Last week I OD-ed on food at buffets so I'll start off this week with a movie review, if you don't mind. :)
*clears throat*
If you think cartoons/ animated movies are just for kids, please reconsider and watch Coraline (which I hope will help change your mind at least a bit).
The movie is actually based on a novel written by my favourite literary genius**, Neil Gaiman:
(** I don't care what people may say - To me, comics are part of the modern literary landscape, and Neil Gaiman is behind the Sandman comics, so he's a literary genius. If you want to be fussy, he has also written several books so actually, he's covered, either way...)
I admit that I felt a bit wary, as movie adaptations of books/ comics tend to disappoint... but Henry Selick who wrote the screenplay/ directed it did a FANTASTIC job.
(Well, he did direct The Nightmare Before Christmas, so I guess I shouldn't have even doubted him even for a moment...)
On the surface, the storyline seems pretty simple and not at all unique - just a story of a little girl who discovers a wonderful, magical parallel world...
... but to me, it stands out through the complex layering of that classic story element with beautiful visuals, good character development and a dark undertone:
Honestly, even the opening sequence sort of creeped me out - it seems innocent enough (Someone sewing a doll) but the movements and tone hinted of something menacing:
... and this element flows through out the film, where there are (at first) small details that hint of something not quite right:
All in all?
(Like I said) Watch it please! :)
The storyline might be simple but it's an interesting movie to watch.
(It lost to Up in the 2009 Academy Award's Animated Movie category but I think it gave it a good fight for the title - It probably fell short because the movie had a lot less of a soppy, feel good factor)
Note: Don't be fooled - It's not CGI!
Of course they had to embellish here and there with some CGI... but for the most part, it's actually painstakingly detailed stop motion animation:
Main characters:
- Dakota Fanning as Coraline Jones (voice)
- Teri Hatcher as Mel Jones/ Other Mother/ Beldam (voice) <--- Good work, Desperate Housewife! :)
- Jennifer Saunders as Miss April Spink/ Other Spink (voice)
- Dawn French as Miss Miriam Forcible/ Other Forcible (voice)
- Keith David as The Cat (voice)
- John Hodgman as Charlie Jones/ Other Father (voice)
- Robert Bailey Jr. as Wyborne 'Wybie' Lovat (voice)
- Ian McShane as Mr. Sergei Alexander Bobinsky/ Other Bobinsky (voice)
Synopsis:
A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life - only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous... and Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery......
(Note: Synopsis adapted/borrowed from Rotten Tomatoes, which gave this movie a great rating of 89% fresh!)
Here's what some others thought of the movie:
- joshuatly.com v2
- k0k bL0k: Koumpounophobia
- 加油站
I LOVE NEIL GAIMAN,
J
TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal
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I watched this on HBO recently. LOVE IT! Didn't know it was by Neil Gaiman.
ReplyDeleteGREAT SHOW! Oh.. i KNEW i forgot to write about something LOL :P
ReplyDeleteI love love love Neil Gaiman's works.
ReplyDeleteI love love love Neil Gaiman's works.
ReplyDeleteto Che-cheh:
ReplyDeleteIt was based on a (children's) novel he wrote a few years back. :)
(The book's pretty good but I guess if you've seen the movie then it defeats the purpose because it comes pretty darn close)
to ciki:
YAY! I love it too. Ah, we have such great taste, horr? :)
to Brother B:
Me too! Me too!
Everything from Sandman to Lucifer to American Gods! :)