Jayson’s Reviews > Coraline > Status Update
Jayson
is 52% done
Notes:
(1) I appreciate that they made Coraline's mirror-world outfit book-accurate – a grey sweater with stars. In the film, the Other Mother gifts it to her. In the book, she picks it from clothes in the other bedroom.
(2) If you're wondering why I've not mentioned Wybie yet, it's because he's not in the book, and only useful in the film as a thing to speak exposition to.
— May 28, 2021 11:40PM
Notes:
(1) I appreciate that they made Coraline's mirror-world outfit book-accurate – a grey sweater with stars. In the film, the Other Mother gifts it to her. In the book, she picks it from clothes in the other bedroom.
(2) If you're wondering why I've not mentioned Wybie yet, it's because he's not in the book, and only useful in the film as a thing to speak exposition to.
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is 91% done
Notes:
(1) Coraline has a dream, where she's visited by the three souls she saved.
- The first wears a frilly shirt, which I take to mean he's Georgian or Regency era.
- The second has a brown bonnet, which I take to mean she's Victorian.
- The third has butterfly-like wings, which I take to mean she's some kind of fairy.
- Possibly more evidence implying a shared universe.
— Jun 02, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) Coraline has a dream, where she's visited by the three souls she saved.
- The first wears a frilly shirt, which I take to mean he's Georgian or Regency era.
- The second has a brown bonnet, which I take to mean she's Victorian.
- The third has butterfly-like wings, which I take to mean she's some kind of fairy.
- Possibly more evidence implying a shared universe.
Jayson
is 85% done
Notes:
(1) "It was her only way home, she knew. But it all depended on the other mother needing to gloat, needing not only to win but to show that she had won."
- Ah, yes, Bond-villain logic: Tell me every detail of your fiendish plan, or else show me things I'm not meant to have. I'm dead anyway.
- Only the best villains gloat. They're the ones with things to gloat about.
— Jun 01, 2021 11:40PM
Notes:
(1) "It was her only way home, she knew. But it all depended on the other mother needing to gloat, needing not only to win but to show that she had won."
- Ah, yes, Bond-villain logic: Tell me every detail of your fiendish plan, or else show me things I'm not meant to have. I'm dead anyway.
- Only the best villains gloat. They're the ones with things to gloat about.
Jayson
is 78% done
Notes:
(1) "Beside the decapitated rat, a smug expression on its face, was the black cat."
- In the film, dead rat keeps its head.
(2) "Coraline realised ... she knew exactly where her parents were. If she had stopped to think, she might have known where they were all along."
- If a rifle hangs on a wall in Act I, by Act 3 it must be fired.
- Coraline's found Chekhov's Gun!
— May 31, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) "Beside the decapitated rat, a smug expression on its face, was the black cat."
- In the film, dead rat keeps its head.
(2) "Coraline realised ... she knew exactly where her parents were. If she had stopped to think, she might have known where they were all along."
- If a rifle hangs on a wall in Act I, by Act 3 it must be fired.
- Coraline's found Chekhov's Gun!
Jayson
is 70% done
Notes:
(1) In the book, Coraline goes down a trap door and speaks with the monstrosity that was her other father. In the film that scene is removed.
- Odd, considering how much the film stretched the story to be feature-length.
- Though, there are two scenes with real and fake Wybie that fill that narrative purpose.
(2) To quote Austin Powers: "Who throws a shoe, honestly?"
— May 30, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) In the book, Coraline goes down a trap door and speaks with the monstrosity that was her other father. In the film that scene is removed.
- Odd, considering how much the film stretched the story to be feature-length.
- Though, there are two scenes with real and fake Wybie that fill that narrative purpose.
(2) To quote Austin Powers: "Who throws a shoe, honestly?"
Jayson
is 62% done
Notes:
(1) '"There, my sweet Coraline," said her other mother.'
- Quite obviously, a Neil Diamond reference.
(2) '"Now, I think you're being silly, dear," said the other mother. "I love you. I will always love you."'
- Possibly a Whitney Houston reference.
(3) "She ate the breakfast, trying not to wolf it down. She was hungrier than she had thought."
- Duran Duran, perhaps?
— May 29, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) '"There, my sweet Coraline," said her other mother.'
- Quite obviously, a Neil Diamond reference.
(2) '"Now, I think you're being silly, dear," said the other mother. "I love you. I will always love you."'
- Possibly a Whitney Houston reference.
(3) "She ate the breakfast, trying not to wolf it down. She was hungrier than she had thought."
- Duran Duran, perhaps?
Jayson
is 48% done
Notes:
(1) "It was a snow-globe, with two little people in it. Coraline shook it and set the snow flying, white snow that glittered as it tumbled through the water. Then she put the snow-globe back on the mantelpiece, and carried on looking for her true parents and for a way out."
- Ah, Chekhov's snow-globe... it shall come into play later.
- Oh, where must her parents be?
— May 26, 2021 11:40PM
Notes:
(1) "It was a snow-globe, with two little people in it. Coraline shook it and set the snow flying, white snow that glittered as it tumbled through the water. Then she put the snow-globe back on the mantelpiece, and carried on looking for her true parents and for a way out."
- Ah, Chekhov's snow-globe... it shall come into play later.
- Oh, where must her parents be?
Jayson
is 39% done
Notes:
(1) '"Coraline," said Miss Spink. "What's your name?"
