Trailer for Henry Selick’s Coraline
Earlier this year a short clip for stop motion master Henry Selick’s vision of Coraline.
Based on a book by Neil Gaiman and adapted for the screen by Selick, the story is that of Coraline, a bored girl who finds mystery and adventure when she enters a parallel world through a door behind her couch. This new world seems perfect except that her “other” father and mother have button eyes.
I’ve since read the novel that the film is based on and rather unexpectedly, it’s very dark and creepy and I was a bit mystified as to how it would translate onto the big screen but I think I’ve got my answer. From the trailer it looks as though they’ve capture the basic essence of the story but I’m not sure the creepy bits will translate as well (though it’s worth noting we don’t get to see any of those bits so there is still hope that they’re in there). This looks fantastic, more like computer animation than stop motion and Selick really is a master at what he does so yes, I’m rather excited to see it. My single complaint: the gimmick that this is being presented in 3D. I’m hopeful that there will also be a regular release.
Coraline, which stars the voice talents of Dakota Fanning, Ian McShane and Teri Hatcher, opens on February 6th.
Trailer is tucked under the seat!
Still, this is just the trailer and like you said, we probably aren’t seeing the darker, more creepy, parts. We’ll have to wait and see I guess. I’m sure it’ll make big bank at the box office but if I had to guess right now, we’ll see about a 65-70% at rottentomatoes when all is said and done. Which usually means, ho-hum.
Comment by Andrew James — November 20, 2008
Comment by kurt — November 20, 2008
That being said I’ve been lucky enough to see several scenes from the film and I think they’ve got something potentialy special on their hands. And Neil seems pretty pleased with it, which is a good sign.
Comment by Matt Gamble — November 20, 2008
Comment by RC of strangeculture — November 20, 2008
Comment by Matt Gamble — November 20, 2008
Can’t wait to see the results.
Comment by Peter — November 21, 2008
http://www.despoiler.org/2008/11/17/my-funny-coraline/
Comment by Kurt Halfyard — November 21, 2008
“It is actually this particular dichotomy that makes the movie so interesting. Almost ‘anti-Disney’ in its construction Coraline discusses ‘you’re okay just the way you are’ in a way that most filmmakers generally consider to be too complex for today’s children. Director and screenwriter Henry Selick doesn’t turn away from this idea and never dums it down. Wybie is much less fun when he can’t talk, even though Coraline thinks this is pretty great in the beginning. Miss Spink and Miss Forcible are so over the top when actually performing that Coraline prefers the ‘performance’ that is their life. Mr. B succeeds at his attempts with the mice, but loses his eccentricity and charm. This is the type of discerning eye that we want making our children’s movies. This is the type of discerning eye I remember making the movies of my own childhood so filled with wonder. It is this that makes their memory last for me. This is something that Kung-Fu Panda, while a fun movie, simply can’t achieve on the same level. We need to stop pandering to our children, and not pandering is what this movie does so well.”
Comment by Kurt — February 3, 2009