Thursday March 28, 2024
SNc Channels:

Search
About Salem-News.com

 

Feb-11-2009 07:36printcomments

Laika's 'Coraline' Better Than Expected

There were many parts in the movie that I considered more deep and serious than anything I've seen an an animated picture of this genre, which kept my attention.

Coraline
Courtesy: earlyword.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - I visited the Laika animation studio in Portland in 2008. At the time the only thing I knew was that they created stop-motion and CG (Computer Graphics) commercials for various products.

Laika/Selick Coraline Models
Courtesy: farm4.static.flickr.com

While I was there the staff showed us around several sets that are for different commercials. However there was one that we couldn't be shown. It was the set for their first full-length picture, a film adaptation of the horror novella "Coraline".

In the weeks leading up to release of Laika's first full length picture, nearly a year after my trip to the studio, I remained unconvinced by all the internet hype; I didn't share the excitement that some of the people I knew shared, even with the "3D" attraction.

However after taking a chance at the movies, I immediately began telling everyone I know about the film and suggesting that they see it.

All aspects of the film were captivating from beginning to end. The characters were likable, the lines catchy, the scenes memerable, and the overall style and originality very admirable in our current age of movie making.

The plot centers around a teenager named Coraline. To her frustration, people often mistake her name for the more common "Caroline".

She feels ignored by her parents and unnapreciated in her household. In the beginning, it's the traditional story of a young person dragged away from their hometown and friends to an isolated house outside of town to the advantage of their parents.

Courtesy: eonline.com

To be direct, early on in the movie she discovers the entrance to a parallel world where everything and everyone seems to be doing their best to make her happy.

Everyone in the real world has an alternate being in this "other world".

But as most stories turn out, this fantasy world turns out to be anything but a dream come true. Several other characters are introduced throughout the movie but the plot continues to center around Coraline and her slowly maturing view on life and they way her parents treat her; the very reason she left her home for the "other world".

Although the plot alone was original and easy to follow, the real factor that had my attention was the combination of different types of animation styles and how well this was incorporated into the storyline for dramatic affect.

I was unable to see the movie in 3D, but even without the glasses I could feel the depth throughout certain scenes.

The cinematography altogether was brilliant. I will say that early in the movie I could clearly see the stop-motion clicks. I don't know if it was mere captivation or if the animation itself became more solid, but just a few minutes into the movie, this didn't concern me any longer.

There was a clever blend of stop-motion and modern CG in many scenes of the movie. And when I say "blend" I mean it literally. I couldn't tell when the animation style switched bewtween the two or when both styles were being used in the same shot, which apperantly happened several times.

Courtesy: watchmojo.com

It all looked very smooth on the screen and I can only imagine what the 3D release was like.

Most animated movies these days are pure CG but this movie seemed like a breath of fresh air in the midst of all this new technology. This style complimented the story well and I'm sure it wouldn't have been as good if it had been just another fully computer-animated picture.

The opening titles were especialy eerie and set the tone for the movie perfectly. The majority of the film was relatively dark, with sudden spurts of comic mischief that kept me off of the edgy side.

There were many parts in the movie that I considered more deep and serious than anything I've seen an an animated picture of this genre, which kept my attention.

You could see a resemblance to The Nightmare Before Christmas, probably due to the fact that the two films have the same director. However I would consider this movie more twisted in nature than either of Tim Burton's animated pictures that I've seen; The Nightmare Before Christmas or The Corpse Bride.

The plot, although twisted into originality, was somewhat traditional in cinema: the idea that a child gets pulled away from reality and lured into a fantasy world that they first admire but turns out to be a trap.

It somewhat paralelled the popular story of "Alice in Wonderland" in many aspects (I'd give examples but I wish not to reveal to much of the plot).

However the difference Coraline had from all these movies... what really made it captivating, was the way that every other minute, it seemed, a new plot element was revealed. This certainly made the movie much more interesting and harder to look away from.

This film probably has you guessing due to all the trailers and commercials. I didn't know if it would be a movie for kids or adults, and the real answer is both.

I enjoyed it more than I have enjoyed any new movie in recent time, and it makes me feel proud to have this movie come out of Portland. (There's even an Ore-'gon' reference near the beginning which made me laugh.)

As I said before this was the first full-length movie Laika created, and it shows great potential for what the future has in store for this animation studio. This was a movie I wouldn't mind seeing again and again and enjoying it.

If you don't feel compelled to see it, keep in mind that I didn't either at first. It's much more intense than what you will see on any TV commercials. Coraline is an absolute Must-See for people of all ages.




Comments Leave a comment on this story.
Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.



carver February 13, 2009 8:38 am (Pacific time)

A correction needs to be made.. In no part of the movie was CG used... it is all Stop motion, including all of the effects... green screen used to overlay, but no CG... which makes it even more impressive

Sean King: What I noticed was the transparency of the ghost children, as well as several transitions that took place during that scene which were definetely done digitally. Also, the transition into the blank white scenery that took place later in the movie. Perhaps "CG" is not the right term. Saying green screen does make more sense.


Glen February 11, 2009 8:14 pm (Pacific time)

"Coraline" was a very good film. Inspiring to those who are creative. I can't wait to see how "The Graveyard Book" will be handled. Maybe it will be animated. Don't know at this point.

[Return to Top]
©2024 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.


Articles for February 10, 2009 | Articles for February 11, 2009 | Articles for February 12, 2009
The NAACP of the Willamette Valley

Click here for all of William's articles and letters.

Support
Salem-News.com:

Special Section: Truth telling news about marijuana related issues and events.

Sean Flynn was a photojournalist in Vietnam, taken captive in 1970 in Cambodia and never seen again.

googlec507860f6901db00.html