The Nightmare Before Christmas Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on Blu-ray delivers a visually stunning experience that aptly showcases the meticulous detail and vibrant world that Tim Burton and his team have crafted. As viewers spin this disc, they are greeted with the film's theatrically correct aspect ratio of 1.66:1, which may initially surprise those accustomed to more common widescreen formats, but this choice only enhances the viewing experience. Encoded at 1080P using the AVC-MPEG4 coding, the transfer leaps from the screen, with an average bitrate of 30 Mbps, ensuring that every nuance and texture is visible in unprecedented clarity. From Sally's painstakingly detailed stitches to the nuanced shading of Halloween Town's eerie landscape, the precision in the animation is breathtaking. The black levels are exceptionally handled, allowing for a dynamic contrast that keeps vibrant hues from bleeding into the background and preserving the film's intended shadowy aesthetic.

There's an inherent grain throughout the film, a nod to its original 35mm format, which serves more as a feature than a flaw, adding a layer of depth and texture to the already compelling visuals. The film grain and occasional specks do not distract but rather enhance the film's Gothic charm. The colors in both Halloween and Christmas Town are rendered with such luminosity and depth that they add a whole new dimension to the viewing experience. Vivid greens, stark whites, and eerie blues pop against the deep, noise-free blacks, providing a spectacle that feels both surreal and grounded in its fantastical setting.

Despite minor speckling and a faint presence of digital processing aimed at reducing grain, these elements do not detract from an otherwise flawless presentation. The absence of significant edge enhancement or other digital artifacts ensures that the visual integrity of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" remains intact, allowing fans and newcomers alike to appreciate the film's unique visual style as never before. The Blu-ray disc presents a clear, sharp image that captures the original artistic vision with an admirable balance of shadow detail and bright highlights, showcasing the animated classic in a light that surpasses its previous home video incarnations.

The audio presentation of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on Blu-ray elevates the viewing experience to an impressive level, largely due to the inclusion of a lossless Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack. This particular audio mix brings Danny Elfman’s iconic score to life with unprecedented clarity and depth. Listeners can expect to discern each instrument in the orchestra with remarkable precision, a testament to the track's ability to envelop the audience in the film's enchanting musical landscape. Dialogues, both sung and spoken, are anchored in the center channel, ensuring they remain crisp and prominent against the backdrop of a richly layered soundstage that fully utilizes the surround channels for an immersive audio experience.

The Blu-ray disc does not merely present an auditory improvement over its predecessors but does so while maintaining a variety of language options, including Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes in English, Spanish, French, and a Dolby Digital 2.0 in Portuguese. The fidelity of the TrueHD track enhances the film's vibrant score and nuanced sound effects, ensuring that ambient sounds and LFE (low-frequency effects) are delivered with precision and impact. This is particularly evident in scenes ripe with musical performances, where the balance and equalization across channels allow for a harmonious blend of vocals and orchestration, providing a seamless and enjoyable listening experience without needing to adjust volume levels.

Despite some opinions that the audio does not exploit every instrument in the score to its fullest potential, the overall presentation remains expansively broad and directional, creating a spacious soundstage that brings Halloween Town to life. The bass registers are adequately represented, adding a complementary depth to Elfman's score without overwhelming the intricate details of the higher tones. This careful balance ensures that "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on Blu-ray not only meets but exceeds expectations for audiophiles and fans alike, setting a benchmark for how beloved classics can be reinvigorated through modern technology.

This Blu-ray edition of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" encompasses an impressive roster of extras, offering a mix of old and new that enriches the original film's legacy. Noteworthy is the inclusion of "What's This? Jack's Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour," detailing the thematic transformation of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion ride, and Tim Burton's Original Poem Narrated by Christopher Lee, which showcases Burton's initial vision and inspirations for the film. The all-new audio commentary meshes insights from Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and Danny Elfman, providing a multifaceted perspective on the film's creation and its musical backbone. Essential viewings, such as the "Frankenweenie" and "Vincent" shorts, add depth to Burton's early career. The deletion scenes and storyboard segments invite speculation on what might have been, while the Making of documentary and the deep dive into the film's thematically rich worlds of Halloween Town, Christmas Town, and the Real World provide invaluable context. Although some materials reflect their age in definition and quality, they remain integral to understanding this cultural landmark.

