Though Burton didn't direct this film, his fingerprints are all over it, and it reflects both his directorial strengths and weaknesses. As has been widely reported, this nightmare is a stunning visual achievement, a carefully designed tabletop animation world that (like Burton's live-action films) looks like an Edward Gorey artbook come to life. But the story, such as it is, lacks the buoyancy of its whimsical central premise and is built mostly around the idea that juxtaposing adolescent gross-out humor with the artificial sentiment of a standard Christmas movie represents a daring vision. The gags are redundant, and Jack is something less than a compelling protagonist, saddled as he is with the lion's share of Danny Elfman's tuneless, meandering songs. "Nightmare" gets and "A" for visual effort, but falls short as a total viewing experience because of Burton's historical inability to tell a good story. It's like a beautifully wrapped Christmas present that, when you open it, turns out to be nothing more than an empty box. Voiced by Chris Sarandon and Catherine O'Hara. Directed by Henry Selick. Written by Caroline Thompson. Produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi. A Buena Vista release. Animated. Rated PG for cartoon violence and macabre comedic situatio
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