Once again, I’m being entirely unoriginal here, but what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t have some kind of Christmas post on here?  Everyone has their Christmas traditions, and among mine are a certain set of films which absolutely must be watched before the big day.  Some start to get you in the mood in the early days of December, others are the full on Tinsel and Fairy lights, perfect for Christmas Eve.  Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting my festuve favourites, split into three groups depending on when I reckon is the best time to watch them, starting with the ones which aren’t necessarily all about Christmas, but have just enough jingle bells to remind you it’s getting close.

So it’s December. The shops have been playing carols since August but you’re still not quite there with the Christmas spirit yet.  Now is the time for the build up films, the ones that don’t hit you over the head with festive cheer, but start to remind you why it’s “the most wonderful time of the year.”

To start you off: The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I’m never quite sure when to watch this film.  Too Christmassy to watch at Halloween, a bit too cynical to watch at Christmas.  In the end I’ve decided it fits nicely into the end of November and beginning of December; the perfect film to remind you that the season has begun.

I’ve written about Nightmare before, but for those of you who don’t know it’s a cult classic Burton film telling the story of Jack Skellington the King of Halloween town.  By accident he stumbles into Christmasland, where “absolutely no one’s dead” leading him to try and recreate the magic back home.  Poor Jack gets it a bit wrong though, and it’s up to Frankenstein monster Sally to show him what Christmas is all about.

The film is full of Christmas spirit, but it’s also full of goblins and ghouls meaning it’s not the DV D you’ll be reaching for on Christmas Eve.  Whatever the time of year however, it’s a brilliant movie, so if you haven’t seen it yet and are still waiting to be caught up in the yuletide fun, this is definitely the place to start.

Die Hard (no, really)

You might be wondering what I’m getting at here, but I refer you to the quote: “Now I have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho.”  Any excuse to watch this wicked film is fine by me, and in my book a film which takes place on Christmas Eve is a Christmas film.  OK, so it might not exactly be brimming with the joys of the season, but at its heart it’s a film about a guy trying to get home to see his kids for Christmas.  There’s just the issue of a few German terrorists to get past first.  Not you’re typical seasonal fun granted, but a brilliant film in it’s own right with just enough holiday spirit to get you on your way.

Back to Burton for: Edward Scissorhands

It’s the story of where snow comes from. What could be more Christmassy than that?  The film documents roughly a year of Edward’s life, but the final showdown takes place at Christmas and it’s those scenes which stick in most people’s memories.  Another sensational film, this tells the tale of Edward; a boy made by an inventor who died before he could finish, leaving Edward alone in an empty mansion with metal shards instead of hands.  Both hilarious and tragic, Edward is a beautiful film with an equally gorgeous soundtrack that will start to stir up warm fuzzy feelings you never knew were there.

And finally, the first of the real Christmas films: Love Actually

Stop rolling your eyes like that.

For some reason a lot of people don’t like this film, but as far as I’m, concerned Richard Curtis can do no wrong, especially when you’re looking for some festive schmaltz.  This film was made for the build up, as that’s exactly what it’s about! Travelling from mid November to Christmas Eve, it juxtaposes the stories of a great ensemble cast, who lives all intertwine as they try and make it to the big day.  Stand out performances include Emma Thompson’s perfectly British “Joni Mitchell” moment and, of course, Bill Nighy singing “Christmas is all around.”

If you’re looking for your Christmas spirit, look no further than Love Actually.  It’s got everything you need to get you in the mood, with enough different types of character to be sure of habving someone there you identify with.  Of the four on this page, it’s the one film you can be absolutely certain I will watch before Christmas. It just has to be that way.

(Yes, it's blurry. But I couldn't resist a screenshot of that moment.)

Hope that starts to get you in the mood. Part two coming soon.

Photography by Matt King

My take on Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas.

Using many forms of scrap from punched steel to piping.

Have no idea what the base was used for/part of ,I found it,I liked it,I used it

O Natal está chegando… Que tal curtir ele no “estilo Jack”?

Não entendeu?

Olha essa camiseta:

The Nightmare Before Christmas - Lord of The Geeks

É a camiseta “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, ou então “O Estranho Mundo de Jack”.

