The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
R1 / NTSC DVD
Buena Vista Home Ent. / 2008
Directed by Henry Selick
Written by Tim Burton, Michael McDowell & Caroline Thompson
Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara & Paul Reubens
Review by Brian Harris

Halloween Town’s scariest resident, Jack Skellington, has grown tired of the same old tricks, treats and scares but all of that is about to change when he happens upon a doorway to a magical place called Christmas Town; a land filled with wonder, gifts and cheer! Uninterested in simply participating in Christmas, Jack decides to replace “Sandy Claws” and run Christmas itself! Can Jack’s friend Sally, his dog Zero and the residents of Halloween Town help Jack transform Halloween into Christmas or will the evil Oogie Boogie’s dangerous game end Christmas forever?

To insist that The Nightmare Before Christmas is an animation classic is an understatement but I’d also like to go one step further and state that I believe it also to be a holiday classic that works just as well on Christmas as it does on Halloween, at least, for me and my family it does! We watch this film every X-mas alongside such classics as The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story and Black Christmas…well…I usually end up watching the last one alone, anyhow…The Nightmare Before Christmas is an animation classic suitable for ALMOST all ages and definitely all seasons; it’s endearing, intelligent and cuter than a pile of bunny bodies.

If you’re familiar with the film, need I say any more?

If you’ve never seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, I know some of you haven’t, than what are you waiting for? This features top-of-the-line stop-motion animation, humorous and heartwarming songs, loveable characters and a world of dark imagination just waiting to keep you and your family company. In my opinion Tim Burton is a cinematic genius, a macabre artiste with unlimited creativity and style and this film certainly embodies all of that and much more. If you haven’t taken the time to see this film, you’re simply missing out on an amazingly entertaining experience, one that demands to be enjoyed year after year, holiday after holiday.

• Screen Format: 1.66:1 Widescreen / Color
• Audio: English, French, Spanish / Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: French, Spanish
• Runnining time: 76 mins.

• Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour
• Frankenweenie w/ New Burton Intro
• Vincent (Short Film)
• Tim Burton’s Original Poem (Narrated by Christopher Lee)
• All-New Audio Commentary
• Behind-The-Scenes “Making Of…”
• The World’s of TNBC – “Halloween Town,” “Christmas Town” & “The Real World”
• Deleted Scenes
• Storyboard-to-Film Comparison
• Original Theatrical Trailers & Posters
• Free Digital Copy

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a magical film filled with solid laughs, adorable monsters, gory treats, moving musical numbers, a brilliant score and an unbeatable atmosphere that’s sure to please even the most jaded cinemaphiles. I cannot recommend this masterpiece enough: perfect in every way.

“A True Holiday Classic!”