Nightmare Before Christmas
This is the movie of my childhood that I have never seen. Ever since I have met Shii, he wanted me to see this film and there is perhaps no other film I have seen so much merchandise of before ever seen the film.
Now, I suppose my childhood is definitely over. Over these many years (6, 7, even more?) I have developed an impression of the film that ultimately turned out completely different. I find the film less esthetic than Corpse Bride, especially the female main character, and the storyline shallower than any other Tim Burton film. On top of that, I think I have thought that the film would be a mix of Mexican “Day of the Dead” characters and the “Cabinet of Caligari” with the slightly evil humor of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. To some degree, this is true (except for the humor part that is just completely missing), but something is still different from my imagination of the film as the ultimate children’s movie.
On the other hand, however, I know that the film is something special unpreceded in history – and without a doubt, Tim Burton is never going to be able to make a film like this. Not with “Corpse Bride”, and most certainly not with “Alice in Wonderland”. The atmosphere and the style of “Nightmare Before Christmas” is absolutely special; the film’s darkness is not disguised by any unnecessary happiness or cuteness, and I find it quite impressive how a musical film for children can contain so much sombre depressiveness. Sure, it has a silly happy end, but I am still very smitten with so much bravery.
The cutest item of the film is Zero… it’s the strangest companion ever (and the one from “Nausicaä” is the cutest), but I like it very much with its red nose. <3
Finally, I’d say it’s a nice film with great songs, and for my personal history with it I will most definitely keep it in my heart (and perhaps give it a second try one day when I’ll watch it with my own children) but right now, I’d say I am a little bit underwhelmed by it, perhaps due to my high expectations.