| THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS |
 1993
- USA
Director: Henry Selick - Reviewed by Linda
So eventually I snuck to the library and got the film for the typical three-week checkout, which left me enough time to let it casually sit in the middle of my floor until I got used to its presence. Three days before it was due, I put the movie into my VCR, squinted my eyes in apprehension, and hesitantly pressed "play". And the verdict is... Yes, The Nightmare Before Christmas IS a surprisingly charming and sweet movie with memorable characters and a delightfully un-annoying musical soundtrack. But there were still a few moments where the animation made me shift uncomfortably. The rough story is that this skeletal pumpkin-headed fellow named Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon and sung by Danny Elfman), the ringleader for all things Halloween, has just wrapped up another successful spooky holiday. However, he is restless and unsatisfied. He wanders in the woods one day, and accidentally discovers a portal to the land of Christmas, where he sees all the elves and townspeople preparing for their holiday, which makes people happy, not frightened. Well! Why not try that? With a little help, Jack kidnaps "Santy Claws" and takes over Christmas, instilling fear in children and adults the world over. The animation is really something to see. I got over my apprehension as more and more outrageous characters were introduced, including the literally two-faced Mayor, the mad scientist duck (?) in a wheelchair, and my new animated hero, the Oogie Boogie Man. The story and the screenplay are rather sophisticated, and the animation a bit grotesque at times, so in my book that makes the story a delight for both adults and older, already-corrupted children. My only complaint is that the film wrapped up a bit too quickly with a rather abrupt ending. But, yes, I am now one of the converted... Nightmare is an enjoyable holiday film for the sick, twisted person in all of us! |
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It
has taken me years to get up enough courage to finally watch Tim Burton's The
Nightmare Before Christmas. Whenever there was a preview of this flick
tacked onto another film, I'd sit there and shudder audibly, telling anyone near
enough to listen that the animation completely freaked me out. There was this
creepy skeletal character, moving along like a stop-motion praying mantis, and singing,
fer cryin' out loud. I don't need anymore "stuff of nightmares"
planted in my subconscious. "But it is sooo CUTE!!!" one of my
friends kept squealing enthusiastically....