EACH DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS, WE’LL PROFILE A TITLE WORTHY OF YOUR HOLIDAY VIEWING PLEASURE.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (PG)
Article by Adam Mast
Tim Burton has made a few movies that would be worthy of Christmas time viewing. While not exactly traditional holiday films, both EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and BATMAN RETURNS have a Christmastime vibe. Don’t laugh. It’s true.
Having said that, of Burton’s entire resume, nothing screams the holidays quite like THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. What’s more, this wonderfully magical (and off kilter) stop motion animated musical manages to encompass all the best aspects of both Halloween and Christmas at the same time. I’d expect nothing less from the creative mind of Mr. Burton.
In THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, pumpkin king Jack Skellington longs to be so much more than the pride and joy of Halloween Town, so he attempts to trade jobs with Santa over the course of one crazy Christmas season. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned.
Tim Burton and director Henry Selick (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH) collaborated on this endlessly inventive movie, and clearly, they were inspired by the magical stop motion animation efforts of Rankin and Bass. Having said that, for all its visual splendor, spectacular animation, and pitch perfect vocal work, it’s Danny Elfman‘s brilliant songs and score that elevate the proceedings to classic status.
Why Disney, Burton, and Elfman have yet to take this property to Broadway is beyond me. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS would make one hell of a theater production. For now, this stunning Christmas/Halloween motion picture experience will do.
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
DAY 8- HOME ALONE – CLICK HERE
DAY 7- RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER– CLICK HERE
DAY 6- GREMLINS – CLICK HERE
DAY 5- MEET JOHN DOE– CLICK HERE
Day 4- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – CLICK HERE
Day 3- DIE HARD – CLICK HERE
Day 2- ELF – CLICK HERE
Day 1- KRAMPUS – CLICK HERE
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