Using the same brand of stop-motion animation displayed in TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and for good reason, this quasi follow-up is a handsome piece of filmmaking. Unfortunately, liberties were taken with the beloved childrens' story. At least one adult I know had trouble following the plot as it intermingles fantasy and reality in a haphazard fashion. Had it been released before NIGHTMARE (which receives a wink in the new feature), it might have been hailed as something bold and creative. But now it's just an also-ran, bright with wonder but still pale when compared to its predecessor.