The Nightmare Before Christmas Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" uses the same 1080p transfer featured in earlier 2D Blu-ray editions. Running at a slightly higher average bitrate, the visual quality remains consistent with prior versions. The 2008 release was lauded for its exceptional video quality, and this release continues to uphold that standard. Observations from multiple reviews indicate that the 2018 version seems to be a new encode rather than a complete overhaul.

Despite some minor complaints about the Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) usage in the previous edition, this 2018 reissue reveals no noticeable degradation or DNR artifacts. The bitrate has seen marginal improvements, staying mostly above 25 Mbps and maxing out at 38 Mbps—similar to the 2008 release, which fluctuated from under 2 Mbps to about 39 Mbps. This slight upgrade contributes to a perceived increase in sharpness and stability. The colors remain vibrant, with deep, inky blacks offering rich contrast, maintaining the moody atmosphere that defines this beloved film.

Overall, while not drastically different from its predecessor, this new Blu-ray release serves as a minor but welcome enhancement in video quality. It ensures that fans of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" can enjoy the film with impeccable clarity and vividness that holds up to modern standards.

The Blu-ray release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" delivers an exceptional DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. This upgrade from the previous Dolby TrueHD 7.1 presentation is immediately noticeable in its use of an expansive soundstage, effectively supporting both the film’s iconic music and immersive ambiance. The opening title music sets the stage with a prominent, well-integrated surround presence that engages all four back channels with seamless fluidity. The placement of musical elements is dynamic; while lyrics maintain a centered focus, musical cues are distributed across the entire sound field to create an enveloping auditory experience. Danny Elfman's score benefits from precision placement and clarity, ensuring every instrumental nuance is distinctly audible.

Songs and the score exhibit remarkable instrumental precision, particularly noticeable when devoid of lyrical components. The subwoofer channel offers balanced, weighty low-end support, adding depth and resonance to the soundtrack. Ambient effects are rich and precisely placed, contributing to an immersive auditory environment. When combined with clear, center-focused dialogue, the overall effect is an engaging and detailed sonic experience. While previous iterations such as the 2008 Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track also offered similar quality, this current DTS-HD MA 7.1 track captures individual instrumentation and sound effects with heightened clarity and separation. The immersive audio effects, such as voices echoing through channels and directional sound movements like missiles zooming across the room, enhance the depth of the soundstage.

This DTS-HD MA 7.1 track is marked by remarkable bass effects in the LFE channel, which are impactful without being overwhelming. Overall, it offers a first-class audio experience characterized by its dynamic range, precision, and immersive quality. For fans of "The Nightmare Before Christmas," this DTS-HD MA 7.1 track represents a superb, reference-quality presentation that maintains the integrity and vibrancy of Danny Elfman’s iconic score and the film's distinctive sound design.

The 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" delivers an impressive suite of extras, predominantly carried over from previous editions, complemented by the newly introduced Sing-Along feature. The Sing-Along option, with karaoke-style presentations and selectable individual songs, adds an engaging element that enhances the viewing experience. Key legacy extras include significant behind-the-scenes content such as “The Making of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” deleted storyboards, and a commentary track featuring Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and Danny Elfman. Unfortunately, notable omissions include the Tim Burton Introduction and certain standalone features from earlier releases such as the full-length Henry Selick audio commentary and various gallery elements.

Extras included in this disc:

• Sing-Along Mode: Karaoke-style presentations of songs.
• What's This? Jack's Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour: Disneyland Haunted Mansion ride tour.
• Tim Burton's Early Films: Includes "Frankenweenie" and "Vincent."
• Tim Burton's Original Poem Narrated by Christopher Lee: Animated storyboards.
• The Making of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Behind-the-scenes documentary.
• Deleted Storyboards: Unused scenes.
• Deleted Animated Sequences: Unreleased animations.
• Storyboard-to-Film Comparison: Comparative feature.
• Audio Commentary: Insights from Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and Danny Elfman.
• Posters and Trailers: Promotional materials.

Disney's re-release of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' on Blu-ray is a definitive presentation, complete with a new DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack and sing-along versions of its iconic songs. Spearheaded by Henry Selick's masterful direction and Danny Elfman's infectious musical numbers, the film continues to astound with its stop-motion animation and imaginative set design. Jack Skellington, voiced by Chris Sarandon with Elfman handling the vocals, discovers a portal to Christmas Town, setting off a chain of events that blend macabre Halloween elements with festive Christmas cheer. This re-release includes various store-exclusive packaging options like Best Buy SteelBook and Target DigiPack but focuses solely on the 2D film.

The narrative, which contrasts Halloween's eerie atmosphere with Christmas's joyful ambiance, remains enchanting. Jack Skellington's quest for something novel leads him to Christmas Town, transforming his dull existence in Halloween Town. Despite initial resistance from the Halloween Town residents, Jack's obsession with capturing the essence of Christmas and his determination to take over Santa Claus's role creates both comedic and dramatic tension. Sally, voiced by Catherine O'Hara, provides a counterpoint, foreseeing the impending disaster when Jack's plans go unheeded. Overall, this Blu-ray release leverages superior visual fidelity and audio enhancements to breathe new life into a beloved classic that continues to engage audiences across generations.

For a glimpse at the technical aspects, the Blu-ray utilizes a BD-50 disc and includes a digital copy code for Movies Anywhere. It is region-coded A as detailed on the packaging. While nostalgic viewers may recall the film's initial release in 1993 with its groundbreaking stop-motion animation, this latest iteration ensures that 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' remains an indispensable addition to any collector's library, seamlessly blending Halloween thrills with Christmas wonder.

Disney's Blu-ray release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" attempts to celebrate a beloved classic but falls short of offering substantial new content. Despite being a visually stunning and culturally significant film, this edition simply rehashes the previous 2008 release, adding only a Sing-Along subtitle track. This lack of innovative features is compounded by a missed opportunity to upgrade the format to 4K Ultra HD, which would have been a remarkable enhancement given the film's unique stop-motion animation.

From a technical standpoint, the video and audio quality remain consistent with the 2008 release, which is not inherently negative as both were top-notch for their time. However, this consistency also highlights the minimal value offered by this new version. Some reviewers noted interlacing issues on included extras like Frankenweenie, which detracts from the overall package. For those who already own prior editions, particularly the 2008 Blu-ray, this release adds little incentive to repurchase.

The Nightmare Before Christmas has emerged as a fan-favorite and one of the more cherished works in Tim Burton's canon. It's certainly unique in story and style, not for all tastes but an interesting blend of spirit, spook, and song. Disney's new Blu-ray adds little of consequence, highlighted by sing-along versions of the film's songs. It's a shame that the studio did not go the extra mile and release this as a new UHD release. There's simply little incentive for fans to double-dip, particularly with this wide-release version. At least the store exclusives offer something a bit more unique. Buy one of those instead.