Coraline 3D: two thumbs up

This was an amazing movie. It was visually awesome, the 3D was pretty much seamless, and the story was completely engaging through the entire film. It was definitely interesting enough for adults, and was done in such a flawless way that I completely forgot to think about how this world was accomplished and instead was wrapped up into it, only experiencing and drinking it in.

The story had a very good lesson, for kids and adults alike, about appreciating what one has even if it is not perfect. It was a little scary, probably too scary for kids under 6 or so. But every kid has a different sensitivity level and some younger kids could probably handle it. I watched some pretty violent, scary movies when I was younger and look at me now. Peachy-keen.

Anyway, Coraline was a stunning and entrancing film, and should definitely win awards for the quality of production and original screenplay. Voice acting was also notable, I couldn't recognize Dakota Fanning as herself and this film won me over as if I were a child seeing it, convincing me of the characters' existence and viability and bringing me into their world in so many ways. It was excellent, and everyone should see it. And definitely worth it to see in 3D.

On our incredible ability to underestimate

Apparently, elephants can play music. This is fairly unsurprising to me as there has been evidence that they understand and mentally process death and also paint. Elephants are incredibly complex, intelligent animals, but because humans have a limitless supply of self-importance, we are quick to decide that they are less important, developed, and capable than we are.

I think that we start out life with much more willingness to believe in the possibility in the world. As we grow older and are continually told that things are not possible, that certain things can't be true, we lose that supply of inspired belief in the world and what it could hold. Maybe this is a good thing, maybe if adults continued to believe that stuffed animals have feelings, closets house monsters, and empty cups actually hold tea, we may not survive. We wouldn't be able to get through school, maintain serious jobs, deal with such stringent guidelines when it comes to money and spending, etc. But what if all of these things were instead molded around the child-like belief in all things imaginable.

I'm not sure if that would work out, and I keep hearing that older voice in my head saying "we must fit into our reality" but what the hell is reality anyway? I'm just glad that every once in a while we learn that elephants play music, that some of them love it, that it is beautiful and possible and real. And I'm glad that I get to sit down with children who still believe anything is possible and remember that maybe it is. I get to watch them become amazed at something that seems so mundane to me. Sponges expand in water, dinosaurs can still exist in the form of small foam cutouts, and tea parties with stuffed animals are sometimes tea parties of the best quality.