Screenhead

So pretty much every Neil Gaiman fan on the face of the earth was looking forward to this one, even if all he had to do with it was writing the original novel on which Coraline was based.

This one is all about the little girl who’s been named in the title–Coraline.  Coraline’s got two very busy parents, and as so often happens, usually without intent, Coraline grows to feel ignored by her parents, who are, as most parents know, constantly neck-deep in work.  Thus, when Coraline finds a door to another universe located in her own house, she’s pretty eager to plunge into it.  The universe she finds is a lot like our own, only much, much better, with lots of excitement and interesting things happening and people who are actually happy to see her, or at least more inclined to act like it.  But as is generally the case with anything Neil Gaiman comes in contact with, just because it looks like a fantastic netherworld into the depths of a greater universe than our own, doesn’t necessarily mean that it isn’t actually containing some really nasty unnamed–or possibly unnamable–horrors.

The absolute unsettling beauty of this movie is just amazing.  The figures are all realistic, but without trending toward that “uncanny valley” tendency that would elevate this from unsettling to creepy. The background music is even better, alternating between the soft and gentle to the upbeat and jazzy, with occasional forays into the dark and foreboding.  I don’t ordinarily comment on a movie’s soundtrack, but when it’s as perfect as this one is, it requires some special attention.

Even better, the backgrounds they’re set in are perfect for each character.  Seems like everybody in this movie is insane for any of a variety of reasons, with only the possible exception of our heroine Coraline.  And frankly, the fact that she’s the only one experiencing this “other world” casts serious doubt on the whole thing.

A special note–even the Michigan lore aspect of Coraline is quite real.  When Coraline’s friends refer to her as a “troll” and a “loper”, those are both ACCURATE names.  A “troll” in Michigan is a person who comes from below the Mackinac Bridge, or the LOwer PEninsula, which explains “loper”

The thing that you really need to be aware of with Coraline is that, despite the fact that it’s rated PG, it’s really quite a bit too dark for the younger set.  Seriously–I wouldn’t let anyone under the age of at LEAST eight watch this movie without severe threat of nightmares.  But past that point, you’re likely in for a really rousing family adventure with lots of fun and some amazing sights.  I’m actually really pleased at how this turned out.  It’s got plenty of thrills and a little action packed into this clearly family fare.

Granted, it’s not one for the littler kids, but anyone from probably about eight on up (and don’t think that this is just for kids, either–it’s a solid story with lots of good surprises packed into it and some absolutely beautiful visuals.  Coraline pulls down a full nine out of ten on the Screenhead Ten Scale, mostly because it misses its target market by just a little bit, and not everyone in its upper audience is going to enjoy a–let’s face it–cartoon.  But still, for those willing to try, Coraline will be a fantastic adventure, in every sense.

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He’s Just Not That Into You remains at the top of the box office this week. Taken is still in second while third place was captured by Coraline.  Friday the 13^th is opening today and Jason may slice and dice his way to the top of the box office after the three-day weekend.

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Regal Theaters is showing “First Look Clip” of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince before Coraline.  Someone from Muggle.Net commented on the clip. This is what he had to say about the clip:

“Some of the footage has already been seen in the trailers, but there were several new and/or extended clips including: Bellatrix on top of a table in the Great Hall throwing a spell (extended), Hermione throwing birds at Ron, Hermione’s jealousy of Ron and Lavender (”Excuse me, I have to go vomit”), Dumbledore levitating items in the Dursley house, a couple of new lines from Dumbledore, new shots of the Inferi, and the “She Thinks You’re the Chosen One” scene (extended).

Spread in between the new clips were also new, short interviews with Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and producer David Heyman. If you’d like to see all this for yourself, we recommend checking out a film at a Regal Theater this weekend. Get there a good 20 minutes early to be sure you see the “First Look” video, which starts before the trailers. “

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Although we haven’t heard from the box office reports, I am curious as to how Coraline is weathering the box office drama with the movie being release this weekend in 1000 3-D theaters and 1000 2-D theaters.  I hope the numbers are high because this story and art work is pure joy and sensational. It deserves recognition.

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In celebration of the creative power and artistry behind the spectacular new movie Coraline, the Portland Art Museum transformed into the movie’s Other World. Miniature sets and costumes were crafted by hand from some surprising materials to create a world unlike any other. Attendees saw up close characters’ actual costumes and the movie’s elaborate sets. Animators were on hand to demonstrate the art of stop-motion and the master knitter who created Coraline’s tiny sweaters and gloves replicate the miniatures on site.  It was truly an extraordinary night!  

Combining the visionary imaginations of two premier fantasists, director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Newbery Award Winning Author Neil Gaiman (The Graveyard), Coraline is a wondrous and thrilling, fun and suspenseful adventure that honors and redefines two moviemaking traditions. It is a stop-motion animated feature – and, as the first one to be conceived and photographed in stereoscopic 3-D, unlike anything moviegoers have ever experienced before. From Oregon-based animation studio LAIKA, Coraline, MPAA-rated “PG,” is released in theaters nationwide (in both 3-D and [regular] 2-D) by Focus Features on Friday, February 6, 2009.

Focus Features sent Screenhead pictures from the premiere last night in Portland, Oregon.  Here we have posted this lovely picture of Dakota Fanning (Coraline) and Teri Hatcher (Coraline’s mother).

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Henry Selick created quite a world with Neil Gaiman’s international best-selling book, “Coraline.” Selick is known of his visionary work on The Nightmare Before Christmas.  With Coraline comes a spectacular stop-motion animated adventure – the first to be originally filmed in 3D!

Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning) is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door and discovers an alternate version of her life on the other side.  On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life and the people in it – only much better.  But when this seemingly perfect world turns dangerous, and her other parents (including her Other Mother voiced by Teri Hatcher) try to trap her forever; Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to escape this increasingly perilous world – and save her family.

Enjoy this clip that introduces the labor of love it took to make this film.  Make sure you visit the official website which offers all sorts of animated treats.

Coraline opens February 6, 2009.

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I impatiently waited for the full trailer of the movie Coraline. I’ve seen all the teaser clips and background information, which is fruitful in understanding the fairy tale and overall production. I kept feeling like I needed more.  Now after seeing the full trailer, I am almost satisfied.

Henry Selick directs the novella by Neil Gaiman. The story is sort of like an off-the-wall “Alice in Wonderland.”

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Coraline is still in production, Rotten Tomatoes offers updates on the progress of production, yet the shots are incomplete. The interviews with the production crew and cast are educational and tantalizing.  Enjoy the trailer.

 

 

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A behind the scenes look of Coraline, a combination knack and dark whimsy, novelist Neil Gaiman’s gently twisted sense of humor.  The story details a young girl named Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) and descent into fantastical alternate reality that will require all her wits and resources to escape out of and back into our world.

 

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