Ever since he barrelled into the American mainstream cinema with “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” in 1985, Tim Burton has been known as one of Hollywood’s most eccentric directors.

His latest film, “Big Fish,” departs from the heavy theme of darkness, which he is known for, and instead focuses on the surrealistic quality that enchants even the most jaded of critics and moviegoers.

But never fear, there are still plenty of creepy witches, frightening trees and oddities to go around.

The story has been done before. A young, urban son, Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) goes back to rural Alabama to see his dying father Edward (Albert Finney) and try to understand him once and for all.

Even though the theme of parental discovery is nothing new, “Big Fish” surpasses all of them in content and in style.

Finney tells the stories of young Edward Bloom (played superbly by Ewan McGregor) to his son, who has a hard time believing any of them.

From giants and werewolf Ringmasters to communist Siamese twins, the life of Edward Bloom is a tale full of magic and as his son comes to find, a surprising amount of truth.

The movie is carried not only by the screenplay (adapted from a book of the same title) but also by the wide array of actors who are lucky enough to be in this movie.

Burton knows where to cast his wife Helena Bonham Carter, as Jenny and The Witch, and how to put her characters into the movie.

Alongside Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito, Steve Buscemi and Alison Lohman add incredible depth and realism to the cast as Amos Callaway, Norther Winslow and Young Sandra Bloom, respectively.

The characters serve as metaphors for the sort of people everyone has met in their life at one time or another.

The most singular thing about this movie is that everyone can go to the movie, enjoy it, and take something away from it.

“Big Fish” contains themes ranging from the disasterous impact of urbanization on small-town life to army desertion and murder.

It is a story that encourages people to look not only at the legends of their family, but also to the legends they create every day of their lives.