The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a classic work of creative genius from the twisted mind of Tim Burton that's become a perennial holiday favorite for many. The script, the animation, and the music are near-perfect and will appeal to all who can perceive the humor and the positive message inimical to this danse macabre. Jack Skellington, the skeletal Pumpkin King, is the acknowledged scaremaster of Halloween Town but he begins to wonder if there's something more. He stumbles onto Christmas Town and discovers delight in the Christmas lights, preparations, and festive anticipation. He tries to analyze the trappings of Christmas in the laboratory -- but science alone can't isolate the meaning of Christmas. He decides to investigate for himself and to take direct action but his plans go awry. With help from the ghoulish but plucky Sally, Jack returns to make everything right. This show is a truly unique gem in the creative firmament. The stop-motion animation, choreography, musical score, and vocal performances are unmatched en ensemble. The child in each viewer should be able to look beyond the ghoulishness of Halloween Town's denizens to see the humor and whimsy that's evident in every word, song, and gesture. (The mayor has two faces, for example, and he uses them a lot with perfect timing.) One could even argue that the dead vs. living metaphor is an allegory for Jack's spiritual quest to find the joy that lies on the other side of the grave. Finally, here is a movie that is deep enough in visual and narrative texture to be more than puff and fluff. And Danny Elfman's musical genius certainly slathers the frosting on the cake. Enjoy! 5 stars.