Extras included in this disc:

Introduction by Tim Burton: A brief introduction highlighting the Blu-ray edition.

What's This? Jack's Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour: Available in multiple viewing options, exploring the attraction's Nightmare Before Christmas makeover.

Tim Burton's Original Poem: Narrated by Christopher Lee with animated concept art.

Audio Commentary: Featuring insights from Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and Danny Elfman.

Frankenweenie: 1984 short film by Tim Burton, with a new introduction by Burton.

Vincent: Burton's early stop-motion short featuring a poem read by Vincent Price.

Deleted Storyboards and Animated Sequences: Insights into scenes not included in the final cut.

The Making of The Nightmare Before Christmas: A detailed documentary on the film's production.

Halloween Town, Christmas Town, The Real World: Concept art and design galleries.

Storyboard to Film Comparisons: Comparing early concepts to the final scenes.

Posters and Trailers: Promotional materials used for the film's release.

Digital Copy Bonus Disc: Including a Digital Copy of the film.

D-Box Motion Code: For synchronized furniture movement with the film's action.

Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" shines anew in its Blu-ray incarnation, delivering an unparalleled viewing experience that both illuminates and captivates. With the digital restoration and remastering employing state-of-the-art technology, the film reveals depths of darkness and brilliance that align perfectly with Burton's original vision. This transformation is not merely technical but revelatory, rendering the movie a fresh discovery for audiences who thought they knew it by heart. Details previously unseen come to the fore, enhancing the texture of this beloved classic and confirming its status as a masterpiece benefiting immensely from high-definition treatment.

At the heart of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is a unique blend of musical extravaganza and Tim Burton's unmistakably gothic aesthetic, enriched by emotive performances and intricate stop-motion animation. The story of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King seeking more beyond his Halloween realm, resonates with viewers of all ages, transcending traditional seasonal confines to declare itself a perennial favorite. This is bolstered by Danny Elfman's unforgettable musical contributions, which are integral to the film's enduring appeal. The emotional resonance and detailed craftsmanship behind each shot signify a labor of love that elevates "The Nightmare Before Christmas" beyond conventional animation.

Transitioning from Touchstone to Walt Disney Pictures, this Collector’s Edition Blu-ray also highlights the collaborative genesis of the film, spearheaded by Burton's unique vision and realized through the contributions of Henry Selick and Danny Elfman, among others. Despite its brisk pacing and some conventional plot elements, the film stands out for its imaginative storytelling, visual splendor, and thematic depth. This Blu-ray release not only celebrates the technical and artistic achievements of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" but also reaffirms its stature as a cinematic treasure, whose legacy endures in stunningly refreshed high definition.

The Blu-ray release of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" elevates Tim Burton's iconic film to an unprecedented level of visual and auditory excellence, ensuring that even the most ardent fans and home cinema enthusiasts will discover new intricacies within its enchanting and macabre world. The remastering process has bestowed upon the film a picture quality so detailed and vibrant that it unveils nuances previously unseen, complemented by a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack that immaculately presents Danny Elfman’s unforgettable score and Richard L. Anderson's meticulous sound design. This, coupled with a generous assortment of bonus content that meshes newly created extras with beloved features from past releases, enriches the viewing experience significantly.

The technical marvel of the Blu-ray is further enhanced when viewed on high-end equipment, as evidenced by tests conducted on devices such as the JVC DLA-RS1x 1080p High Definition Front Projector and the Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-ray disc player, among others. This meticulous setup affirms that whether through visuals or sound, the disc's presentation is faultless, ensuring that the spectral charm of Halloween Town permeates every scene with unprecedented clarity and depth. The package is not without its critiques, notably concerning its high MSRP and the inclusion of a Digital Copy—a feature whose value may differ among consumers—but these aspects are minor when weighed against the overall quality offered.

In conclusion, despite concerns over pricing and the necessity of the Digital Copy, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on Blu-ray is an essential acquisition for both long-time admirers and newcomers alike. The disc’s exceptional presentation rejuvenates the timeless appeal of Burton's creation, presenting it in a light that captures the imagination as vividly as it did upon its original release. With its combination of superior picture quality, immersive audio, and an extensive array of supplementary materials, this Blu-ray edition not only pays homage to the film's legacy but also ensures its place in the collections of cinephiles and audiophiles for generations to come.