Nosce's Comments

Actually this sort of question has been around as long as cinema.

The author or 'auteur', to use proper film jargon, of a film is a title usually assigned to the director as it is they who pulls all the assets of the film together into a single 'vision'.

In the case of The Nightmare Before Christmas, however, the entire thing was based upon sketches and stories that Burton created himself during his time working at Disney, and he had plenty of creative control during production. So although he didn't direct the film it's still *his* universe, like Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

I think the reason why people like Tim Burton's work is because it's so distinct. In an age where Sylvester Stallone can churn out another Rocky and Rambo movie in his 60s - not the mention the current slew of 80s cartoon and comic book blockbusters - it's nice to see films that are totally in a world of their own.