Rating: 
Summary: No good
Review: It's very boring and all. I've read and re-read my copy of Burton on Burton, and this book provides me with no new information. Hanke even goes so far as to quote from the interviews Salisbury assembled into Burton on Burton. It's annoying, reading through this book, since Hanke seems to insist that he knows exactly what's going on in Burton's mind. He over-analyses absolutely everything, bringing Burton's films down to a level where nothing is truly worth anything. According to Hanke, Pee Wee's Big Adventure is all about sexual stuff. Honestly, for three pages, every other word is sex. Methinks perhaps Hanke is not so much telling us what Burton thinks, but what he would think if he was Burton.Also, the writing feels to me like something I might write on a late night to turn in the next morning to my 10th grade english teacher. The style seems to be that of an essay, not a book. My final complaint is the huge editing mistake I found. At the beginning of the chapters, Hanke gives a quote. At the beginning of one, I was shocked to see the words "I know I am but what are you?" Anyone who's seen the movie can tell you the quote it "I know you are but what am I?", and it amazes me that such a large error slipped through and made it into print.
Rating:
Summary: No good
Review: It's very boring and all. I've read and re-read my copy of Burton on Burton, and this book provides me with no new information. Hanke even goes so far as to quote from the interviews Salisbury assembled into Burton on Burton. It's annoying, reading through this book, since Hanke seems to insist that he knows exactly what's going on in Burton's mind. He over-analyses absolutely everything, bringing Burton's films down to a level where nothing is truly worth anything. According to Hanke, Pee Wee's Big Adventure is all about sexual stuff. Honestly, for three pages, every other word is sex. Methinks perhaps Hanke is not so much telling us what Burton thinks, but what he would think if he was Burton. Also, the writing feels to me like something I might write on a late night to turn in the next morning to my 10th grade english teacher. The style seems to be that of an essay, not a book. My final complaint is the huge editing mistake I found. At the beginning of the chapters, Hanke gives a quote. At the beginning of one, I was shocked to see the words "I know I am but what are you?" Anyone who's seen the movie can tell you the quote it "I know you are but what am I?", and it amazes me that such a large error slipped through and made it into print.
Rating: 
Summary: Much Insight, but Poorly Written and Filled With Summary
Review: Ken Hanke's autobiography provides much insight into Burton's childhood, adolescence, early career, etc. However, Hanke spends too much time in summarizing the plots of Burton's films and not enough time in relating those plots to their production or to his life in general. Hanke's writing is also loose and cumbersome at times, making for an unneccessarily awkward read. Why must he constantly use exclamation points where none are needed? Such punctuation is distracting and useless--if a sentence is going to surprise or shock us, it won't be because of the punctuation. I'd recommend keeping an eye out for future, more scholarly biographies of a director who deserves the Spoto treatment.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile idea, poor execution
Review: Ken Hanke's biography of Tim Burton is simply wonderful. Informative, enlightening, but never intrusive or unfair, Hanke proves himself to be a high caliber writer, and someone who not only understands Burton's work and artistry, but is able to communicate that understanding to his readers with style and wit. Don't let the "unauthorized" bit in the title fool you - this is NOT one of those rumor churning, scandalous, exploitative books that pollute the biography sections in stores and libraries. Hanke treats his task of uncovering Burton's life and work with seriousness, respect and affection. An obvious admirer of his subject, Hanke is still able to step back and be objective, providing the reader with as close of an "honest" view of Tim Burton and his work as one could expect and hope. Hanke's style of writing is a pure delight. His narrative is smooth, well written, well supported and humorous. Each of Burton's works are covered here, in varying degrees of depth. Most of his movies are given the 'capsule treatment' (if you will), which includes a brief summary of the film, Hanke's analysis (which is priceless), critical and box office reactions, and more. One cannot help coming off this book with a greater respect and enthusiasm for both Tim Burton and his biographer. A true must-have for all Tim Burton fans, and biography connoisseurs in general. Highest recommendations! Bravo!
