Nightmare Before Christmas: Warning, I gush.

  

Image from Pintrest  

Boys and Girls of every age, come follow me to something strange. Come with us and you will see, this film both of Christmas, and Halloween…

This is Halloween, and yet it’s tragedy, poor Jack feels lost as the night draws closed. Searching for answers, the skeleton wonders stumbling upon the strangest wood you ever saw. Through one door, what’s in store, when Christmas becomes Halloween....

In non-rhythmetic turns, Jack Skellington is the Pumpkin King, most popular fright in all of Halloween Town, and very bored. Years and years of the same spooks have driven the skeleton to a deep depression, searching for something to cure this aching emptiness. After wandering aimless in the woods from grief, he stumbles upon a door that leads him to the most joyous of places: Christmas town. Overcome with the abundant joy and cheer of such a place, Jack decides that this (whatever ‘this’ is) is the cure for his sorrows. He stages a pleasant takeover of Christmas that quickly spirals out of control. What’s worse, Halloween staging Christmas, or Sandy Claws in the clutches of the ever terrifying Boogie-Man?

I love the concept just on principle; it’s fun, clever and not too complicated so the kiddies can enjoy it too. Jack’s exploration of Christmas is almost innocent in it’s scientific curiosity, and his humor about taking over it  is so good-natured it’s impossible not to be rooting for him...even if you know it won’t end well. It’s the fact that our hearts are with him that carries the story through to the end, and his classy attitude that keeps him in our good favor. Because, let’s face it, if Jack had been a crass nobody that we hated than we would have been horrified to see him take over the most wonderful time of the year.

In fact, Burton’s trademark of sympathetic characters continues with Jack’s love interest, Sally (one-sided, oh the shame). Sally, the restless, love-sick ragdoll is so sweet and kind, and her wish that Jack would take notice of her feelings is just heart-breaking (at least it was to 16 year old me, your mileage may vary).  Furthermore, the fact that Sally clearly cares about Jack’s wellbeing (sending him food when he’s locked in his house) makes her warnings to him come across less like a mindless nag and more like a carrying wive. All in all, two great characters who balance each other well, and surrounded by some great side-characters too.

That said, there is one issue I have; Oogie-Boogie, namely it’s difficult to decide how to handle him.

On the one hand, he’s a fantastic villain for the setting. Acting as the foil-boogie man to Jack’s more fun and traditional variety, he stands as a great contrast to our main protagonist. His song was fun, and lord only knows what he did to Santa during our time away from him. In his own right, he’s scary, and could very well be a threat to Jack’s Christmas endeavor.

But, on the other hand, it’s difficult to place him in the overall plot of things. While Boogie foiling Jack’s Christmas would have been entertaining, it also could have risked being forced. The actual events that took place fit so well and so smoothly into the plot that I am loath to break it up with some forced “mwahaha” just for the sake of having a villain. I may be miffed that he’s only here at the end of the film, and yet I’m unsure where to put him otherwise.

But I don’t like to nit-pick too much, so we’ll move on. The scenery itself is lovely, as the claymation animators had a hell of a hay-day on both Halloween and Christmas Town. The former is dark, highly textured, and seeped in spooky undertones while the latter is bright, colorful, and smattered with warm colors. One has to appreciate how smooth the motions in this film are, given just how difficult claymation actually is. It’s fluid and fun, you’ll be immersed as soon as the music starts.

And oh the music; Danny Elfman out-did himself.  There’s a variety in the music we’re given, matched perfectly with the specific situation. For Boogie we get a dark, atmospheric Jazz; for Jack’s discovery of Christmas Town, we get a high energy, bright, happy tune to match his curiosity, and many more. I could go on, but I’d be gushing way more than I already am. I think perhaps it’s just better for you to take a listen:

Fluid, fun and even romantic (despite the little interaction between Sally and Jack) I can’t recommend this movie enough; though I suspect several of the internet population have already seen it. Applicable to either the fall or winter holiday, curl up, sing along, and let the touchy-feely vibe get you all warm and fuzzy inside. Who knows, maybe you’ll join the cult that parrots out the songs and find themselves developing crushes on a Skeleton.

Join us, won’t you, in our town of Halloween…

Next Film: The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

The Big Chill; The Sober End to College Craze.

-from FunniestMemes.com, image by Scott Adams

            Michael, Meg, Harold, Sarah, Nicolas Sam, and Karen haven’t seen each other since college. Fate decides to intervene with the death of their close friend, Alex, giving all of them the excuse they apparently needed to seek each other out. But getting together has some unintended consequences as old tensions and old feelings come to light with blunt honesty.  Now that the gang’s all back together it’s time to talk about the past, reevaluate your life, and only get minimal restitution from it.

            Now, take that statement in step, as this movie is most certainly not speaking to my generation. In fact, as someone who hasn’t graduated, gotten a full time job and developed a full life, I am quite confident that I am the last person this film was aiming for; but here I am.

