Doing Your Best: The Lessons of Jack Skellington

When it comes to family-friendly Halloween classics, it's pretty hard to top The Nightmare Before Christmas. It tells the tale of Jack Skellington, the resident Pumpkin King of Halloween Town -- a city populated by friendly witches, vampires, ghosts, and monsters, whose job it is to create the Halloween holiday each year. As the annual Halloween celebrations wind down to a close, we discover that Jack, while great at his job, is feeling stuck in a rut. Isn't there more to life than the same old chills and thrills?

So Jack can't believe his good fortune when he stumbles onto a magical portal that takes him to the land of Christmas Town. He doesn't exactly understand what it is about the place that makes him feel such a warm and happy glow, but he's eager to share the wonders of Christmas with his fellow Halloween Town citizens. And, before he knows it, he's struck with an even better idea: what if, this year, he takes over the Christmas holiday himself?

After sending Halloween Town's best trick-or-treaters to find (that is, kidnap) Santa Claus from Christmas Town, Jack and his fellow scarers begin putting together their own version of Christmas: spiderweb-decorated Christmas trees, Venus-Fly-Trap Christmas wreaths, and presents that range from zombie rubber ducks to haunted toy dolls. They're convinced their take on Christmas will be the perfect way to improve the holiday -- and that the children around the world will find their surprises frightfully delightful. Unfortunately, sometimes even the most well-meaning of plans don't quite work out ...

Released in 1993, the film was animated with stop-motion techniques; instead of drawings, the characters were sculpted and then posed frame-by-frame to achieve the illusion of animated motion. The movie itself is a musical, with ten songs by composer Danny Elfman framing the backbone of the story. With an original storyline, intricately sculpted sets, and colorful, quirky, wholly engaging characters, it's a beautifully unique movie that is a quirky joy to watch.

While I find the animation bizarrely charming, and the music delightfully catchy, the real heart of the story, for me, lies in the character of Jack Skellington. Because as it turns out, Jack is not just a somewhat surprising Everyman character -- he's also got a truly inspiring lesson lying at the heart of his story.

Sure, he's a skeletal pumpkin king whose job description includes scaring the wits out of people whenever he can manage it -- but it's hard not to relate to Jack's opening lament. Who hasn't grown weary of the daily grind now and again, and found themselves in need of rekindling the enthusiasm they once had for the day-to-day challenges of life?

Jack's delight in discovering Christmas is an easy thing to relate to, too. We can all understand his sudden enthusiasm for this new world, and for the happiness -- inexplicable as he finds it -- that the Christmas spirit gives him. He doesn't understand it, but he loves it just the same.

So you almost cheer him on when he gets it in his skull to take on the holiday himself -- despite all evidence to the contrary that he'll be able to pull it off. It's not just that he doesn't understand how to make Christmas come alive; it's also that he doesn't seem particularly good at it. Still, Jack doesn't let the odds stand in his way. Believing whole-heartedly in what he and his fellows have created, he sets off with a happy heart to bring a Halloweenified Christmas to children the world over.

And he fails abysmally.

The children of the world (not to mention their parents) hate Halloweentown's Christmas gifts. Jack's Christmas flight ends in miserable defeat, and it takes a newly-released Santa Claus to right the chaos Jack has inadvertently created.

His failure doesn't come as a surprise -- not even to Jack himself, once he stops to think it over. The residents of Halloween Town had never quite grasped the concept of Christmas to begin with ("Nobody really understood," he laments to his ghost dog, Zero). Jack himself had struggled to understand Christmas, and as he'd never truly been able to explain it, it's unsurprising that his fellow Halloween citizens didn't get it either. It's only to be expected that Jack's Christmas "nightmare" proves such a disaster.

And yet, despite that failure -- Jack ultimately decides that he's not sorry that he tried. "I did my best!" he exclaims, clearly proud that he "at least ... left some stories they can tell." (Which is certainly true.) Best of all, it was in preparations and celebration of his Halloween-ified Christmas that Jack felt like himself again.

