What Is Scary?
There's a lot of talk about Coraline and kids and is it too scary for them and what age should kids see it going on. The first comment on that I would say is, depends on the kid. And remember, kids will surprise you.
At the last screening, there was a 10 year old friend of mine I would have thought would NOT have been into it at ALL, who after telling her thoughts, with eyes shinning to both Boss and the Director walked out on cloud nine.
I can only say, kids are smart. Kids know that the Hero needs to save the world, and that the Hero needs to get into danger and that it will be real, before they can save the world.
I can tell you that adults find the book much more scary than children do.
I can tell you that Coraline the movie, is a Story, for both kids and adults, and like most great stories, it can be listened to many different ways, it's not a movie for one or the other. It's a Story. And like many great stories, it can get very scary at times.
Remember back when you were young, and you saw a movie where a young girl got swept away in a cyclone to another world and where everything was magic and before she vanquished the Witch, she was carried away by flying monkeys and things got pretty dark. Remember that feeling? Did you ever doubt, no matter how scary, no matter how dark things got, that she Was Going To Win?
I can tell you, kids know the Hero Will save the world.
Adults aren't sure. Fun, yes?
Make you own call, see it first, I can tell you that you will love it, and I can tell you, your kids may surprise you.
There, that's my thoughts on that for the day. Send some love out to Woodsman Hans who is currently driving a new Mimi Clubman and a Large White, somewhat grumpy at a Boss leaving him Dog across the country.
A grand adventure for both of them, and I will keep you posted.
Love and Scary,
Lorraine
posted by FabulousLorraine @ 5:47 PM
99 Comments
99 Comments:
I was terrified of the Munchkins. Whiches, wizzards, flying monkeys - bring 'em on. Munchkins - I had to go to the kitchen, which was out of sight of the TV. To this day I get a little iffy when they come on the screen.
I KNEW is was Hans who would do the driving. (I was pondering that this morning, getting ready for work - who would drive the car, I pondered. I'll bet it is Hans.)
Whiches?
Witches. I am not afraid of witches. I just can't spell them.
And, I knew it was Hans. Not is.
tired cowboy. Long week. Much juggling. Much making other people feel good about themselves and their work. Wearisome. Cold again, too. January in Iowa.
Lo - you never said which movie people are seeing Monday.....
Ahh, I wondered who had dog chauffeuring duties.
Siri -the witch on HR Puffenstuff used to scare me. What a wuss. And Daleks. And the dark.
I wish I had been one of those kids who thrived on terror/scary movies and books but it seems I am making up for it now.
I am trying to decide whether I will take my 12 year old neighbor or best friend's 9 year old with me to Coraline. Maybe both.
I can't wait to see it!
Speaking of scary stories, how was Rise of the Lycans?
I'm off to bed as I have to wake up at 3bloody30 AbloodyM to go make coffee for corporate miscreants.
Woo. Goodnight!
Sixth!
Sally - Factoid on Billie Hayes - HR Puffenstuff witch
She is currently the president of the abandoned animal rescue organization Pet Hope, which was created in 1984. On her personal website Billie offers autographed photos of herself, but in lieu of accepting payment to herself she has all money sent to Pet Hope as charity instead.
She's a fiend, but doesn't know it - don't fear her, Sally!
I always hid my eyes during the tornado. And I still hide my eyes at too scary stuff!!
So do you go back on keeping-dog-from-running-and-stairs duty?
Oh, and Night, Dr. Wicked. We call that 0 dark 30 around here. Does that time really exist?
Dan - any job word, or is it too soon to tell?
LOL, puff N stuff guy scared me, I loved "witchy pooh!" now the magic flute was a little weird, but hey , loved the show! and yes, Jimmy always came out on top. I am taking my mini-man (8) to see coraline, my spooky daughter (15) can't wait! she has read the book too many times to count. It just brings you back to remember how you felt when that happened to you? Adventure and what ifs.. I can't wait!
Go Hans!! Stay away from peanuts! LOL...
Fablo, Thank you, you know why.
We-e-e-ellll...
::sigh:: I will not be taking DD1 to see "Coraline." We are having problems with her not wanting to be alone in a room, even when someone is less than 20 feet away in another room. This, as near as she will tell us, is due to a boy in her class at school having watched the "Chuckie" movie and talking about it. She is 7.
DD2, on the other hand, wants to see "Coraline," so she can tell whether we want to buy it when it comes out on DVD. She does not, however, want to see it in 3D. As she described it to me, it is this much (holding hands roughly 10" apart) creepy, and 3D would be too much. Granted, this may mean I get to see it twice. We shall see. Oh, DD2 is five.
Dan, snicker...
