Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3-D So is it worth an extra two bucks to have your jaw drop? I think so, and this is the very movie that will do it. I went and saw this movie at a late showing one day last week. I had the theater all to myself (I actually don't like watching movies alone, I would rather be in a full theater given the choice), and I could NOT have been happier.
Even if you have seen this particular movie before in the 2-D version, the 3-D effect is wonderful and worth making the trip to see this movie one more time. In the first part of the movie, where Sally is caught by Dr. Finkelstein, in the top right-hand corner are the skeleton's feet that are dangling from a tree (from the previous scene), Sally and the Dr. are a little behind the dangling feet, then a stone wall is behind them, and way off in the distance is the doctor's lab. You have a real sense of place and space when the movie is presented this way. You can get lost in it. This is not necessarily true just because this is a 3-D movie. Like anything, the effect can be done in manner that is not terribly effective. In this case the whole movie is well thought out, and the 3-D effect is very convincing and a joy to behold.
Actually the movie works fine without the 3-D. Like Dumbo, the movie is very short (76 minutes). The movie is filled to the brim with clever moments. In fact the film is really a musical, most of the dialogue is sung or in rhyme. The music was written by Danny Elfman, who also performs Jack's singing voice. The music is very effective. Sally's song, which is right at the pivot point of the movie, is one of the most moving sequences in film. It is short and sweet, but catches your eye and ears. I have seen this a thousand times, and it never fails to grab me. It is beautifully done, and if you are looking for a show piece to show off your audio and visual equipment this would not be a bad start (are you going to use Top Gun forever?). I also love the minor key version of "Here Comes Santa Claus" which is played in just a snatch right before her song kicks in.
 Another sequence that could be used in any study of animation is the first Oogie Boogie appearance. The sequence is a musical number and has the appearance of being shot in black light giving it an eerie glow, and the animation is pretty damn good considering Boogie Oggie is a burlap sack. It reminds me of the Stromboli sequence in Pinocchio.
Unlike most films, this is the rare film that is rich enough to be viewed again and again. It has a dark sense of humor, but it works well within the boundaries that Tim Burton has set up. The niceness of Christmas is constantly played against the evilness of Halloween for laughs (why aren't there any good Halloween songs?). The movie is just the right length for the material. If they had made a longer film it could have easily misfired. And the film has a hundred little touches that make it a joy to watch for example; the head that is inside the bass that counts the trio off at the beginning of a musical number, the little boy screaming as the giant snake eats his Christmas tree (I really love that scream), and the mayor who has two faces; a happy one and a sad one that he changes depending on which mood he is in. The art direction, down to the smallest details of the sets in three different worlds, are all thoughtfully and lovingly done. If you haven't seen them, the early short films of Tim Burton give more than a hint of things to come, and are worth checking out. This is a keeper.
You can write James Harper at movielover77061@yahoo.com. |
