Review Summary: In this town we call home, everyone hail to the pumpkin song.
7 of 8 thought this review was well writtenNostalgic is a vast understatement when referring to the all time undisputed Disney classic
The Nightmare Before Christmas. Aside from it being enthrallingly ground breaking in the pioneering craft of mind bending stop still animation, it also serves as one of Danny Elfman's most intriguing scores. Tim Burton's unique eye for mesmerizing detail in vibrant contrasts in color has always illuminated numerous emotions with Elfman's atmospheric tunes in tow. The mere scenery alone adds awe to the audience and in terms of the injected music it surely utilizes the experience that makes the duo such unique and off the wall collaborators. I remember being six years old visiting Disney Land when I walked by an art exhibit on Main Street that had exact replicas placed in a scenic backdrop showcasing the movie before it had arrived, and I was immediately hypnotized.
When I went home I sat near the television waiting for dinner to be prepared and saw for the first time the iconic trailer that set my wildest childish fantasies running rapid. Having grown up on the traditional cartoons I was baffled having never seen anything quite like it before. Though to my dismay I wasn't allowed to view the movie till much later on which I think only intensified my infatuation with the film. When the movie was released it was without mention an instant hit and did wonders for everyone’s career involved as well as the Disney franchise. Standing the test of time as one of the greats, The Nightmare Before Christmas has achieved cult status among youth and adults alike with multiple rereleases of the beloved cinematic journey.
Unfortunately, over the years it has been rather ruined by corporations capitalizing on its revived success by spawning trends deemed at a target audience, Hot Topic attendees. The infamous clothing store seems to have a knack for taking it upon themselves to feature revered films and turning them into cheap profit for posers to easily latch onto, not for the love of the film, but simply because it's become the status quo for their transformation. Thankfully, Elfman's soundtrack has remained unscathed when featured aside from the marketing scheme and I assume you can chalk that up to inferior loyalty compared to truly idolizing this creation since childhood. I've dabbled in the run down history enough so lets see what makes this soundtrack equally as memorable as the film.
For starters, without the musical numbers in the movie it wouldn't be nearly as memorable as it is. In fact, some of the best highlights come from such legendary songs as "This Is Halloween" all the way down to "Making Christmas." The gothic element in Elfman's arrangements give so much depth to the characters facades and the stages, in which they tell their tale, so much growth it's almost overwhelming. The singing capabilities by each of the cast members that lend their voices to their imaginative counterparts are indescribably superb beyond words. Danny Elfman's invoking and creepy voice perfectly suites Jack Skeleton’s demeanor while Catherine O'Hara's sweet soothing innocence gives Sally the perfect interpretation of a tortured soul who longs for love and freedom. Elfman's orchestra arrangements are so carefully constructed and movingly bound to convey an idealistic view in the mind that you can easily close your eyes while amid listen and vividly see the music take shape. The natural gift to transfer songs into crystal clear visions is why he's been so highly respected in his field of work after all.
It seems to be a saddening revelation that countless movies fail to deliver the full package as cinematic eras have changed. Motion picture soundtracks used to be such a serious component in a films over all success that determined in certain cases the very quality of the picture itself. It seems to be a dying art littered with empty filler of unrelated tracks that leak with abysmal selection with little or nothing to do with the presentation once so ever. Do not fret for there are still phenomenal scores that on occasion rise from the ashes of mediocrity that one day to will be remembered along with this exceptional cultivation, both on and off screen. So here is to hoping for the continuation of a beautiful partnership that has spawned so many cherished classics of yesteryear that gave a jolted breath of life to the outstanding contributions that will remain for our children and so on to continue its legacy.
