Freak369's Full Review: Neca Nightmare Before Christmas Lunchbox
Being a huge fan of Nightmare Before Christmas I started collecting weird and odd things in the theme. If you thought that Hello Kitty cornered the market on merchandising then you've missed out on a lot of Nightmare Before Christmas items. You can get everything from clothing to jewelry, dishes, plats and tableware and even a very cute Jack Skellington set of salad tongs. I don't buy anything and everything with the characters on it, I stick with the really odd things that have shock value. Anyone can walk into a store and buy a notebook with Jack and Sally on it, that doesn't make them an admirer of the film or story, it makes them a fly by night fan.
The Nightmare Before Christmas lunch box is done up in two designs, one on the front and one on the back. The front shows Sally and Jack dancing and the reverse shows several of the characters [the mayor and Jack] from the film. Since there are so many different lunch boxes in the Nightmare Before Christmas collection [17 the last time I checked] it is very possible that you might not be able to find this exact one. Moreover, if you are shopping online you might get one that looks completely different. The NECA website is usually really good about displaying the correct images and having accurate descriptions but that isn't the industry norm. Always be on the look out for the phrase, "We reserve the right to substitute a comparable product"; that means they can send you whatever they have in stock.
One thing that sets this apart from other lunch boxes is that it has a textured image; on the inside of the box you can see the impressions that give the outside its molded look. While this makes it look better it can also make it more susceptible to scratches, wearing of paint and marring. Since this only gets used in October, around Halloween, and Christmas it's not really a big issue for me but it is something that you need to know about before you think about buying one. The lunch box is made of metal so that means that most kids won't be allowed to take it to school. I doubt most kids would want to take something like this to school but it is something that you need to know.
Unlike some of the other metal lunch boxes I've bought, this one doesn't have any inside food keeper arm so things will slide around a little bit. I don't use it to haul food around so that’s not too big of a deal for me. If you are going to use this for food you might want to invest in some plastic containers so that food doesn't get all squished up when you pack it. The thermos does have a small rounded arm that covers it and keeps in place so at least you won't have to worry about that rolling over your sandwich or destroying your potato chips. It isn't insulated so if you have something that is perishable make sure you use a small ice pack with it or refrigerate it as soon as possible.
I get a lot of comments and weird stares when I use this but that's fine with me. It is similar to one that Hot Topic sold in the past so I get the usual, "wow, she's cool for being old" remarks from the mindless sheep that shop there. It is a collectors item but it isn't part of a limited edition so spending more than $15.00 on this is out of the question. I paid $10.00 including shipping for mine and while it was worth every penny it isn't something that I would consider as nice as the numbered or limited styles. Unless you have a store in your area that sells these, you are pretty much stuck with ordering it online. I got lucky and found a great seller in Canada that had several Nightmare Before Christmas lunch boxes but not everyone is going to be as blessed.
This makes for a great gift for anyone that is into the film, likewise, it can also be used as a gift box for something a little more expensive. It is something that will last a long time if you take care of it but because it is made of metal you do have to worry about rust happening as well as it getting dented. I like that it has two different designs to it and that they have some textured detail to them, it gives it a nicer look than the ones that have a flat appearance to it. If you are a fan or know someone that is, this is one of the nicer [but still affordable] lunch boxes in the Nightmare Before Christmas theme.
As always, thanks for the visit…
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2008 Freak369
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): see review Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: Other
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