By: Wesley MacDonald
I’m well-read enough in Neil Gaiman’s works to own the Sandman series, love American Gods, and know that the BBC miniseries based on Neverwhere is hardly worth watching compared to the book. Stardust
was a little easier, but maybe I just liked DeNiro’s performance. So I’m confident when I say that Coraline black water divx online is really well done.
While it is surprising that Gaiman’s original story provided enough material for an entire movie, the story lends itself well to the stop-motion animation medium, and director Henry Selick has a visual style that is well suited to Gaiman’s work. It was great to see a 3D movie without the “in your face” effects that usually tend to be the only payoff for these presentations.
The movie is not just 3D for 3D’s sake; the combination of stop-motion and 3D really makes you feel immersed in the events and beautiful diorama environment the Coraline team has created. Book and film are evenly matched in general “creepiness” and this is a movie that will scare some children: the 7-year-old sitting beside me agreed.
Gaiman didn’t write the screenplay, so for those who have read the book, there are notable changes made to the story, namely the introduction of a new character named Wybie, a local boy who befriends Coraline and helps make the story a little more accessible with another child character. The sacrifice made to introduce Wybie, however, is that the number of direct interactions Coraline has with the ‘Other Mother’ has been reduced, and the focus on the relationships between Coraline, her parents, and her ‘Other Parents’ is not as keen.
Another way in which the film adaptation has suffered is in the plot progression: the book had a lot of early set-up and great payoff which the film substitutes with convenient coincidence. While Gaiman goes to great lengths to warn, foreshadow and properly motivate Coraline to act, Selick’s Coraline progresses a bit like an idiot who falls victim to chance and succeeds by luck.
The end of the movie reminds me of a Legend of Zelda
game: You find the hookshot so you can bridge the gap and defeat the boss. When Coraline acquires the seeing stone in the movie, it happens just in time for her to fight a series of boss battles, before beating the Other Mother’s game. This convenient progression takes away the feeling of discovery, and makes Coraline come across as far less of a clever character.
However, all things considered, the movie is a fun watch. It’s creepy, beautiful, and entertaining, and is worth seeing on the big screen in 3D. It will freak out both kids and adults: Sew buttons into her eyes? *shudder* Just remember that it’s a film for kids, so go in with a child’s mindset, stop taking things so seriously for a couple of hours, and enjoy!
