Little help here?
So I’m trying to figure out exactly what this blog will look like over the next couple of years. I’ve committed myself to putting some serious time into RLP. I thought maybe you could help me think about this.
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Coraline is fabulous
Jeanene and I went to see Coraline this evening with our youngest daughter and her friend. This is a very unusual movie, to say the least. The movie is worth watching if only for the unbelievably beautiful set designs, all of which are real miniatures. Serious eye candy.
I enjoy Neil Gaiman's work, particularly the Sandman comic books. As you'd expect, the story is filled with fairy tale archetypes. Chock full of them. It's Hansel and Gretel meets Alice in Wonderland with a 3 part quest thrown in for good measure.
I found myself feeling unsatisfied with the ending, which I won't reveal here. It felt strange. The resolution was very fast and relatively easy, though things don't end where you think they will, of course. Upon reflection I decided that even the ending was classic fairy tale. Fairy tales tended to resolve rather quickly. Once the hero discovers the secret, the quest is ended. And their families are often just there to get them started on their quest with abuse or neglect. Fairy tales do not follow a standard 3 act screenplay model.
So I think it's fabulous. I give it 4 stars. But go in knowing you are going to be taken back to an earlier kind of storytelling. And this fairy tale is grim, like the old Grimm's fairy tales. Do not bring small children to this movie.
Button, button, who's got the button?
rlp
Works in Progress
“Bearing Witness,” a Foy Davis story set in Fort Davis, Texas when Foy was in 3rd grade. Part one was posted 3-17-10. Part two should be ready next week.
“Lenten Satchel,” a short essay on the strange items that make up my Lenten journey this year. Because of Tracy’s comment. Posted here 3-18-10
“Last Things,” an essay about my final days at Covenant. Soon to be published by the Christian Century. Will be linked here when it is online at the CC website.
My Latest Book
I’m proud to announce that Turtles All The Way Down came out in November of 2009. This was my first experience with the Consafo model of social media community publishing.
2000 copies were printed. We sold well over 500 as advance purchases or in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This paid for the printing costs completely.
The book
Submitted by Presbyterian Gal (not verified) on Sun, 02/08/2009 - 00:47.My son and I just read the book so that when we see the movie we can compare.
I must say that as well written as I found the book, I had big problems with the writer's story structure. It is a fabulously "grim" tale, as you describe the film. But a number of the "bones" are missing.
Still, we're looking forward to the movie.
what bones seemed to be
Submitted by rlp on Sun, 02/08/2009 - 06:25.My daughters have read the book. I have not. So I can't judge it by the book. What bones seemed to be missing for you?
I read a review someplace
Submitted by Keith on Sun, 02/08/2009 - 08:36.I read a review someplace that had the same problem with the book, but went on to say that THE GRAVEYARD BOOK (his more recent kids' book) doesn't have the same issues.
I haven't read anything of his since AMERICAN GODS, so I can't say, but...
We saw it on Saturday. Great
Submitted by Marcus Goodyear (not verified) on Mon, 02/09/2009 - 13:45.We saw it on Saturday. Great film. If you visit the website, you can make a button-eye version of yourself. Too fun.
We didn't take our four year old son, and I'm glad that we didn't. My seven year old did just fine, though she said it was "really creepy."
Definitely Not
Submitted by Liz (not verified) on Wed, 02/25/2009 - 23:14.Saw Coraline with my significant other and a couple of good friends last Friday. While it was a very well done film, it is certainly NOT for small children. At all.
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