It is Hans. The gig was offered to me, but I suggested Hans might be a better option...HOW am I going to be here for him while driving across country, was pointed out...
Fun road trip with a friend, over a few days, but straight on thru road trip, Hans is our Man.
Of course, the Visa gift card we gave him for food, hotel and gas has already been declined, apparently if you use it more than once or twice a day, they put a hold on it. WHY we do not know....
We WILL be finding out.
Witchy Poo works in animal rescue???????? I loved her as a child!!!!!! Ain't no rhyme for oranges was the BEST!!!!!
We SO need to meet her......
Oh dear. I've found another LOL type site.
too brilliant not to share
Merry, you are welcome. (our Merry Housekeeper was having one of THOSE days, you all know them...)
It really does depend on the child. Adriandalen, very smart, ask them, and listen to what they say. Kids will tell you.
Well said Q! It was the flying monkeys that terrified me-- and from the age of four up until the age of twelve I sat and watched The Wizard of Oz faithfully, every damn year, when they ran it on CBS. (Was it CBS? Or ABC?) I sat and watched the monkeys, and was terrified. I wasn't one of those Precocious children who feared nothing, either; I was pretty much scared of everything. But being scared was part of it. I had to be scared-- because I believed in the story, and the Hero. That's how it works. If you don't believe it to the point that you can be scared for the Hero, there's no point.
Kids know that. They believe it. I remember playing this game with a friend as a kid called Magic Queen-- basically there was an evil sorceress, and she'd capture one of us, and the other would have to attempt a daring rescue. But the Queen was cunning. She'd usually subvert the Hero in some fashion, whichever of us it was, and cause us to betray each other. It was scary, psychological stuff-- and we'd really upset each other sometimes, because we believed it. We loved that game. It was pretty much the only thing we ever wanted to do together. :D
I think adults forget that they did stuff like that when they were kids. Or they remember the fear, but not the fun, and the triumph when the Hero saves the day. It's important not to forget stuff like that. It's a terrible thing to cast your imagination aside.
*gets off soapbox*
Anyway. Speaking of Magic, and fear, have you been in to see him any more today? I imagine that the Cleaning Products and waterproof mattress liner smell funny. Poor guy. He'll bounce back. Tere's no resisting feathersticks for long. :)
Go Woodsman Hans, go! Drive like the wind! Within the posted speed limit, of course. Don't get a ticket on my account. :D Safe travels.
And yes, Puffenstuff was weird, and Jimmy and his flute? We don't GO there. I always thought Witchy Poo was missunderstood tho..
Oh, no Lycans tonight. I could have made a later show, but I am BEAT. Opted for Nap, and it seems too cold and late to go now. Will make it this weekend. Hung my Poster El, (The Missing El, where are you??) got me today in Magics room.
I think it will make him feel more at home, Vampires and all.
I wasn't able to get any word from them today, alas, which makes things a bit harder. The offer I have from the other company expires tomorrow. In theory, if I haven't heard anything by Monday afternoon, I could accept the offer and drive it over personally. I'll probably turn it down regardless, though, and hope for the best.
I'm going to feel really foolish if something better doesn't come along.
Jess, got it in one , you did!!!!
I have been in with Magic, he was wary and didn't come out instantly, and he ate his snack I brought, and WATCHED, but didn't want to play.
I found out one of his windows was not closed tight, and Merry helped me get his vent all the way open, so it ought to be much warmer in there now.
Hang in there Dan! You are WAY to employable not to get this.
And if you don't, heck, I can help you out, send a few Bengals over! HA! Take that Cabals Cabel!
(Uh, tho I kind of maybe don't remember exactly which side you are on..)
I read the comments all day long at work. I love the comments. I anticipate how funny and insightful my responses are going to be when I finally get to write them.
By the time I get home, work has drained every intelligent thought and killed every brain cell in my head. I can't remember anything that was posted or who said that witty and wonderful thing that had me laughing or nodding in agreement.
My new New Years resolution is to keep notes.
I plan on doing my bit and seeing Coraline opening weekend. That much I can remember.
Magic Queen was better than Dallas for intrigue and plot twists, you know. If we'd thought it through we could have been rich. Millionaires, at only eight years of age! Totally, dude.
Magic will settle down. It is Change Week '09, y'know, and he's had a lot of it in the last couple of days. I bet you'll find him blocking the vent at some point soon. :)
Ticia, it's hard to keep up. As long as you are having fun reading that's imporatant. I can't keep up and if anyone should!!!!!!
Jess, I think we played something very much like Magic Queen, certainly a involved...
Just got copied in an e-mail chain asking to confirm Dakota Fanning might be available for an interview Tuesday.
Not sure I can help them on this one, at least it is the same movie, lol.
Tell 'em yes, Lo - what harm can it do???
