The nightmare returns

History tells us that Asheville is a town that likes its Tim Burton, so it’s definitely noteworthy that the brand-new “Real D” 3-D version of Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas arrives here this Friday — complete with a midnight show Friday night for the hardcore Burton-o-philes among us.

I had the opportunity to pre-screen the film in this new incarnation, and I can tell you that it’s a pretty impressive-looking revamp. Granted, the film wasn’t designed for 3-D, which means that it lacks the format’s staple of having a lot of things fly out of the screen at the camera, though the snowfall at the end of the film does indeed seem to float right off the screen. However, it is a film that lends itself beautifully to the process in terms of added depth. The levels of action going back into the frame are frankly remarkable and add greatly to the movie’s already significant beauty.

Plus, let’s face it, it’s a pretty terrific movie to begin with.

For movie times, click here.

— Ken Hanke, Xpress film critic

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About Ken Hanke
Head film critic for Mountain Xpress from December 2000 until his death in June 2016. Author of books "Ken Russell's Films," "Charlie Chan at the Movies," "A Critical Guide to Horror Film Series," "Tim Burton: An Unauthorized Biography of the Filmmaker."

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