The king of Halloween Town discovers the joy and whimsy of Christmas
Town, and tries to bring the holiday cheer to his own ghoulish townsfolk. FAMILY/FANTASY/MUSICAL
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The Nightmare
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The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the most celebrated and visionary animated films ever made, and it's been a firm favorite of mine since I was a kid. Tim Burton is a filmmaker who had a profound effect on my early development as a film buff, right alongside Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. Surprisingly, Burton did not write or direct Nightmare, but he did produce it and he has a story credit. Ironically, this is the film most people associate with him, and it feels more Burtonesque than anything else he's made. This is a film that unites the Halloween fans with the Christmas fans, and gives everyone a unique, enjoyable movie to watch around both holidays.
On Halloween night, Jack Skellington (Sarandon), the king of Halloween Town, is feeling empty. Something's missing from his life, and he doesn't know what. After a walk in the woods, he stumbles onto the portal to Christmas Town, and everything suddenly clicks. Jack becomes obsessed with creating the perfect Christmas, even if it means kidnapping Santa Claus (Ivory) and taking his place on Christmas Eve. Of course, Jack realizes the error of his ways and has to save Santa from the clutches of the evil Oogie Boogie Man (Page). It's a story I can recite from memory, and the stop-motion animation is still incredible to behold. The Nightmare Before Christmas sports a host of unforgettable characters, awesome voice talent, unreal production design, and a flawless score and soundtrack from Danny Elfman. It's no wonder this film became so iconic in such a short time. It celebrates darkness without condemning it, and highlights the best that both holidays have to offer. It may not be an official Burton film, but it's the one he'll be remembered for. |