Sally - loved the link - spent some time there - lots of funny people out there.
Cold. Going to warm bed. Night, Fiendom...
I like what everyone is saying and I can't seem to put my words together to add anything this evening so I'll just say "Yup! Oranges Poranges, who says!"
They must be playing Six-Degrees-From-Gaiman. Fanning voices English language Satsuki for Hiyao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro, Miyazaki writes and directs Princess Mononoke, Mononoke English translation penned by Gaiman.
See? It all makes perfect sense!
I must be backwards. Hated scary stuff as a kid but love it now.
When my children first started at the Waldorf school (very particular sort of education...full of oddities that worked brilliantly for us, but don't for everyone) at age four, I was surprised/intrigued at the fact that the Kindergarten used Grimm's tales. In the original form mostly. Oh, not the very strongest ones, but Mother Holla, and Snow White and Rose Red, and many others. The themes: abandonment by wicked stepmother, deception, cannibalism, etc., were expressed only in the stories...and often in the children's play. very interesting, and I have to say, the kids I now know as young adults who went through that education are, by and large, stable, creative, responsible people, without a lot of anxiety...or sadism.
So fear, with redemption is not so damaging, I think.
And, I too would like to know about the Underworled movies. if there's been an answer, could someone point me to it. I haven't seen one. Horror? Bloody horror? Dystopian? a few indications, if you please...
Aleta, it's Oranges Poranges who CAREs...But points for getting the reference, not sure why-I- remember it clearly...
It's weird about stories. I loved spooky stories as a kid, Baba Yaga was my fav, and Grimms and the colour fairy story books...
I think it is important to let kids decide, a lot was decided for me as a kid, and it didn't work out so well, more listening is the answer I still think.
I am sort of here! It's been one of those weeks. There's been some trouble with my car, insurance, blah blah blah boring and upsetting.
I'm glad you're enjoying the poster! I hope Magic enjoys it as well. It's not exactly soothing, but I bet it can help his room feel more like home.
I agree about kids and letting them decide what is too much and what isn't. When I was a kid, vampires and ghosts didn't bother me a bit, but seeing the first part of Robin Hood, the Kevin Costner one, scarred me for life.
There you are El! Well, That Robin Hood would scare anyone. Scared me.
You need to drop me an e-mail by the way, I can't find yours. And have info for you.
Sorry It's been a rough week, lot of that going around...
Huh, I always thought it was:
"Oranges poranges, who says,
oranges poranges, who says,
oranges poranges, who says?
there ain't no rhyme for oranges!"
El, sorry to hear about car stuff. Hate that.
I'm about to turn off the computer. Really. Night fiends.
Baba Yaga is the best. Quiche, the Spookyhaüs needs chicken feet, I think... ;)
Merry Housekeeper, sorry you had one of THOSE days.
Dan, I hope the offer letter dance goes well. And does Cabal's Cabal. I mean, what fun is it when your archenemy is down? No way, for proper good-natured feuding, you need your enemies in tip-top shape!
I need to think about dinner. Friends are coming over, and I may just take them out, as I'm not sure what I could concoct from ginger, popcorn, and yogurt. Why yes, I do need to go food shopping.
it would be an, um, intersting meal to say the least Val.
Worthy of a Chantrelle write up.
Luckily it's friday. I got some good food and am watching good shows and I'm feeling a lot better.
Email sent, Q.
The recurrence of the words "touch" and "magic" and the discussion of Stories and children, puts me in mind of Jane Yolen's book Touch Magic.
And the color fairy books - the Andrew Lang one's, yes? I discovered them one summer in the public library, pre-teen years I think, and read every one they had. I can still "see" the shelf, the lights, the part of that library they were kept in. :)
Poltergeist was the first scary movie that enraptured me. I had already seen it when I convinced a group of fellow girl scouts and assorted siblings to go see it. Scared a lot of them terribly. But I was just 13! What were the grownups who took us thinking? :O
But I can't watch it now. Or stay in a room with static on a television (though that won't be a problem much longer, eh?). But Wizard of Oz I loved from beginning to end, and wasn't truly scared by any of it, just anxious, except occasionally watched the "Wizard's" disembodied head through my fingers.
Like art - with Stories, a lot of what we take from them is what we bring to them, maybe?
I had yogurt and granola for dinner - you've got half of that. But maybe not for company so much.
Val, sounds like a Top Chef Challenge...
Jane Yolen is the BEST. Nuff said.
I don't like horror movies, movies simple made to scare and thrill. I like story, I know I've been on that theme but I think it is important, and that movies without, are simply without. I don't like movies that are made for money.
I like real movies that are made by people who want to make art. I think both Coraline and Lycans fall into that category.
