The DVD Dissection: The Nightmare Before Christmas (2-Disc Collector’s Edition)

Posted by Chad Webb on 09.09.2008

Take a double-dipped trip to Halloween Town with Jack Skellington. How does the new DVD stack up?

Featuring the Voices of:
Danny Elfman: Jack Skellington (singing)/Barrel/Clown with Tear Away Face
Chris Sarandon: Jack Skellington
Catherine O’Hara: Sally/Shock
William Hickey: Dr. Finkelstein
Glenn Shadix: Mayor
Paul Reubens: Lock
Ken Page: Oogie Boogie
Edward Ivory: Santa
Directed By: Henry Selick
Written By: Tim Burton/Caroline Thompson/Michael McDowell
Theatrical Release Date: October 13, 1993
DVD Release Date: August 26, 2008
Running Time: 76 minutes







Rated PG for some scary images.

The Film

If you made a list of directors whose contribution to a film was overshadowed by the involvement of someone a bit more famous, Henry Selick would certainly be named. He was indeed at the helm for the classic stop-motion film The Nightmare Before Christmas, but the idea sprouted from the mind of Tim Burton. With the character designs so obviously originating from Burton’s dark imagination, and the brilliant songs of Danny Elfman meshing so seamlessly with the story, Selick fades into the background. He does deserve credit however, as this effort was a success due to the hard work of many.

The tale picks up in Halloween Town where October 31st has just passed triumphantly as Jack Skellington (voice of Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman), the Pumpkin King, has just delivered oodles of scares to the real world. Unfortunately, this annual routine does not pack the zest it once did for Jack. He craves something new in his life, something to shake up the citizens of Halloween Town. One day, after wandering through the forest, he stumbles upon a gateway to various holidays. He enters the doorway to Christmas Town and is shocked to discover the snow, the decorations, and most of all the joy that saturates the town. Jack returns home and immediately informs everyone that Halloween Town will celebrate Christmas this time. Jack proceeds to experiment on staples of Christmas, gives all the townspeople a task, and relieves “Sandy Claws” of his duties. Jack promises to deliver the same festive spirit, but with a Halloween twist. Everyone supports Jack except Sally (Voice of Cathering O’Hara), who warns him of a terrible premonition she has had if he continues.

Tim Burton kept this premise percolating for almost a decade before it really got off the ground. When it was greenlit, the kooky director was already in the middle of Batman Returns and Ed Wood. Therefore, the duties were handed over to Henry Selick, while Burton kept in contact with him and friend Danny Elfman regularly. The inspiration for The Nightmare Before Christmas is clear as Burton, Selick, and Elfman channel Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. They are also holiday classics families look forward to every year. Burton and company paid tribute to them all, but made sure to inject his own warped vision first.

As a matter of fact, Nightmare was Jack Skellington’s third film appearance. He was also briefly in Burton’s short film called Vincent, and subsequently popped up in Beetle Juice on the titular character’s carousel hat. The audience needed to connect with Jack fully, so instead of hiring a popular actor, Chris Sarandon voiced the Pumpkin King, and was perfect for his kind heart and spooky stature. Sarandon is commonly a television actor, but will never top his role as Jack Skellington. The bond between the wire figure and his vocals was truly something special. Equally as praiseworthy is Danny Elfman, who belted the songs as Jack because Sarandon thought he had a weak singing voice. The untrained ear would never know the difference.

Catherine O’Hara is the voice of Sally, the love interest for Jack, and the sole party who wants him to realize that his plan is foolhardy. The romance between the two is expertly handled with precision timing. Up until “Sally’s Song” approximately one hour into the film, she says very little in relation to her feelings, but the viewer understands what she is thinking because of the strength of the characters and the adeptness of those who animated her. O’Hara was quite well known at this point, but falls into Sally’s soul effortlessly with her angelic tone.

Nightmare garnered two Oscar nominations for good reason. The visual effects are glorious, and truthfully, the crew should have emerged victorious in at least one category over Jurrasic Park. The world Selick, Burton, and Elfman construct is a splendidly creepy achievement with a smorgasbord of unforgettable images and people such as Oogie Boogie, the Mayor, and Lock Shock and Barrel. A group of 100 people spent three years finishing this film. Completing just one second of film took up to 22 stop-motion moves. Recognizing how long it takes to conclude a stop-motion offering expresses how cautious and thoughtful the writing is. The script and adaptation are attributed to Caroline Thompson and Michael McDowell. They transported viewers to this fantasy land with exquisite words.

