Title: ParaNorman

Year Released/Rating: 2012 PG

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Directed By: Chris Butler, Sam Fell

Written By: Chris Butler

Genre: Animation, Adventure

Star Rating:  5/5 stars

Where I Got It: Netflix

Trivia:

• During the last few weeks leading up to the film's release, Laika sent 49 packages to 49 people (including Neil Gaiman and Kevin Smith). Each package consisted of a wooden crate from "Blithe Hollow" full of "grave dirt" which recipients had to dig through to unearth a coffin. Inside the coffin was one of the seven cursed zombies, complete with background information and name.
• Save for Judge Hopkins, the seven cursed zombies are not referred to by name, but they did have names: the aforementioned Judge Hopkins, Eben Hardwick, Thaddeus Blackton, Lemuel Spalding, Amelia Wilcot, Goodie Temper, and Wile London.
• The story is set in the town of Blithe Hollow, whose name is a mash-up of two other ghost stories: Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit and Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Summary: A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.

Review: 

How did I miss this movie?  This is the cutest, most inventive animated film that I've seen in a long time.  I love the style, the storyline, the characters.  I loved everything about it.  I must caution that it is not for the faint of heart.  It may be animated, but it's rated PG for a reason.  There are some great scares in this one.  Plus you get witches, zombies, and ghosts.  What more could you ask for?

Best Bits: 

• Norman Babcock: I'd like to be alone.
• Neil: So do I! Let's do this together!
• Neil: Don't make me throw this hummus... it's spicy!
• Mr. Prenderghast: Pssstttt, you know who I am?  Neil: The weird stinky old bum who lives up the hill?  Mr. Prenderghast: [Points at Norman] I was asking him!
• Courtney: Mom, tell the Zombie to stop saying stuff about me!
• Neil: Can you see my dog, Bub? He was hit by an animal rescue van. Tragic and ironic.