I never got around to getting dinner tonight, myself. Am having curried popcorn right now. I have a weakness for spicy food.
Hi Fablo, I would offer to take Hans to lunch tomorrow (or dinner -- whenever he makes it through here) because it is technically impossible to drive from FL to Wis without coming up I-75 from Atlanta to connect with I-24 in Chattanooga. However. I am as sick as a dog that ate a rotting woodchuck. I am calling the bathroom my friend, I'll tell you what. Icckkk.
And I wasn't so much spooked by the flying monkeys as I was afraid that Autie Em was going to die before Dorothy got back. (I had already seen some sad things in life before I saw Wizard of Oz.)
Overwhelmed. Nothing to say. Hello! *waves*
I hope you all have a great weekend! :)
Get you some blue string Val, it sounds like you're on your way to that meal from Bridget Jones' Diary. Maybe make blue yoghurt soup, and ginger-flavored popcorn for a side?
Strange service from a Canadian version of Netflix has brought to our home one disc of Dr Who and not one, but TWO Eddie Izzard DVDs, all at once. My poor, irritated guy - nothing of his from the list. :P I told him to blame Fiends.
Hi Gayle! *waves back*
i hid for years when the witch came during the tornado, i was probably in my late teens when i dared to look at the film footage. my biggest fears as a kid were mirrors and the washing machine (yeah, i was a wierd little kid). when i was a kid tho, i loved scary books and movies because it was great seeing the kid overcome all odds and emerge the hero. Here is an odd little bit of trivia: the flying monkey that took toto out of dorothy's arms works as a greeter at our local meijers - we have all met him, he is a local legend. my daughter was the jitterbug in a local civic theater production ( it was cut from the movie) and he came with photos, film stills and posed with everyone.
for coraline i am giving my sculpture students the assignment of looking at the coraline trailers, with a discussion on how sculptors create models/sets/etc. to create alternate worlds. what i wouldn't give to work at laika, or live in portland to freelance there....
and dabbler, i don't know what underworld is about either....lost on that one. I loved the original grimms tales as a kid, tho i would have nightmares, the scarier, the better. i think that it helps you mentally prepare for the adult world - just my theory, but it's been pretty true for me, i think it helps develop mental tenacity, strength and calm in the face of overwhelming odds.
grace dear, pls feel better, and hope you are not praying to the porcelain altar....and annie, black bean salsa for dinner. 'nuff said...(hi gayle and na!) and best of all luck dan!
Hey Sue! I love your assignment for the students.
Underworld is vampires and werewolves and hybrids, oh my! Dark, gothic, action-adventure movies. Kate Beckinsale kicking a__ and taking names. Well, there's a more to it, that's my favorite bits. Need to rewatch, myself, but sounds like FabLo is The Dedicated Fan. ;)
10:00 on a Friday and I am working, because I had so much fun last weekend and didn't work enough then. Meh.
Hans Christian Anderson's tales are far creepier/scarier than Grimm's. "The Red Shoes" has always bothered me. But I also grew up to read Tanith Lee at the ripe age of 14? 15? Somewhere in there.
Granted, my mother always like Saki, and my parents had only one or two books that they wouldn't let me read. And those really didn't matter much anymore by the time I was 15.
I was one of those annoying kids who laughed at the flying monkeys and one of those annoying parents who didn't shield my kids from the nad stuff either.
Teachers hated me.
It's funny everyone's talking about popcorn. That's what I had for dinner as well. :)
see i never saw underworld. i was scared it was going to suck and i get really angry a bad vampire movies. it was right at the time kate was in a bunch of dark gothy movies and i figured it was gonna suck. if you say it doesn't then i'll check it out.
i am afraid to mention, but i HATED van hellsing, i wanted by $1.50 back when i saw it. does that mean i have to revoke my fiendom?
if it makes it better, i fell asleep in interview of a vampire. anne rice books are fun fluff to read, boring as sin on screen.
happy travels to woodsy hans. i do not envy the drive, getting out of florida takes for freaking ever.
i am so freaking stoked for coraline. i'm going to dye my hair blue/black. i would do blue, but i am going to visit the vegas office the following week and that might be a bit much.
oh, i stumbled on some slightly old vampire show on sci-fi called moonlight. you know the drill do good vampire falls in love with pretty human. what was interesting was that one of the characters is called coraline although it seems she is pronounced the other way.
Vampi, "Moonlight" was on CBS just last season (2007-08). A bit different from "Forever Knight," which also ran on CBS during its Crime Time After Prime Time during the mid '90s, IIRC. It took me a while, but I also remember the original pilot for the latter with Rick Springfield as Nick Knight instead of Geraint Wyn Davies.
And a quick check of IMDb says the series ran from 1992-1996.