Esse filme é super bacana, dirigido pelo mestre Tim Burton, e fala sobre um Natal um “pouquinho” atípico…

Celebre o Natal com essa camiseta, e mostre que existe um Jack Skellington dentro de você!

and I still think Vincent is his best work.

Mulţi ar spune că Halloween-ul e o sărbătoare a horrorului. Este total adevărat, doar că, deşi cam orice horror merge văzut de această sărbătoare nu tocmai pitorească, sunt câteva filme pe care ash dori să le recomand cu toată căldura.

Primul dintre ele, e cred că cel mai bun film pentru această ocazie. Deşi nu este horror de loc, ci din potrivă e o comedie-musical, e cel mai potrivit pentru tema Halloween-ului. Este un film pe care l-am mai menţionat în unul din posturile cu şi despre filme. Dar să nu o mai lungesc, vorbesc, bineînţeles despre cunoscutul film al regizorului Tim Burton, “A Nightmare Before Christmas” . Spun că e cel mai potrivit, pentru că personajul principal, Jack Skellington, numit şi “The Pumpkin King” e celebritatea oraşului Halloween. Ce putea fi mai nimerit?. Nu merită să vă descriu filmul mai… amplu ( spre a fi mai elevat), este un film care trebuie neapărat experimentat.

Al doilea film e tot din palmaresul aceluiaşi regizor. La fel ca anteriorul, l-am mai menţionat într-unul din posturile anterioare despre filme. E vorba despre “The Corpse Bride“. Până şi titlul trădează tematica filmului. Citez: “Filmul este despre un tânăr care se căsătoreşte din greşeală cu o domnishoară decedată. Pe lângă povestea foarte interesantă avem şi muzica de calitate, având în vedere că filmul e un muzical. După cum spuneam, la Tim Burton, atmosfera e de toată lauda, iar animaţia asta nu face excepţie.” Acestea fiind spuse cred că pot trece la următorul film.

“Edward ScissorHands” e titlul celui de-al treilea film. Cu Johnny Depp ca actor principal, cu Tim Burton ca regizor şi cu o idee genială, filmul e extrem de potrivit pentru Halloween. Pe scurt, filmul este despre un robot, făcut după om de un savant, care incearcă să se integreze în societate, dar fără rezultat. După cum spune şi titlul, robotul are mâini de foarfece, pentru că savantul a murit înainte să îl termine. Un film excelent. Recomand oricui!

Al patrulea film şi probabil ultimul de care am să vorbesc este, normal, tot un film de Tim Burton, şi anume “ Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” tot un film pe care l-am mai menţionat. Pentru o descriere mai amănunţită puteţi intra aici.

După cum probabil aţi observat, toate filmele menţionate sunt regizate de Tim Burton. Cred… ba chiar consider că acest regizor ar fi putea numit cu uşurinţă regizorul Halloween-ului. De ce? Pentru că toate filmele lui care au o tentă spooky, chiar dacă nu sunt tocmai horror, sunt parcă special creeate pentru Halloween. Tim Burton are un mod specific de a combina morbidul cu amuzamentul, şi asta e tocmai scopul Halloween-ului. Alte filme pe care aş mai putea să le recomand doar în trecere sunt “Sleepy Hollow” sau mai pe limba noastră, “Legenda Călăreţului Fără Cap” din nou, specifică de Halloween, sau orice alt horror cu zombie, fantome, şi multe alte “mascote” ale Halloween-ului.

Sper că v-am sporit curiozitatea cu aceste filme şi până la ceva posturi viitoare, numai bine!!! Trick or Treat!!!!

Gutto: Yo, aqui é o Gutto (vestido de DeadLord) e THIS — IS — HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Chrome: Yo, aqui é a Chrome (vestida de DeadLady) e é HALLOWEEN galëre \o/

Gutto:  Estamos aqui, exatamente no halloween para falar de halloween. Origem, historias, besteiras e tudo o mais q pudermos falar

Chrome: Sim,isso tudo o que o meu pão de queijo falou , siga em frente

Augusto:  Halloween não é uma coisa nova, começou a muuuuuito tempo, nas nações anglo-saxônicas, como uma maneira de celebrar o dia dos mortos, e as fantasias serviam para que os mortos pudessem se misturar com o povo sem problemas.

