The Nightmare Before Christmas is back! . . . in 3D!

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” didn’t make big waves at the box office when it was released in the fall of ‘93. Perhaps it was the macabre storyline that kept parents from taking their children to see it, while the concept of animation (stop-motion, no less!) scared the ‘big-kids’ away. Whatever the case, Tim Burton’s charming (demented?) film about the year Christmas was taken over—and transformed—by the well-meaning folks of Halloween Town only made 50 million bucks at the U.S. box office. Small fare, considering that critics raved about it incessantly (link: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nightmare_before_christmas/) (but then, who ever follows the critics’ opinions, anyway?).

It wasn’t until the movie was released on video the next year that Walt Disney realized what a gem they really had produced. And only then did they start to sneak out from behind the cover of Touchstone Pictures (a studio owned by Walt Disney) and claim responsibility for the movie which they’d previously balked on fully underwriting. In hindsight we can only marvel at the way Nightmare Before Christmas become one of the most successful franchises ever, selling videos, CDs, clothing, video games, dolls, action figures, and decorations at everywhere from Hot Topic to eBay. The story itself became something of an immortal holiday tale which plays extensively on Television over the fall and winter Holiday months.

Though the franchise has primarily benefited from a tremendous cult following which mostly goes for the movie’s dark themes and morbid overtones (ie: the [un]dead Halloween Town), many appreciate ‘Nightmare’ on a technical basis. The stop-motion style of animation has been used several times (notably for Wallace and Gromit), but none as successfully as Burton’s brainchild.

Now, to celebrate the 13th (think that number’s significant?) anniversary of the film, Walt Disney is re-releasing the movie in 3-D in select theatres nationwide on October 20th (and yes; that’s a Friday) this year. Besides creating joyful hysteria amongst its throngs of rabid fans, the release perhaps solidifies the age-old question: is “The Nightmare Before Christmas” a Halloween movie . . . or is it best-viewed over the Christmas holiday? (The first time I watched the movie, it was conveniently slotted in November; between the Holidays.)

I’m excited for the movie’s re-release, no doubt, and the trailer(link: http://www.totaleclips.com/Player/Bounce.aspx?eclipid=e28315&bitrateid=254&vendorid=600) looks pretty cool; but personally, it was never ‘Nightmare’s’ . . . well . . . nightmarishly-sweet story that hooked me. It was always the music. In my mind one of the best ‘musicals’ (if I may use the title) ever concocted for the screen, the original soundtrack contained 10 songs, all written and composed by film music maestro Danny Elfman (who is also composing the music for the upcoming “Charlotte’s Web” remake). Mr. Elfman also sung for Jack Skellington (the Pumpkin King), who—as the main character—features primarily in most of the songs. There is something hypnotically endearing, and endlessly addictive about the violent clash of Christmas and Halloween in this movie, and the way the songs capture the tension—and the beauty—is nothing short of genius. “Making Christmas,” for example is sung by a large ensemble of Halloween Town characters as they remake the holiday of Christmas in their own . . . demented image. “What’s This” is sung by Jack Skellington after he accidentally stumbles upon Christmas Town for the first time. Trying to figure out what makes the town tick, he [voiced by Danny Elfman] sings: “What’s This? There’s something very wrong/There’s people singing songs/the streets are lined with little creatures laughing/everybody seems so happy/have I possibly gone daffy? . . . What’s This? There’s children throwing snowballs/Instead of throwing heads/They’re busy building toys and absolutely no-one’s dead.” Even the instrumental score is inspired, and Elfman’s suite of music which plays over the end credits (and is included in the soundtrack) encompasses the best cues from all the songs, making for a wonderful listen.

You can imagine my own joy then, was not in hearing that Disney was re-releasing the film (though I do find this exciting), but that it was also going to put out a special 2-disc soundtrack featuring the original Danny Elfman masterpiece . . . along with some ‘updated’ versions of the classic songs. The special edition soundtrack will contain the musical numbers: “What’s This” and “This Is Halloween,” as performed by pop/punk bands Fall Out Boy and Panic! At the Disco (respectively). Several other bands and artists will be featured on the new soundtrack with their takes on the timeless tunes. Among them Fiona Apple and She Wants Revenge. Unfortunately, Marilyn Manson is also getting a chance to re-invent soundtrack history with a contribution to the CD. Suffice it to say, that is one track that’ll be skipped over on my CD player! But with demo-versions of two of Elfman’s original songs (“What’s This” and “The Oogie Boogie’s Song”) also making their debut on the album (along with the original 1993 soundtrack) I think I’ll still have enough to listen to!

The film, though, is classic. It’s another one of those “what is the true meaning of Christmas” movies that you watch every December 25, with just as much right to the holiday scene as Rudolf or Frosty . . . it just takes a slightly more twisted mind to appreciate the humor, wonder, brilliance, timelessness, and lessons found in this Christmas-tale-gone-wrong flick.

Mark your calendars! The movie is out October 20th; the soundtrack: October 24th.