Ultimately, the joy for Jack came not from whether or not he succeeded, but in the attempt itself. And in a world where winning is often held up as the only goal of value, it's a timely reminder that there's worth to be had simply in trying.

And I asked old Jack,
"Do you remember the night
When the sky was so dark,
And the moon shone so bright?

"When a million small children,
Pretending to sleep,
Nearly didn't have Christmas at all,
So to speak?

"And would, if you could,
Turn that mighty clock back
To that long, fateful night --
Now, think carefully, Jack!

"Would you do the whole thing
All over again,
Knowing what you know now,
Knowing what you knew then?"

And he smiled, like the old
Pumpkin King that I knew,
Then turned, and asked softly of me,
"Wouldn't you?"

Happy Halloween!

-- Request the film on DVD from the Catalog
-- Request the film on Blu-ray from the Catalog
-- Request the soundtrack on CD from the Catalog
-- Request the original picture book by Tim Burton from the Catalog


-- Post by Ms. B

NYCC 2014: A How-to Guide

One of the official posters for New York Comic Con

(The best one, actually, because: Batman.)

This October marked the ninth-ever New York Comic Con, the comic book and pop culture convention held annually in Manhattan. The con made history this year when it topped 150,000 attendees, officially surpassing the attendance of the much older San Diego Comic Con by some 20,000. It made NYCC the biggest comic book convention in the country -- at least for the moment.

This year also marked my sixth time to NYCC, and, as always, I had an absolute blast. With half a dozen New York conventions under my belt, it occurred to me I might be uniquely qualified to offer some advice to you: how to have the best New York Comic Con (or any comic con) experience possible.

After all, NYCC 2015 is only eleven and a half short months away!  So read on for some insider tricks and tips, and start planning your trip today ...

-- DO: Get the insider scoop on upcoming comics

Spider-Gwen

If you're attending New York Comic Con, chances are good that you have at least a passing familiarity with comic books. But the truth of the matter is, whether you're a comics collector, a former fan, or you've never picked up a comic book in your life -- a convention is the perfect place to find out more about this unique storytelling form.

It's also the place to be to hear the newest announcements about upcoming books, events, and new media adaptations of your favorite comics and characters. And it's a particularly exciting time to be a comic book fan, as the industry begins to branch out and try new approaches to bring in fresh (and previously untapped) audiences. Whether it was the announcement of a new Spider-Man book starring Gwen Stacy (played by actress Emma Stone in the Amazing Spider-Man films), an upcoming crossover book entitled (yes, really) Archie Meets Predator, or the special release of an exclusive version of the new Sleepy Hollow comic book (based on the hit FOX series), NYCC is the place to unlock your inner comics nerd.

-- DON'T: Forget that comics influence all sorts of new mediums

The comic-turned-television series, "Powers"

New technologies are changing the way we watch television. DVRs and On-Demand services let us watch the TV shows we want to watch when we want to watch them. And with the creation of such series as Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and Transparent, Netflix and Amazon.com have created hit shows that bypass both networks and cable television, making them available instead through the internet. (Most interesting of all: Netflix and Amazon.com release the entirety of their seasons at once, allowing viewers to "binge watch" a new show, rather than having to wait from week to week for each new episode.)

Now a new company is getting in on the on-demand action: Sony. Later this year will see the release of Powers, a show based on a long-running comic book by the same name. What makes the show so unique?  Only PlayStation owners will be able to watch it, streaming the sci-fi show through their gaming devices.

The cast and creators of Powers were on hand at NYCC to discuss their upcoming show -- and the unique way in which it will be available to viewers. It's a new move for PlayStation, and, if successful, may help to continue ushering in a new era of how we watch television.

-- DO: Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities

King George

One of the funny quirks about NYCC (and many other major comic cons): you don't hear about the guests until well after the tickets have all sold out. And sometimes, you don't hear about the guests until you're sitting down for the Tomorrowland panel and George Clooney makes a surprise Comic Con appearance.