The genius of the storyline is based on the knowledge that this particular world has been established. That moment occurs when Jack spots the circle of tree doorways. By revealing these, Burton has inserted limitless possibilities into the minds of the children and adults watching. What would have happened if Jack spent some time in Thanksgiving Town or St. Patrick’s Day Town? I guess we do receive a cameo from the Easter Bunny. We accept that the North Pole means nothing in Nightmare. Santa Claus resides in Christmas Town instead. It seems like a more convenient location anyhow. What makes one sympathize for Jack, and follow him throughout the journey is that he genuinely wants to improve Christmas, but is unaware that he is ruining it with frightening gifts and skeletal reindeer.

Many have cited the songs as the primary weakness of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Not all tunes need to be as catchy and hummable as typical Disney selections tailored for animated adventures. Burton and Elfman note that they wanted an operatic tone for the music. You might not be able to sing along with “Jack’s Lament”, but the brilliance of the track and the sequence is undeniable. That being said, “What’s This?” and a couple of other songs are indeed memorable. Elfman and Burton have collaborated around 14 times. This was their eighth, and the chemistry the two have when their brains come together can never be disputed. Elfman’s lyrics, sound, and vocal stylings meld flawlessly with this world, and its inhabitants. The duo would succeed again with 2005’s impressive, but under appreciated, Corpse Bride.

The Nightmare Before Christmas has aged wonderfully in 15 years because the narrative is aimed at all ages. The humor is woven in an intelligent way that kids will laugh, but adults will smile at the subtlety. The questions still arises on what holiday Nightmare is a classic of? It is a story of two holidays clashing. It possesses scares and happiness. I like to think it plays well at both times of the year. This is a family experience that affords a unique character, song, or scene for everyone. It is as faultless and timeless as any stop-motion story can be. While he is not the director, this is one of Tim Burton’s most beloved gifts to the world.

The Video

The new transfer is a vast improvement from the 2000 DVD. This remastered picture is brighter, sharper, and more detailed. The original disc was adequate for the time, but with modern technology, the dullness and flat quality is easier to observe. The way the moon bounces off Jack as he is lamenting is beautiful, as are the wide array of colors during the conclusion with Oogie Boogie. This was imagined from the brain of Tim Burton, so do not anticipate Willy Wonka type colors, but the intricacy of the blacks, grays, and oranges are fabulous. It is presented in a 1.66:1 widescreen aspect ration with 16:9 enhancement. This was not available previously.

The Audio

The sound differences from the older DVD are difficult to discern, but the songs and various noises that one experiences in these strange towns are brought to life with vigor and zest. A Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS track is provided with other mixes in English, French, and Spanish. This also includes subtitles in French, Spanish, and English.

The Packaging

The Nightmare Before Christmas (2-Disc Collector’s Edition) was distributed in some neat packaging. A semi-clear plastic slipcover slides off to expose the holographically-swirled cardboard box that's partially hollowed to allow for a raised relief of Jack Skellington’s face. This is a thick case, so just know beforehand it takes up the space of two keep cases. Inside are two inserts that separate the discs. One is an activation code for the digital copy of the film, and the other provides advertisements and a $10 mail-in-rebate for those who plan on purchasing the Blu-Ray as well. The discs are divided on two side of the box. The digital copy is given its own resting place, while the regular DVDs slightly overlap. The menus contain characters and environments from the film, and are easy to navigate.

The Extras

On October 3, 2000, the first edition of The Nightmare Before Christmas was released to the public. It was only one disc, but still packed in the majority of the extras you’ll read about below, with a couple adjustments and additions. This new “Collector’s Edition” emanated from the 3D release of the film in theaters last Christmas.

DISC 1

Previews - A Disney montage (:51) greets us when we pop the disc in. After that treat are a series of mini-trailers that can be skipped by pressing the menu button. They are (8:21): Blu-Ray disc, Sleeping Beauty Platinum Edition, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, WALL-E, and Movie Rewards.

Audio Commentary - This commentary has Tim Burton, Director Henry Selick, and Composer Danny Elfman. They are recorded separately, but it makes little difference on the quality of the discussion. This is fascinating with few dead spots. I was all ears when Elfman began singing and describing the manner in which he wrote and composed the songs. Selick also explains some of the touches he alone supplied, whereas Burton confirms many of the influences I mentioned above. The primary loss of the original DVD was a commentary track with Selick and Director of Photography Pete Kozachik. This one is superior anyway.

What’s This?: Jack’s Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour - The “Backstage Disney” section of disc 1 begins with this nifty bonus. It is divided into parts. The first is “On Track” (7:13), which guides the viewer on a tour of the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney, complete with actual narration. An excellent pop-up trivia track is allowed to be added when watching this. It makes it more interesting if you ask me. This was not expected, but pleasant. The “Off Track” (37:21) featurette takes you behind the scenes with the people who decided to slip Jack Skellington into this attraction every year. They converse on every single facet of this ride, and how they fine-tuned the decorations. Steve Davison, the VP of Disney Creative Imagineering is very enthusiastic and excited about this. Juts about every person involved has an interview, and that was cool to see.

