Coraline (Spoilers Likely In Comments)

[filkertom]

Yes, I know I'm late on this one. I was working.

Just saw Coraline. Very good, very beautiful, very creepy. Henry Selick's script and direction are tight, the vocal work is excellent, fabulous music, the effects and the visualization of the world are gorgeous, and it's not necessarily a movie to take the kids to -- only a few very minor cat-scares, but a good deal of stuff that'll slip into your dreams for a few weeks.

Thoughts from you guys? I've been specifically avoiding most of the conversation, as I haven't read the book.

Comments

I too loved the music!

[poly-scott.livejournal.com]

Being a huge uber-nerd, I love TMBG, and the other-father's song was awesome, if too short.

[jenrose]

Loved it so much.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

have read book, not seen movie yet.....
looking forward to seeing movie though

[ladyoceanstar.livejournal.com]

Did you see it in 3D? I did, and was very glad for it. The whole thing is just gorgeous and I enjoyed it very very much.

I read the book after seeing the movie, and I thought I'd never say this, but I actually liked the movie better. The book is very well written, but it doesn't get into the characters enough. The movie actually has better character development and you feel more invested in the story.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

3D was the only option, and I wouldn't have seen it otherwise. Between this and Bolt, they've proven the tech. What I love about this, above all other things, is that, even though it's adapted from an ostensibly YA story, this isn't a kids' movie. Looks as if 9 will also not be a kids' movie. This is a big breakthrough in animation in the U.S. Too fucking many furry animals and cutesy fantasy worlds. Tell any damn story you please, please.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Creepy, which I expected since I read the book. I thought the 3-D was done quite well. Elaine hadn't read the book, and doesn't usually like creepy, but she also thought it well done (I'm not sure "enjoy" is the right word).

Definitely would not have taken the younger daughter to see it. Kind of glad we didn't take the older one.

And I still need a picture of you for the Windycon website. I'll have my camera and a prop for you to hold at Capricon this weekend, so we can get the shot there.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Okay, but I've got pics on my Press Kit page. More coming soon.

[ohari.livejournal.com]

Don't let them get you in front of the camera, it sucks out your soul!

[catlin.livejournal.com]

How bad is it with the Wicked Stepmother idea?

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

Irrelevant. It's NOT a stepmother. "I'm your OTHER Mother. Everybody has one."

[drzarron.livejournal.com]

We saw it and loved it. Sabrina only freaked a little at the scenes where Coraline us only at night without her parents. But like any kid a triumphant ending erases all fears.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

I loved it, as did my kids (although YoungerSon NOW says it was "creepy"). My parents liked it as well.

it was cool :)

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

K (age 11) came home and read the book afterward. He likes both, and is currently driving me nuts pointing out random things that are different. We're having a good discussion on what elements make up a good movie, and why a filmmaker might put in different things from what a novelist would put in.

I liked both the book and the movie. Must-read, must-see for anyone over age 8.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the book either, but I did enjoy the movie, especially as I too went in for the 3-D version. (Hint: Go early in the afternoon to save $$$.) Having seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, I could have figured out it was made by the same animators without the credits saying so, so distinctive was the visual style. Probably just the thing for adapting a book by Gaiman.

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

I thought it was amazingly well done!
There were several young children in the audience that were likely too young to be there - the crying attested to that. Shame on their parents.

[pjhandley.livejournal.com]

haven't seen the film yet, but will definitely say that the book freaked me out, brought up quite a few forgotten childhood fears.......

[barbarakitten-t.livejournal.com]

i loved it, granddaughter age 12 loved it....

too creepy for words...especially if you were ever a lonely little girl.

[loremaster2085.livejournal.com]

My 6-year old wasn't creeped out a bit. Of course, she's a creepy little kid herself; she's been weaned on Doctor Who, Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, and Nightmare Before Christmas, so she's used to that style. I think it helped that, in the movie, Coraline never really gets scared. She might get a little frightened, but she keeps her head and never panics. Kids react to that on some level.

Stunningly gorgeous film, and the example to look at for how to make a 3D movie. 4 stars

[skunktaur.livejournal.com]

I've read the book, it's sitting on my roommates desk with an order from me to read it at this moment.

What is this 3D you speak of, though...

[bryanp.livejournal.com]

I'm going to skip the comments as I haven't seen the movie or read the book yet, but they're on my short list. I haven't been to the movie theater since I rebuilt my entertainment center (I've been sticking to DVD's and downloads), but I may make an exception for Coraline.

[raendrop.livejournal.com]

I liked Coraline, but some of the book-to-movie changes confused me. The book takes place entirely in England, but the movie takes place in the U.S. (I did think it was slightly nifty, though, that the Joneses were from Pontiac, Michigan: I live next door in Auburn Hills.) I also am not sure why they had to invent a character whole-cloth (no pun intended). Wyborn and the doll were not part of the book.

The major source of my confusion, though, was the way Coraline would go to sleep in the "other" place and wake up in her own bed. That didn't happen in the book; there was a very definite, indubitable reality to the "other" place. If memory serves, I also don't think the doorway kept bricking up, either, but I could be wrong.