Chrome:  Sim, o Halloween é uma tentativa de dominação alegrar o mundo *==*

Gutto:  Sem deixar que os zumbis matassem todos D:

Chrome:  * Zumbi atrás de mim * Socorro

Gutto:  *Olha para o zumbi, que sai correndo ante a minha presença* Eu sou o DeadLord!!!

Gutto: Zumbi nenhum ataca ninguém hoje, especialmente você, Chrome…

Chrome:              Obrigada meu amor *==* Você me salvou!!!

Chrome:              * Aparece a Hana atrás do meu pãozinho * Hanaaaaaaaaa *HADOUKEN * afaste-se do meu pão de queijo

Gutto:  O_O Bom, voltado ao assunto do cast….

Gutto:  Hoje, o halloween é uma festa muito divertida, difundida entre os países que foram colonizados pro saxões, como EUA, Canadá etc…

Gutto:  Neste dia, todos se fantasiam e saem às ruas para festejar. As crianças saem para pedir doces e os jovens e adultos para a esbornia (como no carnaval).

Chrome: Ah… hoje vieram pedir doces em minha casa .-.

Gutto:  Sério?

Chrome: Sério. Não sei quem atendeu. Eu estava ocupada.

Gutto: Bom… Vejo que isso tá chegando no Brasil…

Gutto:  No halloween eu ganhava doces da escola quando era pequeno

Chrome: Eu também. =D

Gutto:  Tipo, saia geral fantasiado na rua, e passava em varias lojas, e as lojas davam doces. Estranhamente, eu não variava de fantasia…

Chrome: Bom… Eu só não saio de casa pra pedir doces, porque eles não me dariam.

Gutto: Se eu pedisse, eu levaria tiros…

Chrome: Uma vez eu fui de vampira lD

Gutto:  *–*

Gutto: Ano passado eu juntei uns amigos em casa e vimos filmes de terror. Tentei fazer isso esse ano, mas não deu certo…

Chrome:Eu tenho medinho se eu ver sozinha…

Gutto:  Filmes de terror vistos com uns 6 amigos viram comedia D:

Chrome: Tenho que ter alguém pra mim esconder o rosto nas partes más

Gutto: Eu adoro as partes más. Não consigo piscar nelas.

Chrome:              *==*

Chrome: Tipo , eu acho emocionante assim, mas aí eu sonho com aquilo ¬¬

Gutto: Eu sonho quando vejo filmes do tipo 1408, mas eu adoro tanto esse filme. Não posso deixar de assisti-lo.

Chrome: hausausa

Chrome: Outro dia eu tava vendo uma parte de jogos mortais, porque meu pai tava vendo. Eu não consegui ver as cenas dos castigos .-.

Chrome: Tava vendo o 5 se não me engano

Chrome: Eu só assistiria a um filme de terror se você estivesse aqui

Gutto:  *–*

Chrome: Uma vez eu tava vendo premonição …

Gutto:  Premonição… Eu vi isso no SBT quando eu tinha ,acho que 8 anos. Eu ri muito quando um papel cortou a cabeça do cara fora. E eu devia ter ficado assustado D:

Chrome: hausausa *==*

Gutto:  Eu não sabia que papel cortava, e eu ri falando que era mentira, que a morte tinha usado gameshark.

Chrome:  haushausa

Gutto:  Já assistiu ao filme: Contos do Dia das Bruxas (Tricks’r Treats)??

Chrome: Nossa , não sei

Gutto: Eu digo e repito: Melhor filme de TERROR do ANO!!!!!

Gutto:  São 4 contos que acontecem no dia das bruxas ao mesmo tempo. O filme não é linear e é du baralho

Gutto:  Eu adorei e com certeza eu digo assistam. Mas assistam sozinhos, tá? Com muita gente vira “Dia das Bruxas do Barulho”

Chrome: Quero assistir com você!!

–

Gutto:  O Halloween tem vários símbolos, como, por exemplo: As aboboras, o Jack o’Lantern, caveiras etc…

Chrome: Jack Skellington

Gutto:  Jack Skellington, The Pumpkin KING!!!!! Ele é o meu maior símbolo do Halloween

Chrome: Yeahhh!!!