Rating: 
Summary: Behold the fruit of pensive nights and laborious days...
Review: Richard D. Altick wrote, in The Scholar Adventurers: ''If it is permissable sometimes to reconstruct biography on the basis of the known proclivities of one's hero...'' This comment was used as a forward to Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street,a book in which William S. Baring-Gould writes a biography of Sherlock Holmes based on all the facts revealed about him in the Canon, and because Baring-Gould is an excellent writer, the book is a fun and amusing read. The same holds true for this biography of the almost-as enigmatic director, Tim Burton. He rarely gives interviews (in which he says anything of substance, anyway) and guards his private life. To write a biography of such a subject requires a love of that subject (a love of that subject's works, at least), ingenuity, and dedication, and such has been provided here by Ken Hanke. His writing flows smoothly, and more importantly than anything else, his book causes one to think - to compare their reactions to a particular film to Hanke's own. If you are a fan of Burton, this book is highly recommened.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific Book!
Review: The author has done a perfectly splendid job here of capturing both the essence of Burton's movies and the man behind the mask that is Tim Burton. Here is the first non-fannish, intelligent, and even intellectual approach to Burton's work. The author's insights are keen and precise and, thankfully, not colored by any sense of hero-worship. The films are examined and not just mindlessly praised, which is much the same approach taken with the director himself, who emerges as a far more interesting man than the version of himself Burton presents to the public. If only the publishers would see fit to allow an updating of this book to include SLEEPY HOLLOW...
Rating:
Summary: Ultimate Tim Burton Thesis Paper
Review: Think in-depth thesis paper plus Tim Burton; and what you get is a pretty entertaining read. Although it's a disappointment that the writing is unauthorized, and the facts uncertain (if not theoretical), this books still does justice on Tim Burton the man. (Hey, with an introvert like Mr. Burton, it's pretty hard to uncover the genuine article.) I especially liked the insights on "Ed Wood" and "Edward Scissorhands." This a must for all budding and die-hard Burtonians.
Rating:
Summary: Mostly Needless Info
Review: This biography does contains some cool information, but not enough to carry this 245 page book. Any Burton fan should know this much about him. Hanke gives too many decriptions of the films, and goes one step at a time rounding the movies together. The true book to own is Burton on Burton.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid Resource and a Great Read!
Review: Very few books on movies and the people who make them are actually all that good as literature, but Ken Hanke's TIM BURTON is a rare exception. Yes, it is first and foremost an examination of Burton and his movies. Here you will find more actual background on the making of these pictures--copious details on pre-production, production, post-production, as well as critical and commercial reaction. You will also find the most perceptive analysis of Burton's movies you are ever likely to encounter. And you will get a look at the Tim Burton who hides behind the mask of a persona as fully self-created as that of any of his warped characters. That much I expected or at least hoped for. But there's something else here--Hanke can actually write and write well. His prose, his turns of phrase, his ability to nail down a scene with a single parenthetical quotation from the script are all as wonderfully stylish in their own way as are the films he writes about. This is not only the "Bible" on Burton's work to date, but it's a very fine piece of literature in its own right. I give this book the highest possible recommendation. No one has brought this much delightful writing skill to the movies since the late William K. Everson. Anyone who wants to see how movies should be written about needs to read this book!
Rating: 
Summary: A very stupid, but moderately entertaining, book
Review: While Tim Burton is a fascinating subject, Ken Hanke has produced a truly stupid book about him. Most of his information is gathered from previously published interviews (few of which were conducted by the author) and when he has nothing of substance to say (which is most of the time) Hanke simply provides a synopsis of the particular film in question. Also, his attempt to analyze Burton's films in light of what sketchy biographical information Hanke has constructed is at best simplistic and at worst, inept. It is pop-psychoanalysis at its worst, on the level of a freshman class paper, instead of what one would expect from a professional journalist. This book should be considered to be on par with the other hastily-compiled unauthorized biographies of celebrities, fun for gossip, but not much else. Read "Burton on Burton" if you want to learn anything of substance .
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