Page to Screen: The Mini Maven Reviews "Coraline"

Yes, it's a sunny day (if a bit cold). Yes, there's plenty to do for both of us: work for me, a math assignment for her. But it's a Federal holiday, and high time that this mother and daughter Team of Mavens took in a movie together. We left Mr. Bethanne at home to watch episodes of "The Prisoner" online (I know, I can't believe it's taken him this long to meet Rover, either) and went to the local cinema to watch the adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Coraline."

I wanted to share Miss Mini's stream-of-consciousness "review" with you, because I was struck by how naturally and fluently she captured the Trouble with Adaptations...

Says the Mini Maven: "First, we should have seen it in 3D. It would have been much cooler in 3D, Mom.

Anyway, I kind of liked it. Well, it was just OK. They changed a lot of stuff from the book, and I don't like that. Why don't they just use the stuff from the book? For example, there is no character like Wybie in the book. I think they put him in to make things more interesting, I guess, and to explain the doll. There isn't a doll in the book, either. Other Mother lives in a flat in Coraline's building, and that's how she knows what is happening in Coraline's life. I don't think they needed the doll.

I did like the eye buttons, but the drawings in the book are SO much creepier. They're really cool. I didn't really like the art in the movie. I liked the book's pictures more. Also, Mr. Bobinsky is just 'Bobo' in the book. It seems like they changed too much to make it American instead of English. I don't think that was necessary."

Now, Miss Mini didn't LOVE the book and hate the movie. She had some reservations about Coraline the book, as well -- which is why I truly enjoyed her comments about the movie. She wasn't simply playing fangirl; she was really comparing and contrasting the two. I think her off-the-cuff remarks echo what so many of us think when we do compare and contrast books and their adaptations. Of course, we understand some artistic license, but too much, and we are left with ashes in our mouths (and not from the movie butter popcorn, either). 

Have you seen "Coraline?" What did you think?

Comments

[S. Krishna]

I haven't seen it, but I really want to! (I'm going to read the book first though so I'll most likely end up waiting until it comes out on DVD)

[Joanne]

We had a very similar set of conversations with our children this weekend (saw the movie Sunday afternoon). We had read the book earlier in the week, so everything was very fresh in their memories. Sounds like they'd generally agree with the Mini Maven. One thing the movie had, that most books don't have, is a soundtrack -- we all thought that the soundtrack was a big bonus (and promptly purchased it through iTunes). The children's grandparents saw the movie with us, as well -- but they hadn't read the book. The conversations were extremely interesting, and it makes me want to do it again very, very soon!