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Coraline, a review by Dragonfire

From the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas comes a visually stunning stop-motion animated feature - the first to be filmed in 3-D! Discover how the filmmakers and artisans created the magical handmade world of Coraline, exclusively in this 2-Disc Collector's Edition!

Coraline Jones is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door that leads her into a world that's just like her own. . .but better! But when this fantastical adventure turns dangerous and her "other" Mother tries to keep her forever, Coraline must conunt on her resourcefulness and bravery to get home.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this movie, though it is rather twisted and dark, especially for an animated movie.  I don't consider this a good choice for younger children.  The plot is interesting and makes for an entertaining movie, but aspects of it may be too dark for some viewers.  There are some rather disturbing images that turn up every so often as well.  This movie isn't going to appeal to everyone.  The story does have a bit of mystery to it as well as some suspenseful moments.  The animation is very well done.

My biggest issue with the movie is the way some of the characters are depicted.  It is harder to like them, even Coraline, because of how they act at times.  I get that she isn't happy about the move, but she does come across as a brat at times.  I do think she gets more likable as the movie progresses.  Coraline's parents aren't much better, especially her mother.  She is just shown in a perpetual bad mood, always snapping about something and only caring about her work.  Coraline's dad is a little better, but he is very focused on his work too.  With the way they act, it is easy to see why Coraline is so tempted by the other parents.

I did not see this movie in the theater.  My DVD does have the 3D version too and even came with 4 pairs of the glasses.  I tried the 3D version, but it wasn't that great.  I only noticed a few images that really worked for the 3D.  The color change because of the glasses was very extreme and did get annoying.  After a while, my eyes started hurting and I just gave up on the 3D version, flipping back to the normal version instead.  I'm sure the 3D worked much better in the theater.  I have seen a few other movies in 3D in the theater, and they worked well without the color distortion because of the different glasses.  I also haven't had my eyes start hurting in the theater.  Unless technology gets better, home viewing of 3D is lousy.

Overall, this is a good movie for people who don't mind something that is a little twisted and dark.

 

I did get a review posted on Epinions if anyone wants to take a look.

Coraline

(From Dragonfire: What I've Been Watching on September 10th, 2009)

Frances, a review by Eric

Frances




Summary: Jessica Lange delivers the performance of her career as Frances Farmer, the notorious 1930's movie star whose impassioned opinions and outspoken behavior created scandal throughout the industry. But when she was betrayed by the studio system and committed to an insane asylum by her domineering mother, Frances descended into a madness that revealed the most horrific abuses of mental illness and exposed the cruelest consequences of Hollywood fame.

Kim Stanley and Sam Shepherd co-star in this tragic true story that shocked the world. FRANCES is now presented in a stunning new transfer from original film materials and is packed with startling new bonus features exclusive to this edition.

My Thoughts: This is the typical story of a woman who was born in a time where she couldn't settle for what society allowed her to be.  Truly beautiful, intelligent, opiniated and strong minded, she became an actress in a Hollywood who wanted nothing else from women than be beautiful and do as they were told.  Unfortunately for her, Frances was not of that type and she lived a life full of frustrations and deceptions.  Child of a controlling mother, probably schizophrenic, who wanted to live through her daughter the life that she never had, the only place where Frances could ever seek refuge ended up to be the most damaging to her.  Unable to control her emotions, she often had outbursts of rage which got her labeled as mentally sick and institutionalized.  After receiving monstrous treatments that were common in her time she had a lobotomy and was released from the institution.  She worked in television and died in 1970.

That is a very good movie, for me it was one of those blind buys that turn out to be such a nice choice.  Jessica Lange and Kim Stanley both give extremely good performances.  Some of their scenes together are shockingly good.  I really really liked that movie and very strongly recommend it.

My Score: 10/10, I want use my regular scoring system because this movie is worth much more than just a stupid smiley with a thumb up (But that comment is worth a stupid smiley with an eye closed).


A featurette on the DVD shows pictures of Frances Farmer, the film doesn't when painting her a very beautiful woman, see for yourself.





(From Eric's DVD watching. on June 2nd, 2008)

Angel Marathon, a review by addicted2dvd

1. Judgment
Original Air Date: 9/26/2000
After a case of mistaken identity leads Angel to slay a demon protecting an innocent girl, karaoke is the only way to make things right. Meanwhile, Angel struggles with the discovery that he may not always be eternal and Darla recovers from her resurrection from Hell.

Guest Stars:
Christian Kane
Stephanie Romanov
Julie Benz
Eliza Dushku

My Thoughts:
Until I seen Lorne (The Host) on the cover I completely forgot about the karaoke bar. Now I am not looking forward to this season as much. The very first scene is Lorne singing a little. Then there was 2 more scenes in the bar through-out the episode. Including Angel singing (badly) Mandy. But other then that... it was a good episode... with some decent action. But I had to laugh at the end of the episode when Angel went to visit Faith in jail. And they were comparing how bad their day was... after listening to Faith say how she was attacked by another inmate with a make-shift knife and how she disarmed her but didn't killer her. Then she was beat by the guards. Angel came back with well I had to sing Barry Manilow... in front of people. We also get our first look at the old hotel that will eventually become the new home base for Angel and his team.

My Rating:

(From Angel Marathon on March 1st, 2010)