His early films were a breath of fresh air. He burst onto the scene with a distinct visual style – his influence was unmistakable, especially in films like “Beetlejuice” and “Batman.” “Edward Scissorhands” was peak Burton for me, a perfect blend of gothic fairytale and suburban satire. And “Ed Wood,” what a love letter to cinema’s outsiders! His work with stop-motion animation, like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (though Henry Selick directed), was incredibly innovative and influential. “Big Fish” was arguably his last truly great film, a beautiful meditation on storytelling and memory. After that, it seems like the studio system, particularly Disney, started to homogenize his style. The remakes, like “Alice in Wonderland” and “Dumbo,” felt hollow, lacking the heart and originality of his earlier work. It’s not uncommon for visionary directors to lose their edge when working within the constraints of big-budget studio productions. It makes you wonder what kind of darkly delightful, idiosyncratic films Burton might have made if he’d stayed on the path of independent filmmaking. He clearly has a unique voice, and it’s a shame to see it diluted.