Saw most of Moonlight. Mick St. John is yummy.
Er, that is, he has a fine, uh, mind. Yes, that's it.
ah yes, forever knight, that was the show i watched in highschool. rick would have ruined it for me, as he will always be noah drake.
yeah moonlight wasn't bad, it was just a little cliched, i guess because i remembered forever knight. i'm all about giving it a fair shake, as it looks like sci-fi is showing it.
i am so bummed i can't buy tickets to coraline yet, i will be reserving some Saturday tickets once they are available.
oh and i'm so late to the party, i'm checking out dexter on demand.
*bouncy bouncy* i hope all fiends are having a pleasant evening. i'm trying to re-learn what to do with myself since boy is now on the graveyard shift
OH, my dear Grace.....that sounds horrid, and I so hope it is over soonest.
Quiche--I couldn't agree with you more on the story line required part. Fail to see what is entertaining about The Hills have Jason's Eyes and Kill You When You're Sleeping Last Summer. (although sometimes there is some humour.) Get frustrated by stupid characters that seem to make decisions specifically designed to get themselves killed.
As for the fear / age factor.....here is the deal: I agree that kids should be able to decide for themselves if they can handle it. But input for them to decide from is in short order around here. The trailer has only been running sporadically on tv and mostly later in the evening (and spookily enough, it just came on even as I am typing this---OOOOOoooooooooooo!)
The local library doesn't have Coraline, and there is no bookstore in town. S'pose I could get it in time from Amazon for some of them to read it, but kinda wanted them to have the movie experience be quite separate.
Anyway, it is more the parents I distrust. I guess I was looking for an easy way out with them, since I'm not certain they will actually listen to their kids' opinions.
Oh well, we have some time yet...
My scary movie? Well, as a kid growing up on Army posts I saw lots of movies which would be rated PG if not R....but didn't get seriously terrified until The Fog with Adrienne Barbeau. Yes, it had a story line!
And killers who could creep in unseen LOGICALLY! (hidden by the fog....)
Still makes me a little uneasy, just thinking about it..
Oh, and Sally--thank you! And in return, THIS....hehehehe...
"Moonlight" gets better. I had hoped for another season, but I just have to live with several threads left hanging. Though I have to admit, I watched it as much for the eye candy as for the plot. ;)
Lys, you can't fault their logic!
hi all,
boy is better (many thanks to those who wished him well) and i'm worse.
hopelessly behind on comments. did read what was on the page tonight, though.
Q, i remember the oranges song the way you do but a bit a bit of googling shows disagreement on this point. nevertheless, i do have a very clear recollection of witchypoo singing "who cares" as well as a long buried but now crystalline memory of jimmy singing the pronoun song ("mine is a selfish word, yours is a thoughtful word, but ours is the nicest word of all.")
also, i lost track of it last week but i'd meant to respond to whoever it was that had also liked The Name of the Wind (was it you, Phiala?) Rothfuss was wonderful at the reading-signing. really, really funny and smart. everything you hope an author will be. he talked a bit about the differences between midwestern and non-midwestern approaches to, well, everything. Boss got mentioned in various questions and a couple answers, too.
ok, i'm heading bed-ward with my new best friends, mr. xopenex and ms. hydromet (i can breathe without coughing? sweet!)
g'night all.
I *LOVE* those guys!!!
Esp when they're doing stuff out at old Ft Ord...I lived there as a kid,and spent time out there again recently (we still have a MOUT training site there, it's just run by the FBI now...)
Moonlight...hmmm...I think I watched it once or twice (ahem, probably for the hunk factor) but fear (I MUST be old!) that corn outweighs cheesecake in my viewing decisions now...it was just too much for me.
I've found looking back at Highlander, the Series (which I used to just adore) it comes into play as well--can't watch them either!
wow...the babble machine is on tonight...sorry! I'll just go watch Frasier :)
Night, Lexo!!! Feel better soon!
Guess it's my turn to be thread killer....sigh.....
feel good wishes lexo.
oh lys, i tried to watch highlander the other day and about choked. it was horrid, yet at the time i loved it. i did exclaim that mythos was the bad guy on 24, which confused boy muchly.
not thread killer, i'm just slow to respond. i was pondering digging out my higlander movie dvd. there can be only one...mmm clancy brown
Vampi--NOW you're talking timeless! Clancy Brown stayed at my hotel once in Minneapolis; evidently he has family in the area and there was a wedding....the reception might actually have been at my Marriott, can't quite remember.
Anyway, he needed some help from the concierge desk..and the ONLY time in ten years of concierging I EVER had to hand a guest off to someone else. Because I knew if I spent five more minutes in front of him I would fangirl/geek out in ways unacceptable to the fine art of the Concierge.
sigh.... asking for autographs in between arranging rental cars, dinners et all is JUST NOT DONE! :)
sigh, see I really *did* kill it...
