From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:19:15 GMT
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Coraline, puppets & Neil Gaiman


DO look for the book, CORALINE: A Visual Companion. It covers a lot of background. I think time spent searching the internet for CORALINE stuff is well spent time. They began postings before the film was finished---kind of a progress report. The very brief moments with different workers on the film I HOPE will be included with the eventual DVD.  Leonard Maltin said it was the best 3D movie he has seen. The use of 3D adds to the sense of realism.

I see the film as historic both for puppetry and for film history (the tech advances).

Alan Cook


-----Original Message-----
From: Mathieu Rene
Sent: Friday, February 6, 2009 9:29 PM
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Coraline, puppets & Neil Gaiman

 

	I just came back from seeing Coraline, in 3D.
 I am stunned, and shall be for a while. 

	It is as impressive to me as Nightmare Befiore Christmas was when it
first came out.
 The story is wonderful, the storytelling is capitvating. 

	They broke a few new technical barriers with Coraline. 

	It's all so detailed and the movements so smooth that I'm sure many
people will have heated arguments until they actually check the
official info, about how much was computer effects and how much was
actual practical stop motion animation. l'll tell you now, it's at
least 90% stop motion. The only computer effects I suspected were some
compositing, some fog effects, and some desaturarions. A perfect
marriage of the two mediums.
 The 3D effect on the big screen was very well done, and is a nice
added bonus. You get used to it after a while, and it's not as mind
boggling, until a key scene comes at you with a nice surprise.
 Of the four of us seeing the movie together,  only one had a mild
headache from the 3D effect.
 They made a lot fo progress (focus, precision) since the last time I
saw a 3D movie (in the 1990s).
 Even without the 3D effect, I'm sure the film will show well to home
video. 

	Don't let the tech talk fool you into thinking I was distracted by
it: I was absolutely taken by the story.
 It's just that some of my personalities (future puppets) take notes,
while I enjoy fully. 

	The last stretch of the trip home was a twenty minute walk, and I
ran part of the way, just for fun.
 It took all my concentration to prevent myself from giggling, but I
couldn't hide my enthusiasm. Back at the cinema complex,  I surprised
myself by actually jumping up and down like a kid, while begging my
"pals" to play a few games of air hockey. They refused, spoilsports. 

	I absolutely must have the DVD when it comes out. I hope they have
made a wonderful "Making Of". 

	I feel this movie is going to be the inspiration that's needed to
keep the field of stop motion alive in the next decade! Young people
who see it today will want to become animators! 

	Coraline's sets are taking roots in my brain, and the cast of
character is running around in it.
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