The plot is cynical, tempered with lots of regret and shame. Life has not turned out in the way any of these guys pictured, and that hits them just as hard (if not harder) than the death of Alex. Seeing each other again is less than pleasant as it seems to just remind all of them of what they used to be. In a way, it makes you question if the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia are ever really healthy.

            And then...it’s done. This comes to one of my biggest problems with this film as it just ends with no real resolution.  Now everyone walks away with a better idea of what they’ve done, but only a few of our characters are leaving any different than when they came. Maybe this is the more realistic ending, but it hardly leaves the viewer feeling accomplished or satisfied. The end just comes out of nowhere, cutting you off from the characters and leaving you to wonder what, if anything, did they ever really solve

Once again, the story is just a framing device for our seven very distinct, very well written characters: We have Meg, a snarky Lawyer who acts like she has a biological time-bomb instead of a clock; We have Nicolas, a war veteran with ‘damaged equipment’ who never found his niche in life; Michael, a journalist who claims to know everything while attempting to sleep with any woman in the room; Sam, whose life as a James Bond clone has been plagued by family problems and self-esteem issues; Harold and Sarah, married and content with life but still rebounding from a bump in the road; and finally, Karen, a mother who has become the antithesis of her college self thanks to a sensible husband with the sensible job. Each of them is written and acted well with great dialogue, but I felt estranged from each of them.

While I didn't feel too much of a connection with any of our characters, I still think you should see this movie. It has some genuinely funny and touching moments with great pacing, and you can't go wrong with a great soundtrack like this. While the film will speak much louder to an older generation, it'll still give you something worth thinking about for later in life.

Next Review: Lost Boys

Labyrinth; Music, Makeup and More.

 “A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase, an elaborate subculture that engage in repeated viewings, quoting dialogue, and audience participation. Inclusive definitions allow for major studio productions, especially box office bombs, while exclusive definitions focus more on obscure, transgressive films shunned by the mainstream.”

-Wikipedia Definition, “Cult Films.”

            Fifteen year-old Sarah Williams has the same problems any teenager of the 80s has; her stepmother is incapable of affection, her father is henpecked, and her step-brother is pulling all the attention away from her. Fed up with her perceived problems, the childish teen wistfully wishes that Goblins would take her baby brother away. A sparkly, leather-clad Goblin King answers her call and tells the distraught girl that she can have her brother back if she solves a labyrinth that acts like the lovechild of The Phantom Tollbooth and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Along the way, she’ll run into all kinds of interesting creatures while the audience is treated to some 80’s-tastic music. It’s cheesy, predictable, and one of my all time favorite movies.

            Now, the story isn’t anything too special, and lacks any sense of complexity. What it does bring to the table is this strange mix of ”totally serious fantasy movie” and “tongue-in-cheek humor” that has a hit-or-miss streak to it. There is also an overflux of content at a breakneck speed, not allowing for anything to be really flushed out. The ideas are interesting but in sore need of some pruning shears.

One could almost argue that the story is here simply to allow our main characters to shine. Sarah Williams, played by then-newcomer Jennifer Connelly, connects nicely with the teenage audience while also being just mature enough that I don’t want to yank my hair out in frustration. Jareth, portrayed by the ever eccentric David Bowie, has some very obvious glam rock influences while coming across as the juvenile leader of some street gang. It’s quirky, but he makes it work in a way he only could.

            But it’s impossible to talk about a Jim Henson film without talking about the puppets. This is some of the most creative use of puppets and animatronics I have ever seen from Henson studios; Hoggle, the cranky dwarf that aids Sarah, gets to have very expressive facial features thanks to some heavy work in animatronics; The giant robot that protects the Goblin City, the biggest puppet they ever made, absolutely towers over our human actors; and the fact that someone can actually wear and move in Ludo’s costume is insane. People and puppet blend well in this film, creating a very visually interesting space to move about it.

            Speaking of being visually interesting, this film isn’t afraid of getting creative with it’s camera.  While a few close-ups and POV shots have a tendency to be disorienting and/or claustrophobic, most of the shots are actually quite nice. Wide angles to make our labyrinth look expansive, flipping the camera to make Jareth defy the laws of gravity, and many others.  While not extraordinary in its cinematography (that’s fancy film talk for actual use of the camera), the movie does get a gold star for effort.

            Lastly, I cannot, CANNOT, talk about this movie without bringing up the music . You could argue that the entire cult around this movie came from Bowie’s soundtrack considering most of us will eagerly parrot out the lyrics when cued (“You remind me of the babe”). I admit with complete honesty that the music usually doesn’t move the plot forward in any way. In fact,the music utterly stops the plot in its tracks most of the time. But can you really get angry at stopping for a dance break?The music is diabolically catchy, and very easy to sing back to fellow admirers. Whether it’s Bowie belting out a love song or a group of dancing fire demons having a good time, you’ll enjoy yourself.

            So, in summary, I believe you should see this movie because it’s easy to watch and enjoy. It’s a fun little 80s fantasy movie with good music, a good setting and fairly decent story. While lacking in complexity, and probably needing an editor for the overflow of content, none of that detracts from having a good time with it.

Next Review: The Big Chill