Well, better health to all who need it....
Safe driving to all commuters AND ESP HANS!
Happy kitties to, well, everyone...
and a fond good night. Drove most of the day today, and more driving over the next couple of days. I'm sure it will be fun catching up on all of you Monday!
ps.....my Clancy Brown geek-out comes courtesy of Buckaroo Banzai. Just to be accurate....and he was quite the gentleman about it, tho a trifle confused as to why the person who initially assisted him literally said "sir, I'm so sorry...do please excuse me for just one moment" and came back w/a different concierge for him..
Wishing Hans a safe journey and fair driving conditions. I hope the credit card problem can be solved too.
Sorry to read so many fiends (or family) are sick. Get better all.
Hope tomorrow will be a better day for you, Mary.
Siri- I must go and googlecate Billie Hayes. It was her cackle that always got me.
rereading comments, because I think some went right over my head this morning
I thought it must me Hans doing the driving, too, as Boss didn't say it was you. I wasn't scared of 'the Wizard of Oz' but his may be because I didn't see it at an early age. (BTW, it was the first film my mother ever saw in the cinema (she would have been quite small at the time) and she was terrified!)
El - didn't find Robin Hodd scary - but mostly becasue I was too busy laughing, mostly at the goegraphy...
Lexa & Grace - feel better soon.
Na, your comment about remembering the shelf in the ltbary stuck such a chord for me - I have that with Daian Wynne Jones' 'The Lives of Christopher Chant' - and more recently I sepnt a long time tracking down a copy with the 'right' cover art, because the copy I had never felt quite right, not having the same art as the one which I borrowed so many times from the library back when I first found it.
I was also one of those kids whose parents didn't try to shield us or prevent us from reading stuff - I remember being really shocked and surprised when I first found out that there was stuff which some of my friends weren't allowed to read. I remember looking after a copy of Judy Blime's 'Forever' for a friend when she was reading it, because she couldn't read it at home.
I did not find Robin Hood Prince of Thieves scary. It is not THAT dreadfully bad.
In particular because it is saved by the grace of Alan Rickman (and his friend, the playwrite Peter Barnes, who rewrote most of his lines with him).
Forever knight... That was a fun one... Highlander... That too and I just saw one of the main actors today, jim brynes who played the watcher, for the tv show and the recent movie, was backing out of his driveway. Funny coincidence.
Looking forward to the spookifying of this film. I expect that it will be a blast. I will bring my friends to see it in 3d.
Oh and I love Name of the Wind, and it was a pleasure to host him at vcon this last October.
This is from rubius who is too lazy to type this all in again and who cannot yet highlight and copy things on her ipod.
And I was scared of Through the looking glass
Delurking here....I teach 5th grade and Coraline is the FIRST book I read aloud to my kids every year. They love it and mostly because it is so creepy! They have been talking about it all year and when we returned from our December break a bunch of them saw the first previews for the movie. I think it definitely depends on the kid, but Lorraine and fiends you are right: kids inherently know that the hero will conquer and save the day.
I'll be on break when the movie comes out (I teach year round school in NC), but I can't wait to hear what the kids thought about the movie. To say we're a little obsessed with the book is an understatement. ;)
Welcome Mandy.
If you stick along a little while, ariandalen shall be over sniffing your spicy brains...
Don't worry: She doesn't bite. Much.
How cool that you read that book to your students. I don't remember teachers reading me anything that exciting when I was a kid. The usual academic stuff was pretty boring.
I think this is all true, and I find myself feeling more disturbed by the story as I get older (though I love it no less).
Nevertheless, this is definitely reassuring to me. William will probably be okay.
With all the disemboweling, murder, abuse and dissolution kids see every day on the desensitizing Idiot Box, I think it's perfect for kids to be exposed to "artful fear." I read 'Coraline' as an adult and was blown away by the perfect economy of Neil's story--the ideal balance of psychological creepiness created by the Unknown, and the need for human ingenuity to get away from the Scary. Oz did that, for both kids and adults. Coraline (because of the story) has that same primal effect. It's gonna be fine as a film adaptation, though I am convinced that nothing could ever approach the book's brilliance. I say, "Scare the bejebus out of kids and adults whenever possible." But do it artfully:-). Great post, Lorraine.
ivenotime, I really like this "i think it helps develop mental tenacity, strength and calm in the face of overwhelming odds." I agree. Stories do that in a manageable way, so much more than the "reality" TV carp that is the current fad.
Mostly small minded bullying and empty drama, that.