But the stars aren't always a surprise. The Birdman panel and its guests were announced well in advance -- exciting news for fans of Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Other celebrities of the long weekend included Amy Sedaris, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, Mike Tyson, Karl Urban, Orlando Jones, Ron Perlman, Adam West, director Brad Bird, authors Jeff Kinney and Kim Harrison, and cast members from such shows as Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead.

-- DO: Look for what you love

CBS's "Elementary" panel

NYCC is a comic book convention -- but the truth of the matter is, you don't really need to be a comics fan to enjoy the con. There are panels and programs on TV shows, upcoming films, authors and their novels, and other pop culture phenomena.

Which is just another way of saying that the con has something for everyone. Case in point: our regular readers will remember that I am a major Sherlock Holmes fan. So I was sure not to miss CBS's Elementary panel, which featured show stars Jonny Lee Miller (Sherlock Holmes) and Lucy Liu (Joan Watson), as well as Ophelia Lovibond (playing new series regular Kitty Winter) and show director John Polson. The panelists promised exciting things ahead for the show, and the first, unaired episode of the new season was specially screened for the audience.

For me, getting a personal wave from Jonny Lee Miller was the highlight of the con. Such tiny moments abound at such conventions -- so make sure to seek out panels and programs about the stories you love best. They're out there!

-- DON'T: Stick to the convention floor

The Captains: William Shatner and Patrick Stewart

NYCC hasn't just expanded their numbers -- they've also expanded their venue. In addition to the convention itself, there was a new event offered this year: New York Super Week.

Spread out in locations across Manhattan, New York Super Week offered a plethora of extra programs throughout the con's weekend, as well as in the days leading up to NYCC. Events included a "StarTalk" with physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, a live NRP show with guest Neil Gaiman, and (my personal favorite) an evening with the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, moderated by the original Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. While you certainly don't have to leave the con to have fun, Super Week is an opportunity to see some of your favorite stars outside of the convention halls -- and with guaranteed seating.



-- DON'T: Restrict yourself to the con

The (Jackie Kennedy Onassis) Reservoir in Central Park

It's no secret to those who know me: New York is my favorite of cities. If you're in town for the con, you might think about taking a day off from convention-going to explore the city itself. (I'd recommend skipping Sunday, one of the most crowded con days and one which is geared specifically towards the smaller set; many of the programs and panels are for kids).

Early October generally makes for beautiful weather in New York City, so you might take a stroll through Times Square for lunch or even make a trip out to Central Park. If you want to get out of Manhattan, there's the Bronx Zoo or the Brooklyn Flea Market. And that is, of course, just for starters. There's no end of things to do in NYC; just pick up a travel guide or try a Google search (or, of course, ask your friendly neighborhood librarian), and see what the city has to offer.

DO: be sure to take awesome pictures.

Pictures of people dressed up as Calvin and Hobbes are always awesome.

-- Post by Ms. B

NYCC 2013

October. It's a month that means changing leaves, fall festivals, Halloween ... and New York Comic Con.

Since its inception in 2006, New York Comic Con has become the premiere event of the East Coast for all things Geek Culture. Featuring comic book artists and writers -- as well as actors, authors, directors, and animators -- NYCC allows fans of comics, science fiction, fantasy, and other genres to connect with the creators behind their favorite stories. (Not to mention featuring sneak peeks and new announcements about upcoming comic, film, and TV projects!) The event is held at the Jacob Javits Center, and the tickets sold out faster than ever this year; for the last two years, attendance has topped 100,000 people.

Guests this year included William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Seth Green, Sylvester Stallone, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, Sigourney Weaver, actors from "Game of Thrones" and "The Walking Dead," comics legend Stan Lee, authors R.L. Stine and Lemony Snicket, and "Doctor Who" star John Barrowman. Opportunities to see the stars live and in person abounded (as they always do), with panels, autograph sessions, and photo ops spread throughout the weekend. (I waited in line to meet Barrowman, although the longest line for an autograph -- don't ask me why -- was one of the original Power Rangers. Go figure.)

