Thanks to my fabulous friend Jen, who won some sort of contest, I got to take my 9-year-old son to a private screening of the movie "Coraline" this morning. We had a great time together, and there was swag! Here's one of the t-shirts we got--it's cute so I might actually wear it.
The movie was a visual feast, and my son and I both enjoyed it. It was perfect for a 9-year-old, but I think too scary for my 4-year-old girl, and not scary enough for my 12-year-old boy. I have not read the book, so I can't compare them, but the movie was beautifully executed. It is billed as "the first stop-motion, feature film shot in stereoscopic 3D", and you have to wear 3D glasses to watch it. According to the press materials, it was an extremely laborious process. That labor shows, as the detail is pretty spectacular. I especially enjoyed the scene of the Jumping Mouse circus and the scene of the garden coming alive.
My older son is reading Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book now, and I'm waiting for a Bookmooch copy of Stardust. So I'm being introduced, a little late, to Neil Gaiman's world. Does anyone have any thoughts about Coraline the book, on its own, or vs. the movie?
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11 comments:
No thoughts, except to say that I've been trying to figure out what movie to see tonight and I'm crossing my fingers that it's already opened in the Bay Area.
bloglily--It opened in L.A. on Friday, and I would assume that was the Bay Area opening date, too! Let me know what you think when you see it :)
I loved the book. Reminded me of a creepier Alice in Wonderland. (Another favorite book and film.) I haven't seen the movie yet.
The shirt is fantastic!
Ruth--I feel like I have to read the book now...but in a good way!
Oh how cool! I really want to see the movie but am waiting a bit as I hate going when there are lines and/or it's too crowded. I loved the book, just read it last year, but found it wonderfully creepy. I really want to read The Graveyard Book now!
iliana--I think I'm going to steal The Graveyard Book from my son!
What I think is that I must read some Neil Gaiman - I've been meaning to for long enough! Then I might see the film - scary enough for a 9-year-old sounds about right for me :)
I haven't read the book yet either, but now I want to both read it and go see the film! Preferrably in that order.
Cool shirt! Loved the book, want to see the film. Maybe I'll sneak away while the girl is at school this week!
litlove--LOL, just scary enough for me, too! And I feel I've been remiss in not having read any Gaiman yet, either :)
Jeane--I always prefer to read the book first, too, so it's strange for me to have seen this movie first :)
Tara--I like the shirt, too! And I love stolen matinees--the perfect way to see a movie, if you ask me. Popcorn for lunch, yahoo!
Always nice to be called fabulous. : )
Somehow a copy of the graphic novel of Coraline had fallen into my hands and my six year because obsessed with it. Hence the lark of entering that contest for the screening - and winning. I had really thought it would be too scary for her but she was well prepared by the book and us showing her The Making of Coraline on HBO a few days before and explaining the animation.
I thought it was a truly beautifully executed movie, with a couple of gripes in the adaptation (but those may be the cranky writer side of me coming out).
The interesting note is that Mike took Julia to see it again, since he had to leave for a work thing in the middle of the screening and the second time she thought it was scarier.
Love the shirts and other swag they through at us. Now to buy a lottery ticket.
Jen
http://juliaharryandme.blogspot.com
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