The Nightmare Before Christmas

Editor's Note:  Holiday Film Reviews commences our most festive season with a guest post from Thalia Heinrich, a young writer and family friend based in Iowa.   You can follow her as @thalia.doris on Instagram. She has written a review of the 1993 stop motion classic "The Nightmare Before Christmas."  Many thanks for your contribution to Holiday Film Reviews, Thalia!  

Premiered October 29, 1993

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a movie many people enjoy. Originally a poem written by Tim Burton, it was released the 29th of October, 1993. This movie, good for any time of year, is still enjoyed to this day, 23 years after it was first released. I’d like to discuss why.

Jack tries his hand at making paper snowflakes.

The beginning of the movie introduces us to outrageous and unique characters in “This Is Halloween," a well-known song that is fun to sing along to.

Jack Skellington explores Christmas Town in disguise.

We are introduced to Jack Skellington, voiced by Chris Sarandon (speaking) and Danny Elfman (singing).

The animation in this movie is brilliant. It uses dazzling stop-motion animation. The animators put a lot of work into getting every detail to bring the characters to life, and they do a really good job. Their hard work is clear in the movie, where you can see all the emotion displayed through each character. Another amazing thing they do with this movie is the contrast between Halloween Town and Christmas Town. Halloween Town is very dull, almost black and white, and Christmas Town is very bright, colorful, and sparkly.

The music in this movie is outstanding. It’s all written by Danny Elfman, who also sings for Jack. The songs are amazing, recognizable, and fun to sing along to. The writing is great and the singing is brilliant. The music is just simply unforgettable and one of the things that makes this movie one of my and many others' favorite. I also love the characters so much. They are wonderfully written and beautifully voiced. Even the most minor of characters are filled with emotion and personality.

A little boy gets an unexpected holiday surprise from Santa-Jack!

Overall, this is a wonderful movie for any time of the year. Wonderful music by Danny Elfman, outstanding acting by people such as Cathrine O’ Hara and Ken Page, and gorgeous stop-motion animation all help bring this movie together, making it a simply amazing experience loved by many even 23 years after it first hit theaters.

If you’re looking for a fun thing to do with your friends, family, or even by yourself, a Nightmare Before Christmas singalong is certainly something fun everyone can enjoy.

A special announcement from Holiday Film Reviews

Christmas movies have been a staple of the holiday season for almost as long as the film industry has existed.  From the 1910 silent adaptation of A Christmas Carol, to White Christmas to Fred Claus, the majority of Christmas films have been released in November or December.

But some were released out of season, including some perennial holiday staples and some modern "classics".

For example, did you know Miracle On 34th Street was released in May?  Christmas In Connecticut  premiered in August.  The song "Silver Bells" was written for The Lemon Drop Kid, but that film was released in the Spring of 1951.  

Starting tomorrow, we will occasionally review holiday movies on the anniversary of their original release date.  We don't plan to blog about Christmas programming year round, but we would like to post more content here.  This seemed like a good way to do that.

Released January 12, 1940.

So stop by tomorrow and read out first "out of season" Christmas review!

A Christmas Carol (1910)

Premiered December 23, 1910

We start at the beginning, with the oldest extant adaptation.  (There is one other film version from 1901 that pre-dates this one, but it is no longer complete.) 

Scrooge (Marc McDermott) arrives at work and is brusque with Bob Crachit (Charles Ogle).

Men from the charity committee arrive and ask for a donation.  Scrooge spurns them and tells them to leave his business.

His nephew Fred shows up with his fiancee and another couple. This is a change from the book (and most adaptations), where Fred shows up alone and invites Scrooge to Christmas dinner. Scrooge dismisses them and won't shake Fred's hand.

As Scrooge arrives at home, he sees Marley's face on the knocker.

Marley's ghost visits Scrooge's bedroom. There are no title cards, but we can guess that Marley tells Scrooge not to act the way he did in life.

"There's more of gravy than of grave about you whatever you are!"

Next, we have another big departure from the book: the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet To Come are combined into one ghost called "The Spirit Of Christmas."  This ghost and Scrooge never leave Scrooge's bedroom.

Such events as Scrooge's childhood in boarding school, celebrating Christmas while working for Fezzywig, the Crachit's Christmas feast are all observed as visions that appear within the room.  He starts smiling while watching the Crachits.  Perhaps he's making progress?

More changes come during the visions of "Christmas Yet To Come." Scrooge actually watches himself die, then sees a headstone that reads "Ebenezer Scrooge -- He lived and died without friends." Scrooge also watches Fred's fiancee dump him due to lack of money.  Scrooge reaches into his pockets to help his nephew, but can't because he's invisible. 

Next, the spirit shows Scrooge "Want and Misery," which appears as a beggar at Scrooge's feet.  He's shocked and saddened by this.

 

In the book and most adaptations, Scrooge normally learns of his death by overhearing conversations.  Here, he actually watches himself die and sees a headstone bearing this inscription:

"Ebenezer Scrooge:He Lived And Died Without Friends"

The next morning, Scrooge is awakened by boys singing outside.

When he realizes he's not dead and has a chance at redemption, Scrooge dances a jig of happiness and drops money to the boys.

Dancin' Scrooge

In the remaining minute and a half, Scrooge makes a generous donation to the charity fund, makes Fred his partner (thus giving him financial stability to marry) and delivers the goose to Crachit's house (accompanied by Fred and his fiancee).

Bob Crachit thanks Scrooge & family for the goose.

Visions of present:Cratchit's dinner;nephew rejected for want of money.

“Want and misery”;beggar at Scrooge's feet.

Watches himself die; “he lived and died without friends”.

Boys caroling outside on Christmas morning; Scrooge dances, gives the boys money.

Scrooge donates to charity;makes Fred his business

Visits Cratchits house, frightens them all;Fred brings the goose.


RigbyMel says:

I am amazed at the economy of the storytelling in this adaptation.  They manage to trot along and get all the major plot points in there in just a few minutes.  It is also interesting to note the rather amazing special effects, considering this film was made in 1910.  There was not a CGI pixel to be had in those days, so there are great double exposures and other tricks employed.  It is also striking to think that the story of A Christmas Carol  was so familiar to people that the filmmakers didn't feel a need to include a lot of exposition.

This 1910 version of A Christmas Carol is well worth tracking down if you have an interest in film history!

RigbyMel's rating:
3 and 1/2 candy canes (for sheer historical significance)

J.A. Morris says:

Perhaps what's most interesting about this adaptation is its portrayal of Tiny Tim.  Or should I say lack of portrayal?  Tim can be seen in the background but he's never mentioned by name, nor is anything said about his condition.  Quite surprising considering the important role Tim plays and what he represents in Dickens' story.  

Crachit defends his family from Scrooge before he realizes his boss has changed.

In addition to Marc McDermott as Scrooge and Charles Ogle as Bob, imdb mentions 4 other actors but not which characters they play.

This short can be found on the internet, but the best way to watch it is to seek out a dvd called A Christmas Past.

For Christmasphiles like myself, this is a fascinating historical artifact.  It might not be something you'll watch every Christmas season, but it's certainly worth 10 minutes of your time!

J.A. Morris' rating:
3 candy canes.