It’s not Christmas until I watch a movie about Halloween. Yeah, The Nightmare Before Christmas has long been a favorite of mine and my daughters. While I joke and say it’s about Halloween, it’s really a story about a man getting lost in the Christmas season as it offers an escape of his usual routine. It’s something I can definitely relate to from time to time and why I dive head first into the Christmas extravaganza. The Nightmare Before Christmas gets the Must See rating.
The Nightmare Before Christmas should be watched…well, before Christmas
Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman) is the king of Halloween Town, but he’s in a bit of a funk. While wandering through the woods, he discovers Christmas town and it’s just what he’s been looking for. He doesn’t quite grasp the concept of Christmas town, but he sets forth with turning Halloween Town into a replacement for this years Christmas season.
Danny Elfman nails the music in this film. Every time someone phrases a question as “What’s this,” I break into song. It’s easily one of my favorite parts of the film and definitely a starting point of conversation. The music helps tells the story and is probably one of the reasons the film has become a staple in many people’s holiday watching. Whether it’s Sally’s (Catherine O’Hara) somber singing or the creepy Oogie Boogie (Ken Page) taunting Santa, the film’s soundtrack nails it over and over again.
Amazing Art Design
The art design is another great element of the film. Too often associated as Tim Burton’s film, a similar style is seen in Coraline, which is also directed by Henry Selick. Either way, and honestly I’m not sure who exactly did all of the clay figures, the look is great. It’s creepy and yet adorable, especially Jack’s dog zero. Even Santa Claus is slightly creepy looking compared to other versions of the holiday icon. Halloween Town, Christmas Town, and Oogie Boogie’s lair are all gorgeous and memorable. It’s just a great film to look at and listen to, but even the story is compelling.
Jack and Sally’s love story is sweet and endearing. But it’s really Jack’s midlife crisis that falls easily into a rite of passage story, that takes center stage. He deals with it the wrong way by trying to be something he isn’t and finally ends in acceptance of his role as the Pumpkin King. He sets everything right by restoring Santa as the Christmas leader. It’s a relatable story in that way, but told in a much more fun way than often depicted for these type of stories.
Final thoughts
While it’s hard to imagine, if you haven’t seen this film yet get on it. It fits great in October or December, but really could be watched any time of year. It’s considered a family movie, but could be frightening to some younger audiences. However, it’s still pretty fun for most audiences. It’s still enjoyable and full of some iconic characters.
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