Why so many bad reviews?

What? Avatar's awesome. I agree with your other points though, trailers don't guarantee what you think.

Or maybe they're just people who don't share the same opinion as you?

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
I can understand how the hommages to older horror or so much overly defined 'genre' of Burton, that perhaps slowly has started to bore recent audience (the trick might get old) can overshadow this though.
I personally did sort of experience the old passion of what I liked about atleast a few (Corpse bride, Scissorhands and Ed wood(Nightmare before christmas is Henry Sellecks!) of his movies in this one.

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
In my taste it could even be taken further though; what if Sparky had started to crave for human flash, or would mutate worse and worse; while such things happened, would he still see Sparky as sparky?
And the cat had to turn into a monster, and was sort of treated from that point on as a repulsive monster, while it might have been interesting if it hadn't....so maybe the movie was too 'safe' and and Burton has not found his Burton back.

I can understand how the hommages to older horror or so much overly defined 'genre' of Burton, that perhaps slowly has started to bore recent audience (the trick might get old) can overshadow this though.
I personally did sort of experience the old passion of what I liked about atleast a few (Corpse bride, Scissorhands and Ed wood(Nightmare before christmas is Henry Sellecks!) of his movies in this one.

[deleted]

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
In my taste it could even be taken further though; what if Sparky had started to crave for human flash, or would mutate worse and worse; while such things happened, would he still see Sparky as sparky?
And the cat had to turn into a monster, and was sort of treated from that point on as a repulsive monster, while it might have been interesting if it hadn't....so maybe the movie was too 'safe' and and Burton has not found his Burton back (or he just was never the Burton we had in mind: the audience outgrew him...if I make sense).
Also, maybe the Burton Schtick, the hommages to classic movies, might in that prospect overshadow the actual story, but I think it might always have with some viewers. I personally did enjoy it though and felt since a long time his movies hadn't had soul like this before.

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
To my taste it could even have been taken further though, also having in mind Burton's usual thematics of horror; what if Sparky had started to crave for human flash, or would mutate worse and worse; while such things happened, would he still see Sparky as sparky?
And the cat had to turn into a monster, and was sort of treated from that point on as a repulsive monster, while it might have been interesting if it hadn't....so maybe the movie was too 'safe' and and Burton has not found his Burton back (or he just was never the Burton we had in mind: the audience outgrew him...if I make sense).
Also, maybe the Burton Schtick, the hommages to classic movies, might in that prospect overshadow the actual story, but I think it might always have with some viewers. I personally did enjoy it though and felt since a long time his movies hadn't had soul like this before.

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
To my taste it could even have been taken further though, also having in mind Burton's usual thematics of horror; what if Sparky had started to crave for human flesh, had maybe even eaten humans, or would mutate into something more monstrous; while such things happened, would he still see Sparky as sparky?
And the cat had to turn into a monster, and was sort of treated from that point on as a repulsive monster, while it might have been interesting if it hadn't....so maybe the movie was too 'safe' and and Burton has not found his Burton back (or he just was never the Burton we had in mind: the audience outgrew him...if I make sense).
Also, maybe the Burton Schtick, the hommages to classic movies, might in that prospect overshadow the actual story, but I think it might always have with some viewers. I personally did enjoy it though and felt since a long time his movies hadn't had soul like this before.

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
To my taste it could even have been taken further though, also having in mind Burton's usual thematics of horror; what if Sparky had started to crave for human flesh, had maybe even eaten humans, or would mutate into something more monstrous; while such things happened, would Victor still see Sparky as sparky? It sure tests his love for the dog, and complicates it more.
And the cat had to turn into a monster, and was sort of treated from that point on as a repulsive monster, while it might have been interesting if it hadn't....so maybe the movie was too 'safe' and and Burton has not found his Burton back (or he just was never the Burton we had in mind: the audience outgrew him...if I make sense).
Also, maybe the Burton Schtick, the hommages to classic movies, might in that prospect overshadow the actual story, but I think it might always have with some viewers. I personally did enjoy it though and felt since a long time his movies hadn't had soul like this before.

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
To my taste it could even have been taken further though, also having in mind Burton's usual thematics of horror; what if Sparky had started to crave for human flesh, had maybe even eaten humans, or would mutate into something more monstrous; while such things happened, would Victor still see Sparky as sparky? It sure tests his love for the dog, and complicates it more.
And the cat had to turn into a monster, and was sort of treated from that point on as a repulsive monster, while it might have been interesting if it hadn't (the spoiled girl could have still loved that cat with all her might)....so maybe the movie was too 'safe' and and Burton has not found his Burton back (or he just was never the Burton we had in mind: the audience outgrew him...if I make sense).
Also, maybe the Burton Schtick, the hommages to classic movies, might in that prospect overshadow the actual story, but I think it might always have with some viewers. I personally did enjoy it though and felt since a long time his movies hadn't had soul like this before.

I don't know, I saw it once, but I definitely thought it had heart. I cried when the dog died, and loved the way his love for the dog overcame the fear of the undead, even if his tail fell off, it was still his sparky.
To my taste it could even have been taken further though, also having in mind Burton's usual thematics of horror; what if Sparky had started to crave for human flesh, had maybe even eaten humans, or would mutate into something more monstrous; while such things happened, would Victor still see Sparky as sparky? It sure tests his love for the dog, and complicates it more.
And the cat had to turn into a monster, and was sort of treated from that point on as a repulsive monster, while it might have been interesting if it hadn't (the spoiled girl could have still loved that cat with all her might)....so maybe the movie was too 'safe' and and Burton has not found his Burton back (or he just was never the Burton we had in mind: the audience outgrew him...if I make sense).
Also, maybe the Burton Schtick, the hommages to classic movies, might in that prospect overshadow the actual story, but I think it might always have with some viewers. I personally did enjoy it though and felt since a long time his movies hadn't had soul like this before. And also; with in mind an audience that probably exists out of families with kids, the edgy can't be taken too far.

Bad reviews?
This is one of Burton's best reviewed films. A few bad reviews but there's always one:)
On RT it has 87%, and it got nominated for almost ever single animation award that exists

On IMDB however it's a different story. People give "0" or "1" sometimes for no reason. Sometimes so that their precious new popular movie can get more votes.

I really enjoyed it, and thought Tim Burton took his clever short film and improved it in just about every way, adding to it without significantly changing it. The visual style was great, the comedy was cute even if not the "gut-busting" variety and there was genuine pathos, at least for dog lovers. The voice casting was just right too, with Martin Landau doing a fine job and my favorite, Atticus Shaffer from "The Middle" playing "E" Gore.