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[Kagus]

So I saw this thing on a plane trip, and having seen a couple of the advertisements (and just the art style when it started playing), I thought it looked kinda like something that would crawl its way out of Tim Burton's head.  For clarification, that's a good thing (in my opinion).

I watched it with a relatively open mind, but I must admit to wanting something specific.  Even so, that didn't quite help out this movie.


I was rather disappointed, quite frankly.  It had all the potential to be the gorgeously twisted and sadistic fairytale I was hoping it would be, but it wasn't.  It even had the potential to be a fulfilling children's movie, but it wasn't that either.

To me, Coraline seemed like a movie that didn't quite know what it wanted to be.  The movie would switch between an original kid's movie, to a psychotic fantasy movie, to a mediocre video game.  The end result was something too scary for the kiddies and too kiddy for the scaries, while tossing in a smattering of video game-ness that wasn't suited for anybody.

I must say I felt sad for the film.  It had all the potential to be whatever it wanted to be, but it couldn't make a decision and stick with it.  I don't often leave a movie feeling sorry for the damned thing, but I have a sneaky hunch it's not a positive reaction.


Has anyone else seen this?  And if so, what are your views?

[Sensei]

Didn't see the movie, but I know the feeling.

[Strife26]

I dunno, I saw Coraline and I quite enjoyed it. Although it may be becuase of my normal salvation war syndrome.

[Mr Tk]

The movie is based off a book of the same name by Neil Gaiman. His stuff is always better when you read the original material. (*cough* I'm looking at you Stardust.)

[Cthulhu]

Eh, my sister is a Hot Topic kiddie, so I have a deep-seated hatred of Tim Burton.  I haven't seen any of his movies since The Nightmare Before Christmas.

[Gunner-Chan]

salvation war syndrome.

Okay, I've seen it enough to ask. What the hell is salvation war syndrome?

[Aqizzar]

A pretend thousand-yard-stare from watching too many war movies?  I dunno.

[ChairmanPoo]

I dont like Tim Burton movies in general.

The last one I was forced to watch (under the "fun for all the family" motto) was "The Corpse Bride".

[Cthulhu]

Seriously man, you say that all the time.

I assumed it meant starting a war to take out a despot without having any real justification beyond getting rid of a despot.

[sonerohi]

He read the Salvation War books and now feels like shitting himself in glee everytime his side rolls up with huge ass artillery versus some tribe people with pointy sticks?

[Kagus]

Corpse Bride was just bleh.  I don't know what exactly went wrong for that one, but something certainly did.

And you don't have to swear off all Tim Burton movies because of the gothy aspect.  Big Fish is a good example (and, to be honest, the only one that comes to mind right now) of a Burton film that's characteristically twisted, but not gothic in the slightest.


Also, I watched and enjoyed Stardust without ever reading the original book.  But that might just have been because of Robert DeNiro prancing around in a tutu.  I think that could carry just about any movie.

[Neonivek]

The Corpse Bride's EXACT fault I think can be best described as "The movie never comes to life".

Adding to this you honestly feel like ALL the characters are really along for the ride and just being dragged everywhere. No one actually does anything except give into someone elses whims.

The Story of Corpse Bridge:
Man: "I am getting married"
Woman: "I am getting married"
Corpse Bridge: "No your getting married to me!"
Man: "No I am getting married to HER"
Corpse Bridge: "No your going to marry me"
Evil: "No, I am going to marry the Woman"
Man: "Fine, Ill marry the corpse bride"
Corpse Bridge: "On second thought you should marry the woman"
Evil: "No she is marrying me!"
Man: "No she is marrying me"
Corpse Bridge: "It looks like I am all alone forever, what a happy ending"
Me: "Alright Did ANYONE do anything in this movie?"

Bigfish DID have one gothy part... but it was redeemed eventually. Though yeah it was an excellent movie.

[JoshuaFH]

The last claymation-type movie I saw was James and the Giant Peach. I really should catch up to the times.

[Dragooble]

The Corpse Bride's EXACT fault I think can be best described as "The movie never comes to life".

Hurray for unintentional puns!

[Neonivek]

It is fully intentional I assure you

Especially since that is part of what the movie wanted to potray. The land of the dead was full of life while the land of the living was grey and lifeless. Unfortunately other then one somewhat creepy scene it was just all rather stiff.