BuzzSugar

Buzz In: Which Animated Movie Is Most Oscar-Worthy?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:37 -0800

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences issued a press release today, announcing that 20 films have been submitted for Best Animated Film consideration at this year's Oscars. This means there could be five movies competing at the awards show in March. (In the history of the category, there have typically been only three.) So who is up for the honor?

Some are obvious choices. Up, for example, comes as no surprise thanks to its huge accolades. I also think Coraline stands a chance, as well as Fantastic Mr. Fox (look for my review on Friday!). But Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel seems like a long shot - even though it hasn't hit theaters yet, so I'm just making an early prediction. (Sorry, Alvin.)

With 10 movies in the Best Picture category, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these films end up with more than one nomination. Check out the full list of animated film contenders, and tell me which you think is most deserving of an Oscar when you read more.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Astro Boy
Battle For Terra
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Disney's A Christmas Carol
The Dolphin – Story of a Dreamer
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Mary and Max
The Missing Lynx
Monsters vs. Aliens
9
Planet 51
Ponyo
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
A Town Called Panic
Up

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:30:25 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. Also out this week: The Great Buck Howard, Monk: Season Seven, and Psych: Season Three.

Watchmen
Do you guys remember when it was all Watchmen hype, all the time? It seems like that went on forever and then finally the movie, based on the critically acclaimed comic book series by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore, hit theaters. And it was fun, especially for those of us who had read the book. Director Zack Snyder made a faithful adaptation, which has its benefits and drawbacks. Visually it is a feast for the eyes, especially the opening sequence, and I think it's definitely worth taking home if you didn't catch it on the big screen. The cast is pretty cool, too, and includes Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, and Patrick Wilson.

There are lots of DVD extras, like a director's cut of the film (186 minutes) on some versions, a featurette titled "The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics," and webisodes.

64%

Two more DVDS to check out if you read more.

Coraline
In my opinion, this stop-motion animated adaptation of Neil Gaiman's book is one of the better movies to hit theaters so far this year. It's clear that the filmmakers embarked on a painstakingly careful process to bring this strange and sometimes scary story to the big screen.

Dakota Fanning voices Coraline, a little girl who discovers an alternate version of her life - a way better and more interesting version. But when her "Other Mother" (voiced by Teri Hatcher) tries to keep her forever, Coraline must dig deep and tap into her bravery to get back home. It's immensely entertaining and I highly recommend adding this to your queue!

Special features include a featurette in which director and screenwriter Henry Selick and Coraline author Neil Gaiman take fans deeper into the intricacies of Coraline's worlds, deleted scenes, and a special making-of featurette.

88%

Pushing Daisies: Season Two
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm so bummed that ABC let this whimsical gem of a show go. Thankfully the DVD is out now so you can keep it with you forevermore. Pushing Daisies will live on in our DVD collections and our hearts!

Special features in this second season DVD set include "The Master Pie Maker" (a peek inside the mind of creator Bryan Fuller), "From Oven to Table" (bringing a script idea to life), "Secret Sweet Ingredients" (spotlight on composer Jim Dooley), and "Add a Little Magic" (a look at the show's visual effects).

Box Office: Madea Makes Money

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:30:56 -0800

It's no surprise that when Tyler Perry has a movie out, it's going to do well at the box office - but $41 million well? Dang! Madea Goes to Jail took the top spot over the weekend and is Perry's best debut to date.

Taken, Coraline, and He's Just Not That Into You continued to do good business, coming in second, third, and fourth respectively. Meanwhile, the fifth spot went to this year's "little film that could" and newly crowned Oscar-winning Best Picture. Variety reports:

Fox Searchlight reached Oscar Sunday with Slumdog Millionaire enjoying a ninth straight week in the top 10.

The weekend's other wide release debut, Fired Up, opened at No. 9.

Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

Box Office: Jason's Back as Audiences Make Him No. 1

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:15:26 -0800

The economy may be on shaky ground but you wouldn't know it by looking at the box office totals from this weekend. The Friday the 13th remake actually set records and had "the best opening ever for a horror movie in grossing an estimated $42.2 million from 3,105 theaters through Sunday." Meanwhile He's Just Not That Into You exceeded expectations by snagging the No. 2 spot over the weekend, while Liam Neeson's Taken continued to do strong box office business and came in third place. Confessions of a Shopaholic had a disappointing debut at No. 4.

Coraline rounded out the top five while Paul Blart: Mall Cop, at No. 6, became the first original January release to reach $100 million. Dang!

Finally, Clive Owen and Naomi Watts weren't enough star power to save The International from a lackluster debut. The thriller managed seventh place.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Box Office: Everyone's Into He's Just Not That Into You

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:15:27 -0800

Big name stars plus romantic self-help equals box office bucks this past weekend as He's Just Not That Into You took the No. 1 spot earning an estimated $27.5 million. The action flick Taken slipped to No. 2 though it still performed well, and was followed by Coraline, The Pink Panther 2, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

Variety notes how a weekend like this affects smaller, Oscar-nominated films: "The torrent of highly commercial new releases dinged the Oscar-nominated pics, which-outside of Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler and The Reader - saw virtually no bump. That's rare for kudos contenders in February."

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Coraline: Spooky and Awe-Inspiring

BuzzSugar — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:30:09 -0800

It's pretty darn hard not to be impressed by the miniature, handmade world brought to life in Coraline. The painstakingly careful process of making the movie is mind-boggling when you think about it and the end result is extremely cool to watch on a giant screen in 3-D. Stop-motion animation is an art form all its own, and it's truly a delight to watch this strange and sometimes very scary story told using this medium. Whether it's the real-life objects that are moving and talking or the 3-D experience, the fact is that it's remarkably easy to become absorbed into this world. Basically, Coraline is immensely entertaining.

The story, from Neil Gaiman's book, is more intriguing - and way darker - than most animated movies that are ostensibly geared toward children. The look and feel of the visuals only further darkens the tone. Coraline is a clever, no-nonsense girl who just moved into a new home with her parents. Both parents are writers who work from home - but that doesn't mean Coraline has constant companionship as they shoo her away at practically every turn. But one night, Coraline opens a small door in the living room, which leads her to a warm, colorful alternate world in which everything about her life is the same - only better. She has all the food and sweets she desires, her mother and father are engaging and attentive, and they create spectacular things for her. There's always a catch, though, so read more.

If Coraline wishes to stay in this world, she must replace her eyes with buttons and promise to stay with her "Other Mother" forever. The ghosts of children who succumbed to the appeal of their "other" worlds haunt Coraline and warn her not to give in, but by that point, the Other Mother has trapped Coraline and she must figure out how to escape, while helping the ghosts of those children along the way.

Admittedly, I'm not sure what the movie would be like if one were watching it on a small screen, or if the magic would be less potent if it weren't for the 3-D aspect. I wondered at times if I were so engaged in the story because of the visuals, or whether I'd find it so cool without the larger-than-life screen. I really don't know. Still, it doesn't take away from the accomplishment of bringing to jerky, spooky life this miniature world, all blown up.

I spent the duration of the film enraptured by this tale, these characters, and the visual ride I was on, and I spent days afterward excitedly marveling at the wonder of it all. If you already dislike animation and stop-motion, then Coraline won't change that. But if you allow yourself to be pulled in completely, the reward is an eerie-sweet feast for the eyes.

Images courtesy of Focus Features

Meet BuzzSugar's Coraline Box

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:30:43 -0800

A little while ago I received in the mail this seemingly cute little colorful box from an unfamiliar sender. Turns out it contains two buttons which, should I decide to cross over into my "Other Mother"'s world, would have to replace my real eyes. Creepy! Included in the package is also a typed-up note from my "Other Mother," explaining that she's made this box by hand, just like she hand-made a whole world for Coraline, the lead character in the freaky stop-motion movie Coraline which opens next Friday. Anyone who's ever wished for a better life has an Other Mother who will provide a lovely, perfect life - as long as you promise to stay with her forever.

