"Coraline" Talkback (Spoilers)

I just got back from the 8:25 PM showing at the theatre nearest me that was showing it in 3D.

It lived up to the expectations I had for it, but it was seriously creepy. I personally wouldn't let a 10-year-old watch this.
 
That was AWESOME.
-Great voicework all around, especially from Dakota Fanning, Keith David and Teri Hatcher (an actress I'm not particularly fond of in real life). Fanning makes Coraline feel like a real little girl, David gets to show off his range (it's a much softer, more lilting voice than we're used to hearing from him), and Hatcher is great as both Mother and The Other Mother, especially when she ramps up OM's villainy in the last act.
-I was surprised at just how creepy and scary the film could actually be; I heard a kid behind me whisper, "Mommy, I'm scared" at least twice, and I was actually pretty unnerved at some points, especially during Coraline's insanely tense escape in the third act. Also, how in the name of all that is logical did they get away with the PG rating when you have the near-naked Miss Forcible in the Other World? That was seriously pushing it in terms of ratings.
-Scottish vampire dogs RULE.
-So do weird blue-skinned Russian guys named Bobinsky; Ian McShane's vocal performance is hilarious, and I couldn't stop smiling whenever he was onscreen.

What a great start for animation in the new year.
 
I honestly don't know. I like a lot of songs, but when a movie has a character suddenly singing for no reason, it is just so unrealistic. In High School Musical, the characters dance and sing in the school hallway. In the Lion King, Simba sings for no reason in the jungle. I n Mulan, the army starts singing even though they are sad.


Besides, Coraline is a horror movie. Singing would ruin the effect. Its like Jingle all the Way starting while Alien is fighting Predator. It makes no sense.
 
corastuff.jpg


Correction: they have TWO different Coraline lunchboxes.

This isn't the best picture, but the problem with taking a camera into a bustling shopping mall is that I worry someone will see me and think I'm taking references for when I'm going to blow the place up. It's blurry, but it proves my claim. They exist.
 
I was seated in the middle of a family with a lot of kids (they were well behaved), and the part that had the greatest effect on them was definitely the 'Birth or Aphrodite' thing. They kept saying over and over again, "oh my god," (just like Coraline), "what the heck," and "that's gross/disgusting."


And the Cat was awesome.
 
Wow. I thought Coraline would be at Hot Topic but that's the complete opposite.

But who cares, I'm buying Coraline merchandise. Thanks for telling me about it.
 
What was the last animated musical?

True, not every animated movie needs to be one, but I can't wait for Disney to make a new one, since their post-Mulan method of hiring professional artists to write a couple of songs to be placed in the movie instead of being sung by the cast doesn't seem to be doing it for me, even when the songs written are good, like Phil Collins' setlist for Tarzan.

Sorry about rambling on like that, especially when I haven't seen Coraline yet.:p
 
Well, having finally seen Coraline, I must say I was extremely underwhelmed and disappointed.

My main complaint is that the tone of the original book is completely lost. The whole feel of the book was very sinister, and the point (the moral, if you will) was that you should keep your head and be brave even in the most frightening situations. In the film, nothing is creepy. Nothing gets a chance to be. The plot (especially at the beginning) is so choppy and the characters so one-dimensional that no sense of atmosphere ever develops. Hence, with both its intended tone and its message almost nonexistant, much of the story's appeal is gone.*

Another beef I have with this movie is Wybie. He was SO un-necessary. The thing with the dolls was un-needed as well. Now, I fully realize that books cannot be translated word-for-word and made into excellent movies, but I thought all of the changes Selick made to the story, setting, and characters were pointless.

And lastly. . . the visuals. Yes, I have seen how almost everyone has raved about the visuals, but frankly I was unimpressed. The craft and movement of the characters was masterfully done, but I thought most of the character designs were straight-up ugly, especially Coraline herself. Worse, though, was the fact that the puppets looked like just that: puppets. To me, they didn't have the look or aesthetic feeling of organic characters at all. The cat, in particular, looked extremely fake, and it bothered me.

I guess that sums it up. And I know my opinion is not the norm, but I must wonder if some viewers were as disappointed as I was.

*Disclaimer: this is only my opinion. Furthermore, it is the opinion of someone who read and loved the book on which the film is based, and who also DIDN'T see the film in its intended 3D format. These two factors probably have a lot to do with my assessment of the film.
 
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