Review of Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) by Megan O — 26 Feb 2010

And Burton Fest 2010 is OFF!!!! I'm going to watch all of Tim Burton's films in chronological order over the course of the next week, leading up to my much-anticipated first viewing of Alice in Wonderland on Friday.

Is Pee-Wee's Big Adventure the best film of my birth year? Hmm, I suppose I may not be informed enough about the films of 1985 to know for sure, but I definitely wouldn't complain if it's the case! Pee-Wee's Big Adventure is absolute brilliance.

Films (especially "family" films) just don't take many risks anymore and certainly seldom aspire to be actually artistic. This, on the other hand, is art, it is pure comedy, and it is genius.

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to be one of many packed sardines at the MoMa in NYC to see the exhibit of Burton's art (including tons of Johnny Depp related movie memorabilia, such as his Edward Scissorhands costume, Ed Wood's angora sweater, and Sweeney Todd's razors.

.. *super swoon*). The exhibit was amazing, and I'm very impressed to see how humorous his artwork is and how well he incorporates his visual and comedic sensibilities into his films. He's one of the few artists whose style is so recognizable and so unique that even something as common and simple as a spiral can be easily dubbed "a Tim Burton spiral.

" He has trademarked the commonplace, while simultaneously transforming it. It amazes me that he was such an auteur so early, even in this -- his first feature film. Besides, the movie-within-a-movie scene at the end is the absolute greatest thing I've seen.

.. ever.