But running away to live by yourself in a hollow tree in the Catskills? Visits with the Uncle of your Nanny, who floats to the ceiling when he laughs? A small, fur footed person triumphing over Trolls? Friendship and loyalty overcoming the brutal sweetmeats of Winter? And so many more, all helped teach me to be human, loving, and optimistic....
And I was terrified by Tenniel's illustrations for Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Don't think I managed to read either one through until I was in college, because the distorted pictures creeped me out so badly. And I was reading Andersen and Grimm and Lang and Tolkien in Junior High school.
Especially Tolkien, in the 'unauthorized American edition' days, when I had to wait a YEAR between the three volumes of LOTR.
On the other hand, I had nightmares for years after seeing the preview for 'The Fly". Ugh. Still don't like to think about it.
Oh! The monkeys in the Wizard of Oz movie were the scariest things ever! And the Umpa Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were enough to scare me away from candy .... for a little while.
Four things terrified me out of my wits when I was a small girl:
1. Vampires.
2. Corpses coming up from the grave.
3. Wolves popping up outside the window at night.
4. Vomiting.
Morning Fiends!
Welcome Mandy!!!!That is indeed very cool! You should have the kids write letters and send them to me.....Who knows? Drop me an e-mail and I'll tell you where.
The only thing that ever scared me as a child, and indeed now was the fear of getting my head chopped off. Weird.
I agree on Alan Rickman, and didn't know they re-wrote his lines. I seem to remember him stabbing a table over and over, and his evil lady friend saying, with PERFECT timing "Something vexes thee?"
Is that this movie?
More tea.
Today, I am quite terrified of spiders, even after reading "Anansi Boys". I am also still scared of vomiting.
William and I finished Coraline today! He loved it loved it loved it.
"My favorite part," he told me, "is when she says, 'I am your other mother.'"
I am so glad he liked it, Emily!
Hans is still driving, his cell phone charger not working, nor his I pod charger, and the credit card still not working. (I called on the card and was assured it WAS working.)
He also says he has begun talking back to the Nav. Voice. He says it gets really irritated when you go off the path it is on. I think it is his new friend.
I'll update you when he calls.
Where IS everyone?
I am here. Just scanning through lists of potential markets for my stories while nibbling scones. Forgatting my tea too. And downloading pictures of the cats onto my computer (I hope they turn out well).
I hope they turn out well too, we need more Cat Pics! May take some myself today, WAY too cold for going out much.
Don't forget tea, Nathilie!
I really enjoyed scary books and movies when I was a kid, but I was a bit of a scaredy-cat about real life.
I don't think I was ever really scared of the flying monkeys -- I think I was more frightened of the Wicked Witch of the West. I also remember being afraid of the stepmother/witch in Sleeping Beauty as she swooped down the long dark staircase.
The most scared I remember being reading a book back then was Salem's Lot. I think I was maybe in Jr. High. I read in bed very late into the night. I was afraid to look out my second floor bedroom window for fear that one of my friends would be standing on air there.
I told one of my friends that her youngest -- preschool -- might not be that great of an age for Coraline, but I don't think there is any particular age cut off. I think it does depend on the kid as Q and others have said.
I get much more concerned when I see young kids at really violent "realistic" action movies than I would seeing them at a movie like Coraline.
No wait I mean Snow White not Sleeping Beauty!
The pictures of Ansia looking like a boxer are great. They'd make great LOLz. When (if) my brain recovers from the fact that it spent a valuable time in a supermarket (and mall) on a rainy Saturday afternoon (can you spell pandemonium?) I might just play around and make a few.
Poor Hans. It gets really bad when Cabal starts to have conversations with the GPS.
I was terrified of the "Snow White" queen as well -- was convinced for years afterwards that all queens were evil. I refused to watch "The Wizard of Oz" throughout most of my childhood, being scared of the witch. 'Tis ironic that I ended up playing the Evil Queen in a production last summer, and had such great, great fun.
I'm in the "ask your kid" camp. Fairy tales and Wizard of Oz didn't scare me, but I was scarred by a forced trip through a haunted house ride at an amusement park when I was 4 or 5. I didn't want to go on the ride. I was screaming in terror when we left, and the "adults" were laughing at how "cute" it was that I was hysterical.
My biggest worry during Wizard of Oz was always for Toto.
Roadtrip with a Mini and a dog sounds wonderful, but then that's the kind of thing I enjoy. The last couple of times I've been on 75, the speedtrap near Jellico wasn't there. I wonder if TN has cut back on funds? LOL! They were always there before. It's possible to get from FL to WI without 24 if you go 75>74>39>94 (who ME roadtrip too much?)
Silly VISA and their twice-a-day limit. Where's their common sense? Why do they think people buy those things? Duh.