Gutto:  O Estranho Mundo de Jack (The Nightmare Before Christimas) tem a segunda melhor musica de abertura em filmes. Perdendo apenas para Watchmen, que também tem uma importante passagem durante o Halloween, mas não vou dar spoiler.

Gutto: Este filme recomendadissimo é o musical O Estranho Mundo de Jack, animação em stop-motion peeeeerfeita. E este filme puxa outro filme MAGNIFICOO:

A Noiva Cadaver (Corpse Bridge)

Chrome:              *=*

–

Gutto:  Eu sinto pena do Brasil, por não poder comemorar o Halloween do jeito original, com festas nas ruas e doces. Aqui, tudo se baseiam a bailes e festas com a decoração, onde tem 6 gatos pingados de fantasia.

Chrome: …é uma pena msm

Gutto:  Tá… mesmo que eu esteja organizando uma festas dessas, eu não concordo…

Chome: hausaushausa

Gutto:  Vamos ficando por aqui. Alguma ultima mensagem?

Chrome: Bom… Que todos tenham um ótimo Halloween , não como o original , mas tudo bem (:

Gutto:  Até a próxima, e Happy Halloween!!

Have a fun and safe one, kids!

This is Halloween,

-Shady

Here’s the latest.  Jack Skellington and his landscape in gumpaste on a fondant covered red velvet cake (always from scratch) with a cream cheese filling. Yum!  21st birthday cake for a “nightmare” lover.

I’m a huge fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I was one of the lucky ones who saw the film in theatres in 1993, when Disney wasn’t sure what to do with the film.  I went to work for Disney right after the film was released and remember seeing all the merchandise created for the movie at 50% off.

You see, when the movie was first released, it was not a huge success.  Oh, it wasn’t a flop per se, but it wasn’t a blockbuster.  And Disney didn’t know how to market the movie.  They almost didn’t let it be known it was a “Disney” film and released it under the Touchstone banner originally.

Maybe it’s because the characters are a little less cute.  Remember, the last three films Disney had released were The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.  They were on a roll.  And along comes this film with a pretty much grey and black color scheme, creepy looking characters, and a storyline that is somewhat…unusual. No wonder they had no idea what to do with it.

The Citizens of Halloweentown

In the years since, however, Nightmare has become a key part of the Disney franchise.  It gives all those Goths who love Disney but don’t want to admit it characters they can wear and get tattoos of and identify with.  The Haunted Mansion Holiday is one of the coolest things to happen to a Disney attraction in years, and the film has been re-released in theatres to much acclaim.

Jack at the Haunted Mansion

But I’ve always loved this movie.  Always.

Some people ask me why.  They see it as a subversion of Christmas.  They see it as what is dark conquering what is light.  They see it as something that somewhat creepy people are fans of and wonder, “What the heck?”

But me, I see it the way I’ve always seen it, and it fits perfectly into the Disney pantheon of storylines.  And it fits perfectly with a Biblical virtue I’ve been thinking about a lot during the past month: Individuality.  You can define individuality any way you want, but the definition I’m working off of is discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.

You see, Jack Skellington isn’t that much different from Simba.  Or Aladdin.  Or Qusasimodo.  Or Remy (from Ratatouille) or Wall*E.  Jack isn’t that much different from you or me.

You see, all of us are created to fill a special purpose and a place in God’s kingdom.  I don’t know what yours is.  That’s really between you and God, and if you seek His heart and direction, you’ll eventually get there.  But I know what mine is.  My purpose is to help kids and parents find their place in God’s story, to lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and to help them make a huge difference in this world.

Jack’s trouble is a lot like the trouble I was having a few years ago.  Like Jack, I was really good at what I was doing.  Jack is the “Pumpkin King” and the main man of Halloween.  He is really good at making Halloween great.  In fact, the beginning of the movie points out that this year’s Halloween was even better than last year’s!  Jack isn’t suffering from being a loser–no, he actually has too much success.

Jack and I both got bored with our lives.  We thought there has to be something more.  (This longing for more, something almost every Disney character has, is actually quite godly and ingrained in us as His creation.)  For me, I wondered if what I was doing even mattered anymore.  I had “been there, done that.”  What was left for me to do?