Tim Burton’s Original Poem Narrated by Christopher Lee (10:56) – Burton introduces this by saying he formulated this film initially by a poem he wrote. This is read by Christopher Lee accompanied by early sketch drawings molded into animation. I’m amazed Burton still had this lying around. Lee is an outstanding voice-over performer, so this was very unique and fun.

The Making of the Nightmare Before Christmas (24:42) – This featurette is divided into six chapters: The Beginning, Music, Storyboards, Art Direction, Puppets, and Animation. Footage from 1993 is seen, along with dozens of interviews from almost any person in the crew you can think of. This was just magnificent, and really gives the unfamiliar an education on how hard it is to create a stop-motion classic. The transition from artwork to model, the sweeping camera movements, the moldings, the music selections, and much more are revealed. This concludes the disc one extras, all of which were newly added.

DISC 2

Frankenweenie (30:01) – This was the short live-action film Burton finished right before he began Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. He introduces the film by saying an all new stop-motion version of the tale is currently being made. The plot follows a prized dog who suddenly dies. Victor Frankenstein desperately misses his friend, so he proceeds with an experiment that I probably do not need to explain. You get the idea. This stars Daniel Stern, Shelly Duvall, and Barrett Oliver. Much to my surprise, this was very sweet, funny, and engaging. A few scenes were a bit silly, but this will make a good stop-motion movie in the years to come. Rating = 8.5/10.0

Vincent (5:52) – This is a very short little animated piece written and directed by Burton. It is narrated by Vincent Price, and unless you have seen a few of his films, then the subtle references in this might pass over your head. It follows a 7-year-old boy who yearns for the lifestyle of his idol. Still, I enjoyed it.

Deleted Scenes - These are also divided into two sections. The first are the “Storyboard Scenes” (2:53). They are titled “Behemoth Singing”, “Oogie Boogie with Dancing Bugs”, and “Alternate Identity of Oogie Boogie.” The second group are the “Animated Scenes” (5:03) with “Jack’s Scientific Experiments”, “Vampire Hockey Players”, “Lock Shock and Barrell”, and “Oogie Boogie Shadow Dance.” Most of these were excluded for apparent reasons, but the “Vampire Hockey Players” was very neat as they were hitting around Burton’s decapitated head instead of a pumpkin. The alternate identity of Oogie Boogie was inventive, but would not have made sense for the ending.

The World’s of Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas - This is an extremely extensive art gallery with approximately 471 images in all. They are separated into towns: “Halloween Town”, “Christmas Town”, and “The Real World.” Halloween Town is the largest with six sub-classes to dissect. Director Henry Selick comments on three screen tests here as well. Most probably skip over photos, but this is a treasure chest of imagery to behold. I thought it was sufficient to navigate and remarkable.

Storyboard to Film Comparisons (3:46) – This is brief, but gets the point across, and is a nice minor bonus for anyone that enjoys seeing both the sketch and the final result.

Posters and Trailers - 5 posters were inserted for scrolling. The snazzy teaser (1:42) boasted the history of Disney and how they were innovators. Odd then that they felt the film was too dark for the standard Disney audience. They tossed it over to Touchstone Pictures to deal with instead. The trailer (1:25) is pretty basic and not nearly as well handled as the teaser.

DISC 3

Disney File Digital Copy - This is something we are seeing more and more of these days. The digital copy is attached with an activation code so you can transfer the film to an iPod or other compatible Windows device. I have a handful of these, but have yet to use one. Oh well, at least it’s there.

The Film: 10.0/10.0
The Video: 9.0/10.0
The Audio: 8.5/10.0
The Packaging: 9.0/10.0
The Extras: 9.5/10.0

The 411: I love stop-motion films. I appreciate the diligent work that goes into each movement, and cherish the final product. This is one of the best ever made, and although the images and ideas that emerge from Tim Burton’s head baffle me, the man is a kooky genius in his own way. Credit is also due for Danny Elfman’s magical songs and the superb direction from Henry Selick. This double-dip is a rare one that actually does improve on the original disc, which was excellent for the time anyway. The new extras are substantial, the technical specifications have been greatly polished, and the digital copy is a nice little gift. The new packaging shall catch the attention of anyone browsing through your collection. This is about as top-notch as a DVD can get. This is easily one of the best DVD releases of 2008.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]