Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. Molli Christensen 02.03.09 / 10am

   There is no doubt that this movie is a classic, for children and adults. Not only is it a movie about two very fun holidays Halloween and Christmas, but it is also a love story involving Jack Skellington and his love Sally who is trapped by a Mad Scientist. This movie also has great visuals, it brings a different world to life, especially the scene in the pumpkin patch with the moon as the backdrop for Jack Skellington. The music also adds to the cheerfully dark animated film, Danny Elfman brings life-less characters to their feet with his songs that people will remember, especially Jacks “What’s This?” song which is my personal favorite from the movie.
2. Giyeong Um 03.20.09 / 9pm

   This movie is one of my favorite movies. When I saw this movie, my heart was overflowing with joy. It has unique idea which is the Christmas of a piece of cloth figures. I can feel some purity and love from these figures. Its scene is in harmony with music which makes this movie really fantastic. It holds my attention because its story changes habit of Christmas. Its gloomy sets and dark figures which are filmmaker’s special effect work also plus more interest. Imagination of a juvenile story exists with Tim Burton’s gloomy concept in this movie. These figures action was really natural. It is really fun and impressionable movie.
3. Chelsea Nielsen 05.11.09 / 6pm

   To me, there is no doubt that Tim Burton is one of the best film makers of all time. The way he looks and portrays a movie is not like anyone else, he is unique, strange and absolutely brilliant. This movie is more than just the question of is this a Halloween or Christmas movie it is a movie about love and finding yourself and coming into an understanding of what is important to you. It is about being an individual in a time when everyone is looking at you to fall in line. I absolutely love this movie and can watch it over and over again because I seen new things every time I watch it
4. Dylan Roberg 07.17.09 / 11pm

   When it comes to directors having a distinct style of movie, Tim Burton is the very first who comes to mind. The unique characters created in the film exhibit that distinct Burton style. When I first saw the movie, I couldn’t help but compare the different holidays of the movie to different cultures. The film shows the difficulty of diffusing different cultures together, and the inability of the some cultures (Christmas) to others (Halloween) based on their reactions to each other. What may seem strange and outlandish to one group of people may be completely normal to another group. The movie was entertaining and mentally stimulating from beginning to end, and I believe it is a classic of our time.
5. Lisa Blondell 10.29.09 / 1pm

   This movie was my absolute favorite film when I was a kid. My sister and I would watch it every year, twice. Once around Halloween time and another at Christmas time. Although I am much older now, I still appreciate this film, if not even more than I did when I was young. The Nightmare Before Christmas is not only directed to children, it is a film with a universal audience. Tim Burton is an extremely unique and talented filmmaker. After reading this review and discovering that there is a bonus dvd that includes deleted scenes and behind the scenes making of the film, I am definitely going to look into that. I would love to watch that. And I am of course looking forward to his latest take on Alice and Wonderland that is coming out this Spring.
6. Ryan Haines 04.27.10 / 7pm

   This film is one of my all time favorites. Every time I pop this movie in it take same back to my great childhood. Jack is the classic nightmare before christmas character and he is as popular as ever. This film started my liking for animations and has definitely set the boundaries for film makers out there. I think that everyone should make it a goal to see this film because it is nothing but a classic. I always watch this film when it gets close to Christmas time, and the animation is absolutely amazing. The animation truly is amazing and allows you to just sit back and enjoy what you are viewing on the screen. If you have not gone to see this amazing classic you better make sure you get out and see it!
7. Carly Jacobson 05.09.10 / 9pm

   Tim Burton is a genius when it comes to film making. He has produced a massive amount of films that have all been been my favorites. This is one of my favorite animation films. I was in love with this movie when it first came out in 1993 when I was only 3 years old. I loved it so much that i brought it into my pre-school to watch during the holidays. That didn’t go over well because I was sent to the office with a call to my parents saying how “inappropriate” it was for 3 and 4 year olds. I did not seem to have a problem with it at all! His movies are obviously filled with a strange darkness, but they all have a story line that takes you into a different world than the one we live in, and make your creepy fantasies into a reality. Go Burton, and If you haven’t seen this film, you are missing out!
8. Luna Pate 07.07.12 / 8pm

   This is by far one of my favorite Tim Burton films. The stop motion animation was done flawlessly and the characters images fit perfectly with their intended personas. Tim Burton has a distinct dark style that is unlike any other director I have ever seen because he is able to it in a beautiful way. His use of colors, shapes, sounds, and lighting adds a quirky and enjoyable essence that perfectly contrasts with the darkness in all of his films. I also found it outstanding that Tim Burton was able to show the development of the animated characters. Something I was wondering was wether or not an stop motion film could have a long take because I feel like I saw one in the beginning of this film.
9. Gregory DiFilippi 10.17.14 / 3pm

   The Nightmare Before Christmas is a favorite of mine. The soundtrack caters to both Christmas and Halloween with songs such as What’s This? and This is Halloween. The opening introduction of This is Halloween with all of the stop motion characters really pulls you in as a viewer. As the characters move about fulfilling their lines of the song, they bring on such a fluid and fun view that always keeps it creepy and crawly. Though there have been other films that have used similar formulas, nothing quite sticks like The Nightmare Before Christmas.
10. ismendez1 11.17.14 / 11pm