The Pumpkin King has “grown so tired of the sound of screams.”  He’s bored to death.  (Ha!)  He feels he has lost his purpose.  So when he discovers Christmastown, he gets excited again.  Here is something new, something wonderful, and he loves the way it makes him feel.

What's This?

“There’s children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads!  They’re busy building toys and absolutely no one’s dead!  There’s frost on every window, I can’t believe my eyes–and in my bones I feel the warmth that’s coming from inside!” (from “What’s This?”)

This new feeling awakens him and inspires him.  He decides that this year, he should be in charge of Christmas.  He puts the citizens of Halloweentown to work creating what he thoroughly believes will be a “merry and jolly” Christmas.  In the “Making Christmas” sequence, we watch the macabre residents of Halloweentown busy working on creating gifts for Christmas.  Yes, every single gift is horrific and scary or disgusting and gross, but they are doing their best to make what will be a wonderful Christmas.

Needless to say, it all goes wrong.  The toys attack the children, Christmas wreaths try to strangle granny, and the police are on the lookout for a man dressed as a skeleton ruining this joyful holiday.  Moments before he is shot down by missiles, Jack is convinced he’s making a great Christmas for everyone.  He has completely missed the point.

Jack eventually comes to his senses.

Santa Jack.

“What have I done?  How could I be so blind?  Spoiled all!  Everything’s gone all wrong…” (“Poor Jack”)

He sings that “all I ever wanted was to bring them something great,” and that he really did his best and it awakened in him something he hadn’t felt in his life for a long time.  “I, Jack, the Pumpkin King,” he sings, and realizes, “That’s right! I am the Pumpkin King!”

You see, Jack, like me, had forgotten who he was.  He hadn’t “discovered who he was meant to be so he could make a difference.”  Why was Jack’s version of Christmas so messed up?  Because he was trying to subvert it and make it evil?  No.  Jack–and the rest of the people of Halloweentown–could not make Christmas “merry and jolly” because that’s not what they were created to do.  Their purpose in life was to scare people.  That’s what Jack was created to do.

When Jack finally comes to the realization of who he is, I think it is safe to say that he will fully devote himself to making Halloween the most amazing thing he can.  He has discovered who he is–now he can fulfill his purpose and be all that he is intended to be.

You and me, we’re in the same place as Jack Skellington sometimes.  Until we know what we are created to do, we will never be able to fulfill our purpose.  We may already have discovered who we are meant to be but think, “That’s not important enough or interesting enough or I’ve done it so long that I’m bored.”

The Pumpkin King

Remember Jack Skellington.  Discover who you are meant to be so you can make the difference only you can make.  Don’t try to be what you’re not.   Be who you were created to be.

The title says it all. These are forensic reconstructions of three famous fictional skulls: Skeletor from He-Man, Manuel Calvera from Grim Fandago and Jack Skellington from Nightmare Before Christmas.

[via]

We’ve gathered a list of the top five uses of pumpkin/jack-o-lantern in a movie or title.  Here are GoreMaster’s favorites for your Halloween season viewing and enjoyment! 

5.  It’s the Great Pumpkin,  Charlie Brown (1966)

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is an animated television special, based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.

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It was the third Peanuts special (and first Halloween special) to be produced and animated by Bill Meléndez. Its initial broadcast took place on October 27, 1966, on the CBS network, preempting My Three Sons; CBS re-aired the special annually through 2000, with ABC picking up the rights beginning in 2001. The program was nominated for an Emmy award. It has been issued on home video several times, including a Remastered Deluxe Edition of the special released by Warner Home Video on September 2, 2008, with the bonus feature It’s Magic, Charlie Brown which was released in 1981.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, a retrospective book was published in 2006 entitled, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: The Making of a Television Classic with the entire script, never-before-seen photographs, storyboard excerpts, and interviews with the original child actors who provided the voices of the Peanuts gang.

4.  Pumpkinhead (1988)

Pumpkinhead is a 1988 supernatural horror film, combining elements of

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fable, fairy tale, and morality. It was the directorial debut of noted special-effects artist Stan Winston. The film has become quite popular with horror fans for Winston’s atmospheric direction and memorable monster, and has built up a cult following in the years since its release, and is thought to be a classic of the genre.

