Potent symbols.

Casually referencing Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, Alice in Wonderland and The Neverending Story, MirrorMask is a wildly evocative fairy tale/hallucination which kept us riveted. The movie follows the (mis)adventures of Helena -- caught in the throes of what is either an intricate, fantastical dream or a vision quest -- and weaves a rich tapestry of myth, creating an entire world out of the symbols and signposts of her life.

With solid performances and a unique, engaging esthetic, MirrorMask may have been written for a young audience but is a great story for viewers of all ages: like any good fairy tale, it deals with the hard stuff (duty, destiny, death & deliverance) in a way that makes it accessible, palatable and memorable.