This movie gets The Neverending Story Award for dark children’s film that the young’uns will love for reasons they can’t quite pinpoint and then love even more when they grow-up and realize this film was implanting some pretty subversive thoughts on gender, sexuality, depression, alienation, mortality, existentialism etc. in their tender heads. “Kids' movies" CAN be entertaining and intelligent -- hear that, basically every other animation studio in the world? Also must be noted, this movie is absolutely gorgeous to look at, from the fluid stop-motion animation itself to the character designs to the “special effects” to the background to the -- well, just everything about it. CG animated films can be pretty, but not like this, this is something else, and I’m glad there’s at least one studio still practicing the art of stop-motion animation. Can we also have a round of applause for Jon Brion's score?

Storywise, it's alright. I would say the tone is a bit lost; it can't decide whether it should be cute, inspiring, horror, comedy, or what; so there are moments of all those. But it does carry a good message. And the Special Features showing the "making of..." is really cool.

The story was cute. Held my attention. I'm giving it four stars for the tremendous amount of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Truly spectacular, mostly non-CGI, handmade/manipulated visual effects. (Check out the bonus features)

This film seems to take several unremarkable left turns. What I loved most about this film was the unexpected plot twist with the Norman's sister and the buff guy. Best. Payoff. Ever.

OK.... NOT THE BEST

What a monstrous mess!_____ Neither cute, nor clever, nor funny, nor enlightening, ParaNorman was a ridiculously morbid, over-the-top kiddie's movie with a "message" that, delivered the way that it was, rendered it meaningless._____ And, after all that was said and done, what ParaNorman's message boiled down to was that "everyone's" a bully. Yep. Even the ones who are being bullied end up turning around and start bullying someone themselves. It's a vicious circle, man._____ This film, as expected, offered absolutely no solution to the prevention of bully-ism. The Norman character in this film set a perfect example of demonstrating for us all the unhappiness, loneliness, and alienation that so many people (of all ages) experience in their daily lives._____ What a horribly sad and screwed-up and tragic statement that this whole movie turned out to be._____ Due to its extremely graphic depiction of the living-dead heading out from the grave on a literal frenzied rampage, ParaNorman will probably scare the hell right out of children under the age of 12._____ It will also most likely disturb people of other ages with its two-faced bigotry, its mean-spiritedness and its blatant sexual innuendo which seemed quite out of place in a child's film.

Stop-motion animation at its best. Beautiful, dark story about acceptance and forgiveness. I recommend this film for ages 9 and up.

Amazing stop motion animation detail.

Maybe I'm just too old for this, but I didn't really like it at all.....the sister's lips & hips were cool, and I liked the bags under mom's eyes, but other than that..............! ;)

Not bad. Take a look at the Bonus feature on how this movie was made - very amazing.