CORPSE BRIDE
(Tim Burton-Mike Johnson / USA / 2005 / 76 min / 35mm / Cert PG)
(Tues-Thurs 27th-29th / 7pm / £2)

When Victor van Dort messes up his vows during a wedding rehearsal, he rushes off to the nearby forest to practise his lines in peace, away from the bullying presence of parents and potential in-laws. Whilst practicing, he puts his wedding ring on a finger-shaped stick in the ground and says his wedding vows. The stick turns out to be a rotted finger belonging to a murdered girl, who returns as a zombie and insists that she is now Victor's lawfully wedded wife.
Tim Burton's adaptation of this European folk tale is a lavish spectacle of stop-motion animation, showcasing the trademark arch-gothic style that has saturated previous Burton projects such as "Edward Scissorhands" and the "Nightmare Before Christmas". There's plenty to feast on here - grotesque characters - human and otherwise - mile-a-minute sight gags, meticulous production design, and an all-star cast of voices (including Johnny Depp, Albert Finney, Helena Bonham-Carter). A perfect winter warmer for all the family.