I've been a faithful New York con-goer for years now (see last year's wrap-up here), and this October was no exception. This was an exceptionally crazy, crowded, fun year at NYCC, and I'm already excited for October 2014!  For those of you who weren't able to make it to the fun this year, here's my report from the front lines:

The con floor. Did I mention "crowded?"

Thursday evening featured panels specifically geared to kick off the con with some proper entertainment. The Comedy Mutant crew (featuring Janeane Garofalo, Brian Posehn, and other comedians) put on a two-hour comedy set on the Javits Center's main stage. Thursday also offered a sneak peek of the Exhibit Hall, giving Thursday con-goers a chance to browse and shop at the tables and booths in an atmosphere that was merely "moderately crowded" (since, by the weekend, the numbers would swell to "severely, impossibly crowded").

I spent Thursday evening at the Empire Stage, where special sneak peeks of upcoming fall television premieres were being screened. First on the list was the pilot episode of Almost Human. Set in the near future, the premise sees a snarky (and rather embittered) LAPD detective paired with an android partner. Half crime procedural, half sci-fi series, the pilot made for a fun, unique ride, and I'm already excited for the show to premiere this fall (Monday, November 4, 8 pm on FOX).

If you missed the panel, there were Almost Human posters plastered across the subway -- which were quite cool to see for a sci-fi fan

Speaking of television: astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was on hand to discuss his involvement with a new 13-episode series: "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odysessy," debuting Spring 2014 on FOX. It's something of a "sequel" to the iconic science series "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage," which was narrated by astronomer and author Carl Sagan and aired over thirty years ago on PBS. 

Tyson was there alongside executive producer/writer Ann Druyan (who oversaw the original "Cosmos") and executive producer/director Brannon Braga (who has worked on both the "Star Trek" franchise as well as "24"). The new series will explore the history of humanity's quest to discover the origins and mysteries of, well, the cosmos. 

Dr. Tyson will be hosting the new series, which he -- like his fellow panelists -- hopes will inspire people to be curious and persistent in their search for the truth. He sees curiosity as a natural trait: "A scientist is a kid who never grows up." Druyan spoke quite elegantly about her belief in the importance of the new series inspiring emotion as well as intellectual interest in their viewers: "To be human is to fully think and fully feel -- not one at the expense of the other."

Braga may have put it best while explaining his own hopes for the new "Cosmos." "It's the story of our place in the universe -- and how we came to find it."

From Tyson, on the casual weirdness of a comic con: "My fear is that aliens will come and land at Comic Con, and no one will notice!"

Cast and crew members from "The Walking Dead" were on hand again this year to show sneak peeks of the upcoming fourth season, which premiered on Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC. (You can read more about the Walking Dead panel here.) Actors Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny were also in attendance to talk about "The X-Files," which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. (Get the highlights of that panel here.)

This year marks Superman's 75th "anniversary" as a comic book character

My personal highlight of the con was William Shatner's panel, which took place on Sunday afternoon. The Star Trek and Boston Legal actor took to the stage by himself, talking a bit about his new album before fielding questions from the audience.

As a Trekkie, I'm predisposed to like William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series nearly fifty years ago. ("It's hard to believe it's been almost fifty years since the show first aired," gushed one fan, prompting Shatner to reply, "You think it's hard for you to believe it ...") But Shatner was genuinely delightful, entertaining with stories from throughout his career: coming down with food poisoning the morning of his Broadway debut, or getting to sing a duet with Paul McCartney. There were a few stories about his Star Trek cast mates, including Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock. ("Leonard was particularly susceptible to practical jokes ...")