I went through my R.L. Stine phase from the time I was eleven to the time I was almost thirteen -- was traumatized by the idea that people could walk around dead and rotting. I was so disturbed that I suffered nightmares for months. Even Stephen King didn't scare me quite so much.
Well. Except maybe for "Pet Sematary", when I was about fourteen. Had to keep the curtains closed at night from then on.
Now that you've mentioned the Nav unit, I really wish Woodsman Hans was blogging. Navs can be funny, but I suspect whatever version Mini uses has an extra dose of humor because I heard Neil's actually *scold* him once. It sounded quite peeved. Mine just nags in repetitive exasperation if I want to take a different route.
My mother brought me to see Phantasm(when I was 13) and the first Jaws(when I was 9), both of which I had to close my eyes and block my ears cuz it was terrifying but they did effect me much after the movie was done. I think it was either the Carol Burnett show or Saturday night live that had a skit about a sewer shark that came up thru the drain or toilet and eat people. I found it traumatic to go to the bathroom for weeks after worring that something was gonna bite my butt. Another was a portion of one of the 'Trilogy of Terror' shows where a voodoo doll with a spear stalked a woman and proceeded to come at her from under the couch. I used to launch myself from miles away to get on a couch or chair hoping to avoid the spear lol.
Clancy Brown, wow, one of my favorite underappreciated actors. I would have geeked out meeting him as well. Way up there on my list of underappreciated actors is David Warner.
Not caughtup yet.
I was terrified of the monkeys, not the witch. Am deathly afraid of clowns (IT didnt' help, not sure if that was the source).
Off to the frame shop to pick up my russian family tree and get frames for my sandman anniversary poster, my coraline library poster and my saucers poster :)
I was terrified of the flying monkeys. The Wizard of Oz still freaks me out, actually, thoguh I watch all kinds of scary movies without flinching.
I thought Coraline would scare me more when I read it, honestly, though it was delightfully creepy and I love it. I'm going to give it a good re-read after I see the movie. I wonder if I'm just repressing my fear because my mom liked to play a trick on me when I was a kid and put on a fake voice and pretend she'd been body snatched. GREAT JOKE MOM (now that scared the pants off of me). She feels really bad about it now.
On to food talk! Tonight I'm going to attempt to make gnocchi and feed it to other people. I'm going to have pasta on hand just in case ^^
To accompany, I'm doing a green salad and a choice of tomato cream or mushroom cream sauces, finished with wine poached pears.
Adri, that sounds nice - hope the Gnocci turns out well.
I took my saucers print in to be framed today (framing shop's been closed for the last couple of weeks die to illness, so I have been marking time!)
mostly been trying to do some clearing out and tidying up. Not going too well so far. *sigh* Why do dull tasks take so long?
How long will it take poor Hans to get home?
Speaking of Hans, just posted an Update....
Who's first? Or 6th?
Spacedlaw- funny that you mention that you don't recall teachers reading you much because I don't remember it past 2nd grade. It seems many of the teachers at my school (and especially in the upper grades) still read aloud for 15-20 minutes of the day. We're to the point in the school year where I have recruited my students to read at times (it makes for a great reward for good behavior). Plus, it helps me assess whether or not they are fluent in how they read and can read with expression.
Lorraine- I am either blind OR not. I looked on the blog but found no e-mail. Could be blindness. My kids, this year, had to write a letter to Boss about the book after we were done reading it. Then, as a class we consolidated into one main letter. Unfortunately, I never did get to send it. But, I think that after the movie is out and we come back from break we will do a new letter and I will send it to you. Get the thoughts of 25 ten and eleven year olds. Be careful what you wish for- this group is crazy funny without meaning to be. ;)
I'm coming out of lurkdom to say my daughters are so excited about seeing Coraline. They have been talking about it since they saw the first trailer. They are 7 and 9. We'll be rereading the book ths week in preparation for the movie. I think the book creeps me out far more than it does the kids.
LLM
Hi LLM and welcome! Glad you de-lurked!
I love hearing how many people are reading Coraline with their kids and talking with them about it, so cool.
When I was nine, I had to walk out of the movie version of Watcher in the Woods.
I've always liked reading the eldrich books. Couldn't watch scary movies until I was an adult, though. I made the effort because of the inherent stories and mythologies. I wanted to experience them for myself.
Bad story=bad movie.
Yes undoubtedly, in some moments I can phrase that I agree with you, but you may be inasmuch as other options.
to the article there is quiet a question as you did in the go over like a lead balloon a fall in love with issue of this demand www.google.com/ie?as_q=google earth pro final with license key 4.2.0205.5730 ?
I noticed the catch-phrase you have not used. Or you use the pitch-dark methods of inspiriting of the resource. I suffer with a week and do necheg
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home