For all Tim Burton's reputation as a "visionary," he seems to me to be (like 90% of directors) at the mercy of his performers.  Keaton in Beetlejuice, Nicholson in Batman, Pee-Wee in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Depp and Landau in Ed Wood, Depp in Edward Scissorhands…

For all Tim Burton's reputation as a "visionary," he seems to me to be (like 90% of directors) at the mercy of his performers.  Keaton in Beetlejuice, Nicholson in Batman, Pee-Wee in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Depp and Landau in Ed Wood, Depp in Edward Scissorhands…

The things that make him laugh are pretty hilarious too.

Chunky Grandma Be Ripplin'

This sounds like self-loathing become animate.

I would, but then I'm an American who like British food, so I'm a poor gauge.

Let's see if he murders somebody.

Actually she's a pothead.

Yet Steve Martin, whom I have great respect for, was genuinely terrible in that film.

I actually like Brendan Fraser, but Monkeybone was total shit.  Even with the Dali nod.

Best line: "Plagiarist!"

This is one of my absolute favorite movies.  On every level— acting, writing, direction— it scores a bullseye.

I actually love the retro-silent version of The Call of Cthulhu.  It really catches  the spirit of the story.

Her commentary on the DVD is pretty charming. On the strapped-down nude scene: "Oh, this is my mother's favorite part!"

Horror comedy is the best.  It's my only weakness— The Old Dark House, The Fearless Vampire Killers, the original The Ladykillers, The Night Stalker… beautiful stuff.

This is true.  Lovecraft was smart enough to realize that the field he was working in was pretty ridiculous, and he frequently wrote down to the level of the magazines he was selling to— unquestionably with a sense of humor about it.

Kael had many blind spots— Kubrick and Malick for example— but her championing of Lynch, Gilliam, and this film make her aces in my book.

I love this movie too.  I've never watched any of the latter-day Star Treks, but  Jeffrey Combs's name in a movie's credits gets automatic applause from me.  Someone give this man a series!

I totally understand your reservations, and yet that sequence is part of what makes the movie for me.

God, I miss Eastenders.