of Button’s life with congruity. Nevertheless, I am going to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in theaters December, because well, I am curious.

Richard Matheson's Button, Button: Uncanny Stories (The Box)

Button, Button: Uncanny Stories

by Richard Matheson

Revered Richard Matheson is well known for his novella I am legend, which has recently again dawned our motion picture multiplexes, starring Will Smith. It is not the only literary work of Matheson to make it to the big screen. I can think of at least two other films based on Matheson's novels. The first to thought, Hell House and the second is What Dreams May Come starring Robin Williams. In 2009, another motion picture, starring Cameron Diaz will be added to Matheson's credit, based on a short-story Button, Button. Renamed to The Box, the movie will be release in theaters late March. In addition, Button, Button was also adapted to an episode of The Twilight Zone. Only eleven pages long, it might be a surprise that this very short story will soon be a movie. Keep in mind it is not the quantity but the quality that is salient. It is a unique and intriguing story.

Teaser Synopsis: A surprising gift with a peculiar offer, sometimes if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A couple gets an offer too sweet to resist, money, but someone will have to pay the price with life.

I have never been an enthusiast of anthologies or short-story collections. Although I must admit, I own quite a few anthologies. Button, Button: Uncanny Stories a short-story collection, is an instant gratification book. Each story is engaging by the first page, but I have my favorites, which are Mute, Dying Room Only, and Clothes Make the Man. After reading Matheson's Button, Button: Uncanny Stories, I am inclined to start reading more short stories.