By Avina Gibson
There is much debate about whether Halloween or Christmas is the best holiday. People who prefer Halloween may argue that you get free candy and get to dress up however you want or as whomever you want. People who prefer Christmas may say that you receive gifts, the colors are cheerful, and you get to put up a tree with ornaments and a star. But what happens if you combine the two holidays?
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a smart, high-quality, animated film directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton. It takes you on an unexpected adventure through ”Halloweentown” and “Christmastown” From the perspective of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of the Halloween holiday. The movie begins when Jack grows bored of his usual Halloween activities and yearns for something new. On a walk he finds a portal Into another holiday and finds the change in theme and celebratory customs very fascinating.
Jack soon discovers that he wants to do Santa’s job of giving gifts to all the children in Christmastown, and will do everything he can to become the new Santa. But there is only one problem, he knows nothing about what children want (or expect) for Christmas.
So what exactly happens when the creatures of Halloween try to make gifts for the children of Christmas?
Christmas lights with skeleton heads; rubber ducks with bullet holes and blood; scary jack-in-the-boxes; and scorpions in a Russian doll set. Of course, the children were not very happy with what “Santa” gave them this year … and neither was the real Santa.
Jack soon learns that he shouldn’t mess with other people’s holidays, especially without knowing much about the other holiday. (Plus, the better solution to his boredom is ultimately offered by the sweet Halloween rag doll Sally, who secretly loves him.)
So, if you enjoy Christmas or Halloween, or maybe even both, The Nightmare Before Christmas is the movie for you. It has a little of everything: thrills, suspense, humor, romance, lots of great musical numbers and playful sight gags that are really fun to watch for both adults and children.