He also had some words of wisdom for budding actors -- or, indeed, anyone with artistic dreams: "You just do what you think is good, and hope it's what [the audience] thinks is good." He wrapped up the afternoon with thoughts on the appeal of science fiction and the excitement of scientific discovery, which seem to come out of the same place: curiosity. "It's hardwired into humans -- curiosity. It's the attempt to explain to ourselves the mystery that's out there."

It was a nice note on which to end the weekend's festivities. Here's to next year!

Iron Man is also a good note to end on.

-- Post by Ms. B

Cult Films

When Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey came out in 1968, reaction to it was very mixed. Some people loved the unique film, but many people hated it. Even the people who loved it didn't necessarily understand it. Nevertheless, it had people talking. Which, in turn, had people going to see it. Which eventually turned it into one of the top cult films of all time.

There really is no definitive definition of what makes a film into a "cult" classic, but I'm going to take a stab at it anyway. What turns an ordinary, and possibly even a very successful, film into a cult film is that there is a large group of people who are obsessed with the film. These films are watched as often as possible by the fans, talked about as often as possible with other fans -- and the more outside the mainstream, the better, but it's not absolutely necessary.

In honor of the anniversary of the release of 2001: A Space Odyssey on April 3, 1968, I'm going to take a look at some of my favorite "cult" films.



-- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

"Bring out yer dead!" 

This was the first film from Monty Python that was not made up of sketches from their show Flying Circus. It was co-directed by Python members Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam, who have very different styles. I'm not sure of the first time I saw this film, but whenever that was, I've loved it ever since. Their very irreverent and British sense of humor makes me laugh every time I watch it. This is definitely a film that needs to be watched with other Monty Python fans on a big screen. Hopefully I will be able to do that one day.


-- The Princess Bride (1987)

"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

When The Princess Bride was released in 1987, it was only a modest hit at the box office. After it was released on video, the popularity of the film increased and it quietly became a cult classic. It has had midnight showings around the country over the last 20-plus years, where fans speak many of the famous lines right along with the film. This is one film that almost my entire family loves and can quote without much effort.

-- Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)

"My friend, can your heart stand the shocking facts about grave robbers from outer space?"

This is one of those films that is so bad, it's great! What makes this film so much fun to watch is knowing that Edward D. Wood, the director, believed he was making a fantastic film. Ed Wood was an interesting and unusual man who made several "B" movies in the 1950s. He surrounded himself with people who were just a bit outside of the mainstream but who were loyal to him -- most of whom were in Plan 9, including Bela Legosi. Legosi made his final film "appearance" in Plan 9. (Wood had shot several, unrelated scenes with Legosi that he would eventually incorporate into Plan 9.)

-- The Sound of Music (1965)

"Somewhere out there is a lady who I think will never be a nun."

The Sound of Music is one of the most popular and beloved films of all time, so you wouldn't think that it would be considered a cult film, but you'd be mistaken. People gather all the time to watch this film, discuss this film, and even dress as their favorite characters -- or even as Maria's favorite things! I love this film so much that I have attended two Sing-along presentations of the movie. They were so much fun! 

-- Casablanca (1943)

"We'll always have Paris."

This is another example of an immensely popular film also being a cult favorite. It definitely meets all of my criteria. There are not too many people who cannot quote at least one line from this film (even if it isn't exactly correct). It's always showing up in movie theaters that specialize in independent and art house films. And people love to talk about and obsess about the story and the characters. On one fan fiction website, there were 30 stories, most of them recently written. The fascination with this film will always last.



For more about cult films, check out these books.

And for a list of all-time cult film favorites, check out this list from Entertainment Weekly and this list from NPR.

-- Post by Tracy

NYCC 2012

Founded in 2006, the New York Comic Con is the big comic book (and sci-fi/fantasy) East Coast event of the year. Featuring comic book writers, artists, and editors -- as well as animators, actors, directors, and authors from all walks of pop culture -- this convention goes well beyond comic books to celebrate all things Geek. (And trust me when I say that I mean that as a compliment.)

