The Nightmare Before Christmas
31 October 2022
Director Henry Sellick
See
Him: The Nightmare Before Christmas directed by Henry Sellick is Tim Burton’s animated story of Jack Skellington from Halloweentown. The Pumpkin King tries to steal Christmas.
Her: Nightmare Before Christmas – A Disney classic by Tim Burton, which, however was not directed by Tim Burton. A Story of Jack, the kingdom of Pumpkins from the town of Halloween, who one day discovers the town of Christmas and embarks on a mission to understand the mystery of the Christmas spirit but almost ruins it instead.
Think
Him: I always assumed it was Tim Burton who directed this film.
He did co-direct Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie. It’s completely his style and substance. I liked the plot about Jack Skellington feeling like an outsider, looking for something, at first it’s the positivity of Xmas, but coopting it goes comically macabre.
Her: I am not quite sure what the moral is of this story and whether there is supposed to be one. Stay where you belong and with who you belong? With my immigration experience I kind of relate to Jack in a way that no matter how hard you do try, how much you learn, you will never fully get the mentality of creatures who’ve been brought up in a different culture. Though curiosity can take you a long way I wish there were more examples of puppet (clay) animation these days.
Feel
Him: Tis the season. Picked something else but couldn’t find it. If it isn’t on a streamer does it exist? That’s why we still go to film festivals and cinemas. But perhaps I’ll just need to be better prepared. Read that Tim Burton was a dissatisfied animator at Disney when he made this. It’s a whole world he breathed life in to. I think Jack Skellington is an author surrogate. I find him funny and fun and can relate to him too. A misunderstood soul whose intentions are good. Tim Burton should adapt the Russian folklore of Koschei bez mertne.
Her: The generosity of simple and vice versa. The decision to represent Christmas and Halloween as towns is what I found genius in the NIghtmare Before Christmas. It allowed to vividly juxtapose these two holidays and through this contrast deliver the spirit of both. I feel like I’ve been missing out on spooky but fun Halloween spirit all my life.
