Dec
23Nightmare Before Christmas
Posted in Random Droppings on December 23, 2009 by The Adam
There has always been the question of whether or not “Nightmare before Christmas” is a Halloween movie, or a Christmas movie? I think it can be watched around Halloween and Christmas. I think Tim Burton (and co) did this specifically so it would be able to transition between these two holidays with ease. Now, whether he knew the movie was going to be a cult staple or not is a different discussion. I have always wanted to make wood or pvc cut outs of the characters from the movie for Halloween and Christmas. Accept for Christmas, I have to do Sandy Claws Jack, like this video (they have the right idea!).
The one thing I love about this movie is …well everything. I think I have thought about wanting to live in a neighborhood that perpetually celebrates Halloween about a dozen times. I could literally live in a Halloween neighborhood 24-7 and around Christmas, it can be joined with the Christmas decorations. Another thing I can relate to Jack Skellington is that without making/buying new Halloween props and decorations, Halloween feels slightly boring. Boring in the sense of, “I have to top what I did last year.” But what I think a lot of us yearn for is a sense of Halloween community, I think that is the real issue (I know I am going slightly off topic but hang with me). What’s missing (for me and it seems like others) is the whole neighborhood/community coming together to decorate. It seems most Halloween lovers want lots of decorated houses and lots of trick or treators. I am not sure where the sense of Halloween “neighborhood/community” went after the 80’s and 90s. Perhaps it is the lack of kids, but it seems now, many younger couples are currently having children. We can all hope for more trick or treators! As far as the neighborhood…around next Halloween season, I plan to try to rally the neighborhood. My neighbor two doors down, always does a great yard haunt like I do. Next year, he wants to take out ad space to advertise the neighborhood and flyer the whole damn town. We will see if that’s what it takes to get people to come out and decorate their own houses. I encourage you to do the same, to spread the Halloween spirit.
Now back to Nightmare Before Christmas! Perhaps one of the points is Jack got bored of Halloween all the time, he wanted something different. I think the video I posted above is exactly that! A bit of Halloween on Christmas, I mean why not? I keep the spirit with me all year round anyway, as well as little Halloween nick-knacks around my room. So have the Christmas spirit, but IT IS okay to spookify it up a little.
Sorry to hear you aren’t getting many toters Adam, it takes time to really get the big crowds, I thought that this year my count would be way down cuz I didn’t set up till the end of the month, instead of the first like normal, and I quit advertising years ago, cuz the constables and the neighbors couldn’t handle the volume, but they came anyway. After 17 years they just come, no matter what. I think there might be a riot if I didn’t do my display and maze. If I ever sell this house I have pity for the new owners, they might be in trouble…..
Hahah Mike, thats epic about “if I ever sell this house…” they would be in trouble huh!?
Hey Adam,Mike!! Mike;I’m Like You; “Halloween 2010″ Will Be My 20th Year Of Doing My Yard ( I Can’t Believe It-lol.) Haunt, I Always Have Between 350-650 T.O.Ters. And Each Year Is Different!! So Don’t Lose Heart Adam!!!
Well i hope everyone has seen my tree. Check the Christmas freds! Jack, and co are everywhere to be seen on it. I collect NMBC, and have since I first saw the movie. It’s always with me every year. I would love to do a yard theme of halloween town, and Sandy claws, and even Oogie boogie! (even though he’s no account and he tried to hurt my beloved jack. ( I forgive him, it’s in his nature he can’t help it!) Maybe one day. And Adam, I agree. It is okay to spook up Christmas. One of my traditions is to put up the tree while watching Halloween1&2 . It gives me that cozy feeling that rudolf, and frosty just can’t give. HA!!
It’s true. Not to mention that Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are so close together; practically smashed together. I can’t possibly go from my Halloween mood into a Christmas mood that fast, (well, seeing as my Halloween mood is year ’round)…I LOVE Tim Burton for bringing the two together. Because of him we can mix and match with no ill effects (meaning comments from “the family”), because it’s all one Holiday for fans of both, now. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved Christmas, but since I lost my Mom, it doesn’t feel the same anymore. But mixing Halloween into Christmas, well, that makes for a whole new excitement….
Things I do with my Christmas tree and decor now, I would never have dreamed of doing while Mom was here. Although she’s always with me, I think she smiles at my subtle and not-so-subtle spookiness at Christmastime, from Heaven. It’s almost like TNBC opened the door between the two (thanks, Tim Burton!) and GD gives me lots of ideas and support in that many of us are doing the same,; mixing Halloween and Christmas (thanks, GD!) And Mike, well, talk about mixing Halloween and Christmas, please go check out his pictures in the Christmas photos, of his outdoor displays. You ROCK, Mike!
I agree, Kat, I’d love to do a whole outdoor TMBC scene. And it really IS okay to spook up Christmas. Isn’t Christmas about what we really love, too? To me, that’s spookables. No body parts hanging from trees, of course. But ornaments from my friends here at GD, blown glass black cats in pumpkins, little wooden ghosts…yeah, it makes for a happenin’ Christmas.
Thanks for that video, Adam; that will be a big help in the making of…for next Christmas!