Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a technical marvel.

Rating: 6/10 (18 June 2002)

It is doubtful that you have ever experienced anything quite like it. Whether you'll like it or not, however, is a highly personal matter. It is 74 minutes of stop-motion animation, and that may prove to be 70 minutes too many for some. At first, it is fascinating to watch this brilliantly visual fairy tale unfurl. After the novelty wears off, however, there isn't all that much to rivet your attention. The music by immensely talented Danny Elfman grows wearisome, and the songs all sound pretty much alike. Just when you're about to doze off, however, another marvelous visual (such as a multicolored snake swallowing an aluminum Christmas tree) smacks you in the face, and you're hooked once again.
The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the story of the Pumpkin King of Halloween Land, a skinny skeleton named Jack, who discovers Christmas Land quite by accident. This bright and cheerful sugar plum place is a far cry from Jack's dark world of ghouls and goblins. He is impressed and decides to make Christmas his own holiday. Santa Claus is kidnapped, and soon Jack is airborne in a sleigh guided by Zero, the red-nosed ghost dog, delivering gifts to kiddies around the world. Too bad some of these toys bite back and are scaring the wee ones out of their wits. Will Jack come to his senses in time to save Christmas? Will Santa be saved? Will Jack finally take notice of the adoring Sally, a rag-doll version of the Bride of Frankenstein? Will young children have nightmares after seeing The Nightmare Before Christmas? Is that really Paul Reubens supplying the voice for the nasty little ghoul, Lock? Surprisingly, this film proved the doubters wrong, it is a fine film for many reasons, the tedious stop motion work just to name one.