Coraline

[daltysmilth]

Even if what you say is true, so what?  It's just another example of storytellers emulating the style of other storytellers.  Video games are very much influenced by literature and film, and as a result, film and literature has become influenced by the style of video games. 

Anyway, what about the James Bond films?  Their climaxes often involve Bond having to fight the bad guy's main henchman, then after defeating him, facing off against the main bad guy, the "final boss", if you will.  What about Army of Darkness?  Ash has to quest to find a mystical object and faces off against a bunch of smaller bad guys before facing the main bad guy.  And then, after he defeats the main bad guy, the main bad guy comes back in another "form".  Just like the endgame from a video game. 

[Darth Geek]

While I did love the movie, I do think that the third act was a bit repetitive, because how remarkably easy it was for her to find and get the eyes. Also, am I the only one dissapointed that they weren't real eyes, just glowing round objects?

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

That's a bit of a convenient relabeling. In the book, Coraline had to find the souls of the ghost children. I imagine the film-makers thought most audiences would find the idea of ghosts being separate from their souls a bit metaphysically disagreeable.

[Darth Geek]

That's a bit of a convenient relabeling. In the book, Coraline had to find the souls of the ghost children. I imagine the film-makers thought most audiences would find the idea of ghosts being separate from their souls a bit metaphysically disagreeable.

AHHHH, I see. It also doesn't help in the movie with referring to them as the ghost's "eyes", why aren't there two of them? I like the book's reasoning better. Thanks.

[Trumpysgirl]

I never really had an issue with it. Then again, I was kinda busy throwing popcorn and milk duds at the dude two rows ahead of me who kept opening his phone and texting. Yeah, you know that bright light that magically comes out of your phone? We all can see it.

[Relaxing Dragon]

I never really had an issue with it. Then again, I was kinda busy throwing popcorn and milk duds at the dude two rows ahead of me who kept opening his phone and texting. Yeah, you know that bright light that magically comes out of your phone? We all can see it.

So it isn't just me! I knew it...

Also, I did find something a bit off about the whole 'find the eyes!' thing, but I just figured they didn't look like eyes because the Other Mother had taken all the eye sets and disguised them to fit in with the rest of the world.

[THE QUEEN!!!]

I too loved the film and am still geeking out about it, but I did think finding the eyes didn't take long enough/was too easy.  Though it was obvious to me from the first time she went there that this wasn't a good place to be, rather like a twilight zone episode or a horror flm, I appreciated that it wasn't obvious for a while who was controlling the whole thing--was it the house? the parents together? one of them alone? some unseen force? But I immediately thought of an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark in which someone goes through a door in her new house that looks just like the old house and discovers a missing girl who has been turned into a doll. Anyone else think of that show?

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

I don't think I've seen it.

I think one of the really creepy things is that whenever she goes to bed in the Other World, the Beldam sits down to watch her sleep.

Doesn't that strike anyone else as creepy? Not lean over to tuck you in, not sleep in the same room, but just SITTING, to stare at you while you sleep. o_o

[THE QUEEN!!!]

Wow, I never thought of that. eeeeeeeeeeewwwww. That is creepy.

[Relaxing Dragon]

I noticed that when I watched it. Perfect family or not, I'm surprised she got to sleep so easily with them just staring at her (and when the Other Wybie got in on things... well, that's just outright unsettling).

[Johnny Unusual]

I just saw it in 3D and it looks really great.  I was also thinking video game in the final part, but it also made me think of how Gaiman's writing works (which is aqnything but video game-like and it seems similar to how he would present "challenges for the hero".  Usually, it's something a bit more witty but it was still cool (especially the rats.  It is implied that they ate the circus guy right?)

Still, it reminded me a lot of Thief of Always (which isn't too surprising since Barker and Gaiman have similar writing styles and are good friends.)  though I hope that one is live action.

As for

Whybe saving the day, he really only saved part of the day, It's not like he did everything for her.  Sides, if you get too caught up in gender issues in a movie (assuming that not what they're about) than your not going to have any fun.  Still though, Whybe is apparently super-humanly strong to do all that real quick.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

I didn't get that implication. I just thought he was made of rats, a sorta rat conduit/avatar. Until they all crawled out of his clothes, there was what was left of the other crazy old man upstairs in there, the memory of him, kinda thing. He could also be  a gestalt conciousness for the rats that just couldn't hold up too long. I think the rats eating him seems a little too mundane and visceral for the story.

I've thought about the Whybie move, and I realizes that his skeleton-costume gloves probably have rubber grips, so that helps a little. It still bugs me though.