Although San Diego Comic-Con is both far larger and far older (SDCC was founded back in the 70s), NYCC has spent its seven-year history becoming one of the most popular conventions in the country. Its guest list has grown increasingly impressive -- this year's notables included Christopher Lloyd, Julianne Moore and Chloë Grace Moretz, Kevin Smith, television Batman duo Adam West and Burt Ward, director Guillermo Del Toro, authors Anne Rice and Sir Terry Pratchett, and several cast members from the hit television series The Walking Dead.

NYCC 2012

It's also a pop culture paradise for those convention-goers who are comic book aficionados, with comic authors and artists from DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, IDW Publishing, and dozens of other comic publishers and independent freelancers. Fans are given the opportunity to go to panels, and even meet in person, their favorite comic book creators -- asking questions, getting autographs, and perhaps even acquiring an original art commission.

And don't forget the fantastic convention-goers' costumes. Many fans come dressed as their favorite superheroes, movie and TV characters, Halloween horror types, and more.

My personal favorite: 

Kyle and Kyle's Mom from TV's South Park

This year's con was my fourth time attending NYCC. As always, it was an exciting, exhausting, exhilarating weekend, a whirlwind of comic-book awesome that already has me looking forward to Comic Con 2013. I attended panels, met artists and actors, toured the exhibit floor, and spent way too much money on souvenirs. While my personal highlights were many (attending Grant Morrison's panel, seeing exclusive footage from the animated The Dark Knight Returns: Part Two, meeting mystery author Lyndsay Faye, and chatting with artist James Silvani), there was almost too much Awesome to choose from.

Highlights of this year's con included:


-- The biggest event of the con may have been Saturday's Walking Dead panel. (Read the inside scoop here.) Fans began lining up at 9 p.m. on Friday night for the chance to snag one of a hundred tickets being given away for a meet-and-greet with the popular show's cast members. And if you didn't manage to get a ticket for the meet-and-greet, then there was Saturday afternoon's panel -- featuring much of the cast, along with producer Gale Anne Hurd and show creator Robert Kirkman.


-- Grant Morrison. For you non-comic fans, Morrison is one of a superstar quartet of 80s-90s comic book creators (along with Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, and Alan Moore). This was Morrison's first trip to NYCC, and he was there to tell fans all about his current and upcoming projects, including the four-issue miniseries Happy! and his future plans for Batman, Inc. Morrison is known for being quirky, imaginative, and wholly original -- which wasn't hard to notice as he fielded questions from the audience:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: "Any advice on what to do if you accidentally conjure up a demon?"

MORRISON: "Well, I mean, you just have to deal with it."  

No one can really explain Grant Morrison; you just have to read him for yourself and get the general idea. 

-- A first look at the trailer for Carrie, a remake of the 1976 Stephen King-penned classic, which will be released to theaters next year. Stars Julieanne Moore and Chloë Grace Moretz were also on hand, answering questions about the film and sharing their thoughts about the remake and their characters.


-- Celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of long-running British sci-fi television series Doctor Who was the fifth Doctor himself, Peter Davison. (Eleven different actors have taken their turn at portraying the title role.) On hand for a delightful panel about his experiences on the set of Who, All Creatures, and his current series Law & Order: UK, I was particularly lucky enough to also meet him later at Autograph Alley. (He's as congenial and forthright as one would hope the Doctor to be.)

An array of "Doctors" at NYCC

-- For you Avengers fans, the Marvel Television Presents panel released what was possibly the biggest comic-related news to come out of the Con: despite his apparent death in the Avengers film, Agent Coulson (played in the Marvel movies by actor Clark Gregg) will be back to star in Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D., a new television series currently in the works. (Read more about this surprise announcement here.)

-- And, of course, there was the velociraptor:

Because at Comic Con, there's always a chance that you might get to see a velociraptor.

If you decide to visit NYCC next year, be sure to stop me and say Hi. I'll be the one in the Batgirl t-shirt.

... of course, the wonderful thing about NYCC is that that doesn't really narrow it down.

-- Post by Ms. B