Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a claymation film starring Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween. Jack resides in Halloween town with other interesting creatures that people tend to associate with Halloween (ie. Werewolf, Vampires, etc). The film opens with the people of Halloween Town celebrating their holiday by singing (yes, there's a lot of singing in this movie but the songs are good). The climax of the celebration is when Jack makes his entrance on a straw horse and is set ablaze. After the celebration, everyone compliments Jack and he heads out into the graveyard, followed by his admirer Sally, a rag doll who is enslaved by a mad scientist. Thus the story unfolds...

While meandering around in the forest, Jack discovers a series of doors. Each door is a symbol of different holidays. For example, the heart shaped door is Valentines Day, the shamrock is St. Patrick's day, and well, you get the idea. Anyway, Jack decides on the door shaped like a Christmas tree which leads to, you guessed it, Christmas Town. Jack is immediately taken aghast by the wonderful display. Jack, who feels that something is missing from his (dead >:P) life, embraces the idea that he can "take over" Santa's holiday and become Santa himself.

When Jack returns to Halloween Town, he convinces all the citizens that taking over Christmas is a good idea. All of the citizens, except Sally, think that this is a great idea. Sally just wants Jack to be himself. She has a horrible vision about Jack's Christmas after she delivers him a magic potion that she mixed which makes a butterfly out of smoke. Jack appreciates the gift but still does not acknowlege his emotions for Sally and ignores her warnings. Jack analyses all the elements of Christmas and trys to determine what it all means. This drives Jack to the brink of madness until he has an epiphany. He decides to merge Halloween and Christmas into one holiday.

Jack gives everyone in Halloween Town a job for their Christmas. Sally is in charge of making Jack's "Sandy Claws" outfit, the mad scientist has to make the reindeer, and he gives Oogie Boogie's stooges, Locke, Shock, and Barrel, the task of kidnapping the real "Sandy Claws". However, Jack makes the trio promise not to involve the Boogie Man in the whole sherade. But of course, we all know that they will not be true to the promise.

Locke, Shock, and Barrel do eventually kidnap Santa. They then bring him to Oogie Boogie's layer where poor Sandy is left at the mercy of the gambling boogie man. Sally attempts to prevent Jack's departure on Chistmas Eve with some Fog Juice that she slips into the fountain However, Jack's dog, Zero, has a nose which glows bright red a la Rudolph. So the takeoff is successful.

Jack begins delivering the evil Christmas gifts which begin attacking their recipiants. The authorities are notified and the army begins shooting at the imposter. Sally, who is watching through the witch's brew, decides to go find Santa so he can save Jack. However, Jack doesn't realize that the missiles being fired at him are NOT for celebrating until it is too late. Jack is shot down and Sally is taken prisoner by Oogie Boogie.

Jack lands in a graveyard. After going over all that has happened, Jack realizes that he is the Pumpkin King and decides to return Halloween Town, save Santa, and set things right. After destroying Oogie Boogie, Santa goes to fix Christmas and Jack realizes how Sally feels about him and vice versa.

In Halloween Town, everyone is celebrating because Jack is alright. Santa then flys overhead and causes snow flurries to fall. Everyone in the town is confused yet delighted by the snow. Jack then sees the mad scientist with his new girl that he created to replace the disobedient Sally. When Jack realizes that she is all alone, he follows her to a familiar spot in the graveyard and serenades her. She then joins in the song and the two share a kiss in the moonlight. The End.

Summarized by Jesslk

Whew, I hope that didn't bore anyone too much. Oh, course, there are more details to this beautiful film which I failed to include. But I think I did a decent job. ;) Go and see this work of art that some would call a mere film!