by Christopher Cranmer

Created on: February 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

The fact that you can't improve on perfection doesn't stop people trying; in the present tense, Disney and Mr. Tim Burton. With The Nightmare Before Christmas being one of my favourite movies of all time, it was hard to see where else they could go with it. Yet, with the bringing of Halloween Town to 3D, I had high hopes of an even better experience.

The start shows more than a little promise. Just as you're settling into the popcorn, a jack-in-the-box nicely reminds you to put the glasses on or the Pumpkin King will get you. The box itself is wonderfully sculpted into the dimensional magic about to be weaved with Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie and the Mayor. Then, true to expectation, a large pumpkin jumps out of the box, practically sits in your lap, and has a good old laugh at you.

Let the magic of Halloween Town take the stage.

The problem, however, is that the film was never designed to be in 3D. There are few occasions when any of the characters perform to the screen, as this would have shown up the limitations of stop animation. That said, there is a certain beauty about Halloween Town in this remake, especially with the colourful characters popping in and out of the screen with as much hatred and spite as they ever did. Extra depth helps you to appreciate that there are colours everywhere, the experiments at Jack's home are smoother and there even seems to be more fluidity in the animation itself.

And before you know where you are, you're singing along with Jack as he hops through Christmas Town, you're laughing with the Professor as he tells his new creation that they'll have conversations worth having (with one half-brain each) and you feel the insecurity of the Mayor as Lock, Shock and Barrel appear. In no time at all, you're with all of the characters as they dance and prance, toe tapping to that "no account" Oogie Boogie crowing and rooting for Jack and Sally to get together; it's wonderful.

But that's also the problem. With a 3D movie, the onus is on the dimensional gap that's been bridged. The film, however, is better than the visuals, the sets, the sounds and even the salted popcorn. The fact is that The Nightmare Before Christmas was wonderful because of the characters that populate Halloween Town. The sheer imagination of Burton makes it a mathematical certainty that you will connect with one or more of the population and it's this experience that gives the movie its edge. And despite the gap and lessons learned before Corpse Bride, along with the more sophisticated puppets and animation possibilities, it's testimony to Jack and company that this is the better film.

Don't get me wrong, this was a great idea and there is no doubt that the 3 dimensions add a little something extra to the visual effects. But make no mistake; even if you closed your eyes, you'd still love The Nightmare Before Christmas on sound alone. If you're a fan of the original, you'll love it for the same reasons you loved it in the first place. If you're not a fan of the original, there's something wrong with you.

No. Just as you can't polish shite, you can't improve on perfection; and this movie was perfection since its initial inception.

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