Comments on: The Coraline Grab Bag! http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/2009/02/the-coraline-grab-bag/ Skeptical Readings of Literature and History Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:30:08 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: The Heretic Loremaster » Animated Ragdolls for Grownups: 9 Reviewed http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/2009/02/the-coraline-grab-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-5354 The Heretic Loremaster » Animated Ragdolls for Grownups: 9 Reviewed Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:22:50 +0000 http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/?p=24#comment-5354 [...] saw the first preview for 9 before the excellent Coraline earlier this year. (Read my review of Coraline here.) The basic premise of the movie intrigued me from the outset. In a post-apocalyptic world, the [...] [...] saw the first preview for 9 before the excellent Coraline earlier this year. (Read my review of Coraline here.) The basic premise of the movie intrigued me from the outset. In a post-apocalyptic world, the [...]

]]> By: Dawn http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/2009/02/the-coraline-grab-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Dawn Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:03:05 +0000 http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/?p=24#comment-266 Rhapsody: I think the gender roles are less obvious in the book than the movie; I was making a conscious effort to look for them and so saw them. Otherwise *whoosh*--there they go over my head! :D The movie, though, has those stereotyped images (the Other Mother in her apron with her tidy kitchen mitts) and sounds (the grating, impatient voice of Coraline's real mother, trying to hurry her daughter aside so that she can get back to work), and it's much easier to see the contrast. I hope the movie comes around so that you get to see it! :) The visuals were stunning though very different from <em>Mirrormask</em>. They were aimed at a child-like appreciation of fantasy, I thought, with very traditional imagery in a lot of places, where Mm was just mind-blowing and really stretched to the extent of grown-up imagination as well. Pandemonium: I'm glad you got to see it! And that you liked it! :D But I figured you would. I would <em>not</em> have been able to handle <em>Coraline</em>-the-movie before, say, middle school. Even then, it probably would have disturbed me. Even as a grown-up, I do not do well with the on-screen misery of other people (yes, this from someone who sees just about every R-rated horror movie that comes out); <em>Coraline</em> was far enough from reality that I could really sink in and enjoy it, but I doubt my young mind would have so easily made that distinction. (Strangely, despite a lifelong squick of all things eye-related, the silencing of Wybie bothered me far more than that.) Rhapsody: I think the gender roles are less obvious in the book than the movie; I was making a conscious effort to look for them and so saw them. Otherwise *whoosh*–there they go over my head! :D The movie, though, has those stereotyped images (the Other Mother in her apron with her tidy kitchen mitts) and sounds (the grating, impatient voice of Coraline’s real mother, trying to hurry her daughter aside so that she can get back to work), and it’s much easier to see the contrast.

I hope the movie comes around so that you get to see it! :) The visuals were stunning though very different from Mirrormask. They were aimed at a child-like appreciation of fantasy, I thought, with very traditional imagery in a lot of places, where Mm was just mind-blowing and really stretched to the extent of grown-up imagination as well.

Pandemonium: I’m glad you got to see it! And that you liked it! :D But I figured you would.

I would not have been able to handle Coraline-the-movie before, say, middle school. Even then, it probably would have disturbed me. Even as a grown-up, I do not do well with the on-screen misery of other people (yes, this from someone who sees just about every R-rated horror movie that comes out); Coraline was far enough from reality that I could really sink in and enjoy it, but I doubt my young mind would have so easily made that distinction.

(Strangely, despite a lifelong squick of all things eye-related, the silencing of Wybie bothered me far more than that.)

]]> By: pandemonium_213 http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/2009/02/the-coraline-grab-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-248 pandemonium_213 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:18:20 +0000 http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/?p=24#comment-248 Dropping by again to say that the full four E.L. Fudge Elves Exist cookies out of four rating for "Coraline" is well-deserved. It's a heady brew of Lewis Carroll meets (unsanitized) Brothers Grimm meets Stephen King. I loved its multiple layers and examination of the darker side of childhood, family, and children's perceptions of how their family "should be." The animation and imagery were fabulous: eerily whimsical to outright terrifying. Clever use of archetypes, too. You are dead-on right that this is not a movie for small children. I find the PG rating to be pretty tenuous. PG-13 would be more appropriate. The woman sitting behind my spawn (ages 17 and 21) had her little boy, who looked to be about 4 years old with her. Ai carambë! I had nightmares from watching the "Zanti Misfits" episode of "The Outer Limits" when I was significantly older than that kid. There were things in Coraline at least as frightening as the Zantis. Dropping by again to say that the full four E.L. Fudge Elves Exist cookies out of four rating for “Coraline” is well-deserved. It’s a heady brew of Lewis Carroll meets (unsanitized) Brothers Grimm meets Stephen King. I loved its multiple layers and examination of the darker side of childhood, family, and children’s perceptions of how their family “should be.” The animation and imagery were fabulous: eerily whimsical to outright terrifying. Clever use of archetypes, too.

You are dead-on right that this is not a movie for small children. I find the PG rating to be pretty tenuous. PG-13 would be more appropriate. The woman sitting behind my spawn (ages 17 and 21) had her little boy, who looked to be about 4 years old with her. Ai carambë! I had nightmares from watching the “Zanti Misfits” episode of “The Outer Limits” when I was significantly older than that kid. There were things in Coraline at least as frightening as the Zantis.

]]> By: pandemonium_213 http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/2009/02/the-coraline-grab-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-235 pandemonium_213 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:38:17 +0000 http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/?p=24#comment-235 So, this morning, when I suggested to the fruits o' my womb that we might see a movie today (have the day off, amazingly enough), both of them answered in unison: "Coraline!" I have raised them well. :^D I just bought tickets for the 12:15 show. I read Neil Gaiman's <i>Fragile Things</i> a while back, but not <i>Coraline</i> so I have no preconceptions. :^) Back later with my impressions. So, this morning, when I suggested to the fruits o’ my womb that we might see a movie today (have the day off, amazingly enough), both of them answered in unison: “Coraline!” I have raised them well. :^D I just bought tickets for the 12:15 show.

I read Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things a while back, but not Coraline so I have no preconceptions. :^) Back later with my impressions.

]]> By: Rhapsody http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/2009/02/the-coraline-grab-bag/comment-page-1/#comment-232 Rhapsody Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:09:27 +0000 http://themidhavens.net/heretic_loremaster/?p=24#comment-232 <i>The paperback copy of the novella that I bought identifies it as “One of the most frightening books ever written,” at least according to the New York Times Book Review. </i> Oh yes, it gave me the creeps. I usually do not read horror, but when eyeing Coraline, a children's horror novella, I thought.. let's give it a try. I found it a magnificent read 3 years ago and I have a hard time remembering the gender roles to be honest. I was too spooked out I suppose. I think what struck me the most when reading this book was Coraline trying to resist the lure, she gives in and her slow discovery of what this lure of the other mother really is. I doubt that I get to see this movie in de cinema, but if the movie has the visuals of Mirrormask... :D The paperback copy of the novella that I bought identifies it as “One of the most frightening books ever written,” at least according to the New York Times Book Review.

Oh yes, it gave me the creeps. I usually do not read horror, but when eyeing Coraline, a children’s horror novella, I thought.. let’s give it a try. I found it a magnificent read 3 years ago and I have a hard time remembering the gender roles to be honest. I was too spooked out I suppose. I think what struck me the most when reading this book was Coraline trying to resist the lure, she gives in and her slow discovery of what this lure of the other mother really is. I doubt that I get to see this movie in de cinema, but if the movie has the visuals of Mirrormask… :D

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