2 posts tagged “gaiman”

Life is good.  The work is going well: I have recently obtained a semi-payed writing position, which I assure you will be posted here ASAP.  I've also managed to upgrade the day job mildly.  Sort of.  It's a night job now, which offers the chance to hurl resumes out the window of my truck all day until a "real job" appears.  Thankfully, it also means I have escaped the soul-numbing call center.

My garden is almost ready for planting, and in a few weeks the last frost will be behind us.  Shortly thereafter, a mint patch will appear, and the lasagna bed will be planted with peppers, tomatoes, carrots, green beans and a variety of other goodness!  Flowers will poke their lovely heads from the grass, and Batou the ferret will be posted in his "summer house" to keep the rabbits off my veg.

More immediately, I'm off to Borders with my girl to pick up The Graveyard Book and an armload of writing magazines.

Yes, life is good.

It hardly comes as a surprise, but Neil Gaiman has done it again!  With the help of screenwriter/director Henry Selick and Laika, Coraline has become a major success.

For good reason.

The star power of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, and arguably They Might Be Giants add a lot to the film's success, as do their talents, but this is far and away a writer's movie.

Don't mistake me, the movie's a visual feast.  The modelers, "costumers" and animators at Laika are best in class.  The cinematography is astounding. The 3D can sometimes be jarring, but no more so than in any other production using the technology.  Many of those effects are just tremendous, however.  The organic pixelizations, animated gardens and looms (of all kinds) add a great deal to a feel of enchantment viewers of all ages can really enjoy.

As I said, this is a writer's movie, and that's one of the esteemed Mr. Gaiman's great talents; breaking the age barrier.  It's a tradition in animation, of course, layering adult humor into child-friendly themes, but this is a writer who doesn't need animation, or even illustration, to accomplish the feat. 

I haven't read the book.  Sorry, Neil.  But rest assured I shall!  In fact, I may just order it now.  While I was tremendously disappointed with the screen treatment of Stardust (2007), I expect less was changed here.  It would certainly make sense as Mr. Gaiman's Hollywood clout continues to grow.  It's good to see genius and persistence rewarded in such a big way.  The merit is clearly visible in Coraline.

This movie is so charming I can hardly stand it.  There are scenes that melt the heart, and few that make it skip a beat.  The imagery is eternal, as are the well-stated themes of love, disaffection and fear.  Layer into that timeless story the aforementioned visuals, an excellent musical score, great voice acting and Burton-beating production values and what do you get?  A film like the perfect layer cake.  A cake with creamy frosting, and the words "Welcome home" ringed in candles.  Or a deep forgotten well surrounded by a faerie ring.  Either is good.  Better than good: superlative.

You must not miss this film!  I give it 9 of 10 points!