"Coraline," said Coraline.
"And we don't know each other, do we?"'
- The first hint the Other Mother's puppeteering.
(2) "[Coraline] bought two large bottles of limeade, a chocolate cake, and a new bag of apples, and went back home and ate them for dinner."
- What stands out to me is she ate a whole bag of apples.
— May 25, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) '"Coraline," said Miss Spink. "What's your name?"
"Coraline," said Coraline.
"And we don't know each other, do we?"'
- The first hint the Other Mother's puppeteering.
(2) "[Coraline] bought two large bottles of limeade, a chocolate cake, and a new bag of apples, and went back home and ate them for dinner."
- What stands out to me is she ate a whole bag of apples.
Jayson
is 27% done
Notes:
(1) "There was something irritatingly self-centred about the cat ... As if it were, in its opinion, the only thing in any world or place that could possibly be of any importance."
- Such a thing could be said of cats generally.
(2) In the audiobook, the music is performed by indie band The Gothic Archies. In the film, it's Hungarian choir music.
- Either way strange.
— May 24, 2021 11:40PM
Notes:
(1) "There was something irritatingly self-centred about the cat ... As if it were, in its opinion, the only thing in any world or place that could possibly be of any importance."
- Such a thing could be said of cats generally.
(2) In the audiobook, the music is performed by indie band The Gothic Archies. In the film, it's Hungarian choir music.
- Either way strange.
Jayson
is 18% done
Notes:
(1) "Outside, the view was the same one she saw from her own bedroom: trees, fields and, beyond them, on the horizon, distant purple hills."
- I can't be the only one who read "purple hills" and thought: Eminem.
(2) In the book, Coraline walks through a hallway to the other house. In the film, she crawls through a kind of paper lantern tunnel.
- Colors = less creepy.
— May 23, 2021 11:50PM
Notes:
(1) "Outside, the view was the same one she saw from her own bedroom: trees, fields and, beyond them, on the horizon, distant purple hills."
- I can't be the only one who read "purple hills" and thought: Eminem.
(2) In the book, Coraline walks through a hallway to the other house. In the film, she crawls through a kind of paper lantern tunnel.
- Colors = less creepy.
Jayson
is 12% done
Notes:
(1) In the book, Coraline visits the neighbors before going through the door. In the film, it's after her first trip.
- Probably to stretch its length, as going back and forth eats up time.
(2) In the film, Mr. Bobo's name is changed to Sergei Alexsander Bobinski.
- Probably to underscore his Russian-ness... and clarify what accent exactly Ian McShane was attempting.
— May 22, 2021 11:30PM
Notes:
(1) In the book, Coraline visits the neighbors before going through the door. In the film, it's after her first trip.
- Probably to stretch its length, as going back and forth eats up time.
(2) In the film, Mr. Bobo's name is changed to Sergei Alexsander Bobinski.
- Probably to underscore his Russian-ness... and clarify what accent exactly Ian McShane was attempting.
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Maja
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rated it 3 stars
May 29, 2021 12:06AM
I liked the addition of Wybie in the movie and missed him when I read the book
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Maja wrote: "I liked the addition of Wybie in the movie and missed him when I read the book"I enjoy him too. I think he adds some much needed energy to the mix that really compliments the brighter, more vivid color palette. Having said that, I also enjoy Coraline by herself and the more claustrophobic tone the book provides as a result.
The book and the movie are very different experiences but both great in their own way, in my opinion.
Paul wrote: "The book and the movie are very different experiences but both great in their own way, in my opinion."Yeah, I find that a lot with Neil Gaiman adaptations especially. At least the ones I've read along with watching the live-action versions have been quite different.
I've been wanting to read this one for quite a while now.. looking forward to your review!
Keerti wrote: "I've been wanting to read this one for quite a while now.. looking forward to your review!"Thanks! Happy to hear that :)
Really? I didn't know it. Poor Wybie, wiped out of existence like that. Then again, I'm the one who watched the movie first, a grave mistake, as always. I'm sure I'll miss Wybie in the book.
Artemis wrote: "Really? I didn't know it. Poor Wybie, wiped out of existence like that. Then again, I'm the one who watched the movie first, a grave mistake, as always. I'm sure I'll miss Wybie in the book."Well, if it helps, don't think of him being wiped out of existence. The book came first, so think of the book as a yet-to-be-improved-upon first-draft :)
I like that idea Jay :) I remember being creeped out by the book the whole way through, and the movie starting when poir Wybie got his mouth sewed shut... he looked to be in so much pain...
Jenny wrote: "I like that idea Jay :) I remember being creeped out by the book the whole way through, and the movie starting when poir Wybie got his mouth sewed shut... he looked to be in so much pain..."Button-eyed Wybie was always the creepiest part of the movie for me because it's one of the few bits that didn't look stop-motion. I knew it was stop-motion, but it looked like a real person wearing a costume head. Perhaps it's the idea of transgressing formats of film that I find creepy. 🤷♂️
Hahaha the look on Coraline's face there... And yes, that smile is kinda creepy. I want to watch the movie again now!
Jenny wrote: "Hahaha the look on Coraline's face there... And yes, that smile is kinda creepy. I want to watch the movie again now!"Glad I could get it back on your radar. It's an underrated classic. I think stop-motion animation has a lot more staying power than CGI. The Nightmare Before Christmas, at least, has borne that out. It doesn't have the problem of looking dated.