3. The Legend of Sleepy Hallow (1958)

The story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, based on Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (narrated by Bing Crosby). The gangly and lanky Ichabod Crane is the new schoolmaster in Sleepy Hollow. His somewhat odd behavior makes him the ridicule of the rambunctious and robust town bully Brom Bones. Despite his odd appearance, Ichabod quickly proves to be a ladies’ man charming all the eligible local ladies. Finally, however, Ichabod discovers the local town beauty, Katrina Van Tassel.  Brom decides to take advantage of Ichabod’s strong belief in superstitions. 

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Brom musically tells the tale of the Headless Horseman to frighten the teacher. That Halloween night, Crane’s lonely ride home becomes exceedingly frightening because of his exposure to the possibility of encountering the ghost.

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 stop motion

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 fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from “Halloween Town” who opens a portal to “Christmas Town”. Danny Elfman wrote the film score and provided the singing voice of Jack, as well as other minor characters. The remaining principal voice cast includes Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page and Glen Shadix.

The genesis of The Nightmare Before Christmas started with a poem by Tim Burton as a Disney animator in the early-1980s. With the success of Vincent in 1982, Disney started to consider The Nightmare Before Christmas as either a short subject or 30-minute television special. Over the years, Burton’s thoughts regularly returned to the project, and in 1990, Burton and Disney made a development deal. Production started in July 1991 in San Francisco. Walt Disney Pictures decided to release the film under their Touchstone Pictures banner because they thought Nightmare would be “too dark and scary for kids”. The Nightmare Before Christmas has been viewed with critical and financial success. Disney has reissued the film annually under their Disney Digital 3-D format since 2006.

1. John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978)

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Halloween

is a 1978 American independent horror film set in the fictional suburban midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois, USA on Halloween. The original draft of the screenplay was titled The Babysitter Murders. John Carpenter directed the film, which stars Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, and Nick Castle, Tony Moran and Tommy Lee Wallace sharing the role of Michael Myers (listed in the credits as “The Shape”). The film centers on Myers’ escape from a psychiatric hospital, his murdering of teenagers, and Dr. Loomis’ attempts to track and stop him. Halloween is widely regarded as a classic among horror films, and as one of the most influential horror films of its era. In 2006 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

El vídeo habla por sí solo…

I absolutely love Jack Skellington from the Nightmare before Christmas. There is something about that long skeleton body and big skull smile that makes me happy. I also know I am not the only one. There are so many Jack Skellington Fans out there just like me. Well then you will be happy to know I just updated my page on some of the most fun and unique Jack Skellington Merchandise. I have found some really unique items that you may not even knew were available featuring – your truly – Jack Skellington. Did you know there were Jack Skellington Lawn Bags? Or you can get a life size cardboard stand up with him on it? Did you know there is a Nightmare before Christmas Monopoly Game available?

Who stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar? Jack did!!

I am so amazed at all of the Nightmare before Christmas  Merchandise available out there and it is still being made today even after the movie came out years ago. I think Disney really cashed in on this one.  And yes they are even getting my money because I buy it – I just cannot resist. Maybe this year for Halloween I will have to get a Jack Skellington Costume, which are also on my page. Did you know those are available in plus size? Hmmm a fat Jack – not sure that would look right.

Anyway, if you are fan, know a fan or need to find some very cool Jack items then stop by – I had lots of fun putting this one together.

Cute. Brave. Cheeky. Inquisitive. Loyal.

A big dog inside a little body.

Photo: Igor Bredikhin, 2006

The dachshund is a short-legged, elongated dog breed of the hound family.  The breed’s name is German and literally means “badger dog”. Due to the long, narrow build, they are sometimes referred to as a wiener dog or a sausage dog.  The standard size was developed to scent, chase, and flush badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature was developed to hunt smaller prey, like rabbits. -wiki

Dachshunds exhibit three coat varieties: smooth coat (short hair), long hair, and wire-hair. The dominant color is red, the most common along with black and tan. -wiki

