Disney’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D returns to theaters, today, Ocotber 23, for a limited 2 week run. This annual event always make my geeky heart warm, so I thought I’d post a Top 5 or you, today. Then I thought about it…I almost hesitated to pen this entry…I mean, really, who needs ME to convince them that seeing The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D is a good idea? Then I realized…maybe the people who missed out when this amazing film debuted almost 16 years ago (yes, it really has been that long; the original release date for TNBC is October 29, 1993…well, some may argue, because there WAS  limited release on October 15th, and it technically debuted on October 9th at the New York Film Festival, but…oh, wait, sorry…I’m digressing, aren’t I? Where was I? Oh, yes….) Or maybe for those who just don’t remember exactly how darkly and dementedly delightful this film really is….So, for you, the newest generation of well rounded geeks, and the older generation who might need a little refresher course, we present our Top 5 Reasons to see The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D before it’s gone, again.

#5: Tim Burton and Henry Selick introduced Disney fans and sceptics, alike, to a world both dark and whimsical; a little scary and a lot endearing. They showed that Disney could do gothic with a “family fun” appeal.

#4: THe stop animation techniques delveoped for TNBC were revolutionary. The film brings viewers into these worlds, even without the addition of the 3D technology. However, when Disney re-released the films to theatres in October, 2006, remastered with the 3D technology, they opened a whole new weird world for fans. The effects were done well; not overdone, as in some 3D films, but “just right”.

#3: Disney has continued to re-release the 3D version of the film each October since 2006. They’ve given parents, who were probably just teenagers or in their early 20′s, the chance to create a Halloween tradition with their own kids. They’ve passed the Pumpkin Torch on to another generation, so taking advantage of this just seems natural, if you loved this movie in ’93.

#2: The chance to hear Danny Elfman’s incredible score, not to mention his own tones singing each of Jack Skelington’s numbers (Chris Sarandon was the talent behind Jack’s speaking voice) in a huge theatre, in high tech surround sound most of us only dream about having in our homes, is simply not to be missed.

#1: Though so many years have passed, the heart of this story; the joy, and mischief and sheer delight expressed by all of these characters, but most especially our Pumpkin King and his Rag Doll, shine through. They’ll share that delight; they’ll take you back to the days when you may have been a little more Lock, Shock or Barrell before maturing into a Jack or Sally. This story still reminds us that we should always search for the joy in our everyday lives…and maybe tweak someone’s nose just a bit if they can’t see it, too.

The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D movie trailer