The Nightmare Before Christmas
E.T.A. Hoffman meets The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in Tim Burton's twisted animated musical, featuring the brilliant stop-motion animation of Henry Selick -- an technique that seems a quaint process in this era of computer animation but works wonders here, giving the film a unique personal stamp and sensibility. The film takes place in Halloween Town, a creepy burg presided over by Jack Skellington (with the speaking voice of Chris Sarandon and the singing voice of Danny Elfman), known as the Pumpkin King to his constituents. One day, Jack takes the wrong road to Halloween Town and finds himself in the neighboring village of Christmas Town, where he witnesses the busy preparations for the Christmas season. Drawn in by Santa's plans for a holiday season of peace and good cheer, he comes back to Halloween Town and sees all the ghosts and goblins as they prepare for their own Halloween festivities. Jack decides Christmas is better, and thinking that he should give himself a promotion to a more important holiday, Jack decides to kidnap Santa Claus and take over the role himself. With Santa in bondage, Jack and his minions manufacture gifts to deliver to all the good children on Christmas Eve. But Jack doesn't get the essence of Christmas and, instead of joy, brings terror to the kids of the world when they unwrap their presents to discover shrunken heads, toy ducks riddled with bullet holes, and snakes that gulp down Christmas trees. Jack realizes that Santa needs to make a comeback. more..
Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix