Edward Scissorhands

• Cert:
• Cat.no: 01867 DVD
• Running time: 101 minutes
• Year: 1990
• Pressing: 2000
• Region(s): 2, PAL
• Chapters: 24 plus extras
• Sound: Dolby Digital 4.0
• Languages: English
• Subtitles: English (for the hard of hearing)
• Widescreen: 1.85:1
• 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
• Macrovision: Yes
• Disc Format: DVD 9
• Price: £19.99
• Extras: Two Theatrical Trailers, 3 Spanish TV Spots, Featurette,Interview soundbites, Concept Artwork, 2 Audio Commentaries

Director:

Tim Burton

(Batman (1989), Batman Returns, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks!, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure)

Producers:

(James and the Giant Peach)

Screenplay:

(from a story by Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson)

Music:

Cast:

Edward Scissorhands: Johnny Depp
Kim Boggs: Winona Ryder
Peg Boggs: Dianne Wiest
Jim: Anthony Michael Hall
The Inventor: Vincent Price

Edward Scissorhandswould easily win TFI Friday‘s “freak-or-unique” contest were it stilla mainstay of that ailing TV series but, played by Johnny Depp, thefilm has never gelled for me in the way it has for others.

Created by Vincent Price, whose inventor character subsequently died,Edward was left alone until he was discovered and adopted by Avon ladyPeg Boggs, Dianne Wiest, who lives in suburban town, er.. Suburbia.

At first he’s a hit with everyone, particularly her daughter Kim (WinonaRyder) and many of the neighbourhood middle-aged bimbos who get him tocut their hair instead of creating dinosaur-shaped hedges. Things turn sourand Kim’s boyfriend thinks Eddie’s trying to muscle in on his territoryand again a Tim Burton film turns typically dark.

The picture is very good indeed, with bright scenes bringing out the best inthe pastel shades of the neighbourhood houses and it’s presented in theoriginal anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen ratio, with just a few print flecksmarring the overall presentation.The average bitrate is a brilliant 6.66Mb/s, regularly peaking over 7Mb/s.

The sound doesn’t appear to particularly push the boat out, but Elfman’s scoredoes get decidely creepy in the right moments and appears in the originalDolby Digital 4.0.

The Interview soundbites are the sort of snippets that would be takenout and placed within a longer making-of with music added behind it andthe Concept Artwork is a few pictures of early Edward designs.

Finally there are two separate Audio Commentaries, one from directorTim Burton and the other from composer Danny Elfman.

There’s a decent number of chapters with 24 covering the 101-minute film,plus English subtitles and menus with animation and music that keeps withinthe character of the film.