Dachshunds are playful, known for their propensity for chasing small animals, birds, and tennis balls with great determination and ferocity.^{[16] [17] [18]} Many dachshunds are stubborn, making them a challenge to train.^{[17][19][20][21]} Several quotes have been recorded regarding the training of dachshunds; one is from E. B. White:

“Being the owner of dachshunds, to me a book on dog discipline becomes a volume of inspired humor. Every sentence is a riot. Some day, if I ever get a chance, I shall write a book, or warning, on the character and temperament of the dachshund and why he can’t be trained and shouldn’t be. I would rather train a striped zebra to balance an Indian club than induce a dachshund to heed my slightest command. When I address Fred I never have to raise either my voice or my hopes. He even disobeys me when I instruct him in something he wants to do.”^{[22] [23]} -wiki

As well as being close to the hearts of their owners, the dachshund has found it’s place within popular culture…

In the gothically stunning animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, written by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick), the main character Jack Skellington is accompanied on his adventures by his faithful ghost dog Zero, who is of course an ethereal dachshund with a glowing nose.

See Jack and Zero together during the beautiful song “Jack’s Lament”.

In another animated film, Pixar’s Toy Story (1995, directed by John Lasseter), there is a toy dachshund called Slinky who has a stretchy metal coiled ‘slinky‘ for his mid-section.

He is based on Slinky Dog, a pull toy by James Industries, which was popular in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. -wiki

Even great artists need the love and inspiration of a dachshund…

Picasso and Lump

Picasso and Lump discussing what's for dinner?

The book Picasso & Lump: A Dachshund’s Odyssey tells the story of Picasso and Lump.

Andy Warhol had a pair of dachshunds, Archie and Amos, whom he depicted in his paintings and mentioned frequently in his diaries. -wiki

Andy Warhol and Archie, 1973, by Jack Mitchell

David Hockney with one of his dachshunds

Hockney even produced a series of drawings and paintings of his dogs, published as a book:

Even advertisers have used the charm of the dachshund in their commercials.

See them run, ears flapping in the wind…

And if you have ever dreamed of a herd of dachsunds…

]]> http://squidbat.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/lense-niche-halloween-costumes/ Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:54:54 +0000 Miss Bat http://squidbat.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/lense-niche-halloween-costumes/

Halloween happens to be my favorite holiday. And it has nothing to do with free candy. It’s more about dressing up. I loved playing dress up as a kid, although it was more about trying to be my favorite television and film characters then “real world” persons. Go figure.

Squidboo had just opened its doors as a Squidoo brand when I joined up in September 2007. So I immediately took advantage of it and churned out a lot of Halloween costume-related lenses. At this point, I have 22 costume-related lenses. This is certainly a niche.

–

Miss Bat’s Costume Collection
This is my costume lensography. You’ll find links to every costume lens I’ve ever made here. They were crowding out my main lensography, so they branched out and formed their own.

The rest of the links are self-explanatory. Happy costume hunting!

The Addams Family Halloween Costumes
Batty Costumes
Darth Vader Halloween Costumes
Frankenstein’s Monster Costume
Hairspray Halloween Costumes * Squidoo Lens of the Day 10/13/2007 *
Harry Potter Halloween Costumes
Haunted Hollywood Costumes
Humorous Halloween Costumes
Iron Man Costumes
Jack Skellington and Sally Halloween Costumes
The Munsters Costumes
Princess Leia Costumes
Robin Hood Costumes
The Simpson’s Costumes
Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Costume
South Park Costumes
Star Trek 2009 Costumes
Star Wars Costumes
Thanksgiving Costumes
Transformers Costumes
Watchmen Costumes

Free Printable Nightmare Before Christmas Coloring Pages and Paper Dolls
Tim Burton’s films are big, loud and bright. If you like Tim Burton’s first classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, then you’ll want these free printable coloring pages, paper dolls and fonts from the movie!
Click here…

Jack Skellington

Jack Skellington is the wildly popular main character from the 1993 Disney/Tim Burton film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Jack made his first meet and greet appearances in 2008 at Disneyland in California, around the Holiday Haunted Mansion.  It is unknown if Jack will return for the 2009 edition.  Reader Mandy also notes Jack and Sally have appeared in Hong Kong for a while now.  Look for them there!  Keep your eyes and ears open and let us know if you hear anything!