    I want start by agreeing with Byron Potau on this film being a classic movie regardless if its christmas or halloween. I grew up watching this film and now i am able to enjoy it with my own daughter. I do feel Byron covered most of the major characters but didn’t speak much about Sally which was an important character in the story line. Sally desperatly tries to make Jack see her lobe for him. Jack falls in love with her and ultimately is the reason he gets back to his roots in halloweentown.
11. ismendez1 11.17.14 / 11pm

    I forgot to mention that the music had a huge impact on the mood of the film all the way through.
12. Erica Hudson 07.16.16 / 12pm

    Oogie Boogie’s servants are actually named Lock, Shock, and Barrel, not Stock, but this review focuses on exactly why this film is so popular and I appreciate that. There is a timelessness about it that, as you said, both young and old can enjoy, regardless of the holiday. The film has a creepy and light-hearted humor to it as the citizens of Halloweentown try to extend love and compassion through celebrating what they think is just another halloween, and it is theatrical and interesting to watch Jack interact with that as the Pumpkin King with his own vision.
13. Ashley Hollett 10.12.17 / 8pm

    Hi Byron,
    Not only am I huge horror/Halloween fan, but I am also a freak when it comes to Christmas! This is my go to movie around the holidays, without this film they wouldn’t be the same. I would have to Tim Burton is one of the most interesting and fun directors of our time. I grew up hearing stories about him because he attended Cal Arts which is located in the city I was raised in, and this sparked my interest in his movies. His way of capturing his characters on film is amazing as well as his stop motion techniques which took year of patience to perfect. As a huge fan of him and his directing style, I cannot wait for his next film which is rumored to a sequel to Beetlejuice!
14. Christina Crane 10.21.18 / 7pm

    Another great classic film. I love that it fits for both Halloween and Christmas. I agree with your writing of Danny Elfman’s score. The music in this film is really great and adds a lot to the story line. Every time I watch this film I am always so amazed by the stop motion. I read that Burton actually based his film off a poem he wrote 1982 when he was working as an animator for Walt Disney. Around 11 years later it became the wonderful holiday and cult classic that it is today. The film took around 3 years to make as one minute of this film took about a week to shoot. The amount of effort that went into this film is incredible and so is the timeless outcome.
15. Rocky Villicana 10.18.19 / 2pm

    The Nightmare Before Christmas has indeed become an instant Christmas classic that can also double as a Halloween classic. Some amazing aspects that made this film iconic and an instant classic is its utilization of color and music. An original soundtrack of catchy and rhythmic songs definitely does help drive the story as well as capture the audience and get them involved. Tim Burton also utilizes vibrant colors in a completely fabricated universe to capture the audience’s attention throughout the entire film. This film has aged beautifully and is still one of Disney’s biggest successes which really speaks to the execution of this film and its overall effect on the world.
16. Raul Razo 07.24.21 / 7pm

    Overall I really enjoyed reading your review and agree with a lt of it. The Nightmare before Christmas will forever be one of my favorite stop-motion animated films ever. The score and setting does a very good job of telling the story. As you said, Danny Elfman does a wonderful job on the score and it provides much to the story. Each of the songs show you what each of the characters are feeling in a beautiful way. I also agree that the comedy is very enjoyable for all ranges of age even to this day.
17. Adrian Sanchez 11.12.21 / 10am

    Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is definitely one of my favorite movies. This movie is very special to me during Halloween and Christmas time. The movie was very creative due to its stop motion animation and the music was incredible. Whenever I think of Tim Burton this movie always comes to my mind. This movie is an iconic holiday movie and I never get tired of watching it. One thing that I love about this movie is the idea that it is a Halloween movie as well as a Christmas movie. It has dark elements to it but also bright lighting and colors to demonstrate the Christmas side of the movie.
18. Peter Martinez 09.10.22 / 11pm

    This movie has become a holiday classic as it has every right to be. this is one of my favorite holiday films which can be played both for Halloween and the Christmas holidays. Tim Burton definitely knew what he was doing with this piece of art film. i would say the most iconic or famous piece of this film is not the plot or writing but the visuals. we had not seen anything like it before and to this day almost 30 years later they still hold up. this was an excellent details review on this classic holiday film that almost if not everyone loves and enjoys.
19. Daniel Armando Chavez 04.01.23 / 7pm

    This movie has become one of my top 3 movies from Tim Burton and for good reason. Not only is it cherished by me it has instantly in this day in age become not only a halloween movie but a christmas one for many. Not only is the plot and story writing amazing the design and art of stop motion makes it over the moon for meand for many others. I loved your info and insite on the holiday classic that almost everyone i know loves. No only has this movie captured the eyes of so many when it came out it still does for many children 20-30 years later.
20. Sophia Baker 10.20.23 / 4pm

    This film is a classic. I have always had a special place in my heart for this film, as it has been my favorite movie for as long as I can remember. Aside from the great plot and animation, this film is much more than a “kid’s movie” and required so much work to go into it. The storytelling is seamless and each character has its own great personality and uniqueness to it. This film focuses heavily on personality, the need to be different and break habits, and identity. The viewers are exposed to Jack’s need to break the habit that he practices every year for Halloween and his battle with self identity. The attention to every little detail in this film and the amazing clay work is very noteworthy as well. The sets in this film really capture the mood in a fantastic way and creates a whole new world for the viewers to enjoy.

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