Twelve years after producing the stop-motion animated feature “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Tim Burton returns to the genre as a co-director (along with Mike Johnson) in the new family film “Corpse Bride.”

While not exactly on par with “Nightmare,” “Corpse Bride” is still a delightful film with a look that really fits its rather macabre story.

“Corpse Bride” tells the story of Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young man who is about to embark on an arranged marriage.

When the rehearsal doesn’t go as planned, Victor takes a walk through the woods and places his wedding ring on what he believes to be a stick while practicing his wedding vows. The stick is actually the hand of the Corpse Bride (Helena Bonham Carter), a young woman murdered by her fiance several years back, who comes to life after the vows claiming to be Victor’s wife.

I will admit this isn’t exactly the kind of subject matter that is normally in family films, but “Corpse Bride” manages to pull it off, thanks to Burton. The director has shown a knack for creating an eerily fun atmosphere in films like “Beetlejuice” and “Sleepy Hollow,” and he does a good job of duplicating that in “Corpse Bride.”

The cast is perfect, especially Depp and Emily Watson as Victor’s living fiancee. And there are a couple of musical numbers that really give “Corpse Bride” life.

But “Corpse Bride” probably isn’t a film that very young children will enjoy. My 4-year-old was spooked by the Bride’s first appearance and was bored at times by the romantic part of the story.

Still, “Corpse Bride” is good enough to recommend – especially with Halloween right around the corner.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s DVD dandy is “The Interpreter” (B-), a film with a pretentious script that benefits from strong work by Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn and a great sequence that is as tense as any in recent memory.

Kidman plays Silvia, an African-born United Nations translator who overhears what she believes to be an assassination plot against an African head of state who is about to speak at the U.N. to dispute charges of genocide against his people.

After Silvia takes her suspicions to the authorities, the United States begins an investigation, headed by Secret Service Agent Tobin (Penn).

The more Tobin digs into the potential assassination plot, the more he uncovers about Silvia’s militant past – making her less and less credible as a witness.

Five people were given a credit on either writing the story or the screenplay, and at times “The Interpreter” feels as if it is pulling in several different directions.

Characters are introduced as possible cover-ups or red herrings and a potential relationship that surfaces between Silvia and Tobin just doesn’t work.

Solid work from Kidman and Penn – who ironically have great chemistry despite the contrived screenplay – helps “The Interpreter” overcome some of its flaws. There is also some nice work from indie-queen Catherine Keener as Tobin’s partner.

Sydney Pollack’s direction also gives “The Interpreter” a much-needed boost.

I liked the finale, up until a point where things get wildly melodramatic. The best moments in “The Interpreter” come midway through the film, where several key players converge on a city bus in a sequence so tense and fascinating it takes the movie to another level.

“The Interpreter” is rated PG-13 for violence, some sexual content and brief strong language and will be available on DVD on Tuesday.

– Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton really has nothing clever to say this week. So just e-mail him at mocmpton@bgdailynews.com already.

Corpse Bride

Starring: Voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter

Directors: Tim Burton and Mike Johnson

Rating: G for some scary images and action, and brief mild language

Playing at: Greenwood Mall 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: B