It's a pretty neat gimmick, I gotta say. The stop-motion movie includes all kinds of amazing, miniature handmade things and having seen the film it's truly a breathtaking experience to watch it - particularly in 3-D. It's also creepy and sometimes downright frightening, so receiving this real-life little box from my "Other Mother" is appropriately spooky.

Apparently 50 different handmade Coraline packages were sent out to a bunch of bloggers and you can see a whole rundown of different mysterious-looking Coraline boxes here. Below you can peruse the photos of my particular gift from my Other Mother. Are you creeped out? Because I am.

View 10 Photos ›

New Full-Length Trailer For Coraline!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:30:45 -0800

Neil Gaiman's story Coraline is coming to the big screen courtesy of The Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick and now we've got a deliciously whimsical, cute, surreal trailer for the February release. Dakota Fanning voices Coraline, a little girl who discovers an alternate version of her life - a way better and more interesting version. But when "Other Mother" (voiced by Teri Hatcher) tries to keep her forever, "Coraline must rely on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to get back home."

I just love this style of filmmaking, and I think Selick has a real talent for bringing these other-worldly tales to life. To check out the trailer for Coraline, read more.

Image courtesy of Focus Features

Creepy Sneak Preview of Neil Gaiman's Coraline

BuzzSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 06:00:00 -0800

Holy cow this is eerie. The animated movie Coraline, based on a novel by Neil Gaiman, is a bona fide ghost story, with Dakota Fanning voicing the main character. Now there's a sneak preview of the project and for such a brief clip of a project based on a children's book, it's very chilling.

Coraline is a young girl who becomes bored and unhappy in her new home - until, that is, she discovers a door that leads to a better version of her life, complete with an "Other Mother" who feeds and entertains her. Yet there's one small catch: there's something Coraline must do to remain in the magical world forever.

To check out the preview and tell me if you were as creeped out as I was, read more.

Source

Comic-Con Report: A Sneak Peek of Coraline

BuzzSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:13:32 -0700

Before Phasekitty left Comic-Con, she got to see a special preview of Coraline. The 2008 movie is based on Neil Gaiman's book of the same name, which tells the story of a girl who opens a door into a magical dimension where she meets another set of parents who want her to stay in their world forever. Phasekitty got in on a Q&A with Gaiman and director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach) and even won an autographed copy of the movie's poster. Here's some of her report from the session:

We were treated to some animation tests of characters Coraline, Mom, Dad, Miss Spink (whose face jiggles when she talks), and Miss Forcible (whose chest is so big she looks as though she should crawl on all fours). The characters are incredibly unique looking and had a personality to them even as they were simply walking along.

The footage we saw was from the beginning of the film. Coraline discovers a little door in her boring house and begs her mother to open it. When they do, it is boarded up with a wall of brick and Coraline is disappointed. That night, she is lured back to the door by some mice she follows and discovers that this time, there is a brilliantly colored corridor leading to another little door. She enters that door and finds her house, but bathed in a warm and welcoming light. Her mother is in the kitchen, humming softly and cooking dinner, but when she turns around, Coraline sees that she has large black buttons for eyes.

Gaiman talked a bit about the voice actors, whom he didn't at first love in the roles, until he saw the footage and tests. In the footage we saw they were complete chameleons; I didn't recognize Dakota Fanning as Coraline or Teri Hatcher as Mom/Other Mother. John Hodgman rounds out the cast as Dad/Other Father, and Brit voice actors Ian McShane, Jennifer Saunders, and Dawn French lend their voices to the supporting characters.

Wow. I hadn't known much about this project or the book before, but now I'm excited to check them both out. Has anyone else read Coraline? What do you think of the adaptation?