Here’s a quick guide to some great stop-motion films.
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TOYS IN THE ATTIC (2009) - The new movie opening in select cities on Sept. 7 is an English-dubbed version of this Czech film about a doll who is kidnapped by an evil bust, and her toy pals who try to rescue her. Surreal.
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Wallace & Gromit Ltd.
THE WRONG TROUSERS (1993) - The Oscar-winning short with Wallace & Gromit – a dim-bulb fellow and his smart dog – a nasty penguin who is disguised as a chicken, and a pair of mechanical pants that wreak havoc. Hilarious.
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Zeitgeist Films
A TOWN CALLED PANIC (2009) - A frenzied French feature about a cowboy, an Indian, their talking horse (who’s in love with a piano teacher talking horse), and a message about being careful what you purchase on the Internet. Wacky.
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AP
CORALINE (2009) - A young girl must choose between staying with her dull but loving parents or going to an alternate universe with beings that look like her parents, sorta. Disturbing.
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Fox Searchlight Pictures
FANTASTIC MR. FOX (2009) - George Clooney voices a crafty, chicken-stealing fox, and Meryl Streep plays his concerned wife. From a Roald Dahl story, directed by Wes Anderson. Stylish.
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Touchstone Pictures
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993) - A clever but creepy musical concerning the denizens of Halloween Town and an attempt to make Christmas as scary as that October holiday. Elegant.
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Columbia Pictures
JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963) - Live action, with brilliant Harryhausen stop-motion segments, especially the army of sword-wielding skeletons that attack our heroes. Jaw-dropping.
