31 Days of
Drafts and Darkness: VOL 2!
"Coraline" (2009)
Based on the novel by legendary comics author Neil Gaiman
("The Sandman" series), "Coraline" is a dark fairy tale
rooted in whimsy. The film takes a distinctly innocent point-of-view,
seeing the world through the eyes of a child. As such, a sense
of wonder pervades each frame. For the most part, these moments are beautiful
to behold. Fantastic bursts of color and sound, rich with imagination.
But wonder can also mask darker undertones. Seeking
adventure can be a thrill, but one must be careful not to delve too deeply into
the unknown. Admirable as curiosity is, it must be taken with a spoonful of
caution. Otherwise, the boundaries between reality and fantasy begin to blur.
The Plot:
Coraline Jones is an energetic yet perpetually-bored girl who's just
moved into a strange old house. Her parents, overworked and fueled solely by
coffee, struggle to keep the family afloat through writing. Caring as they are
for their daughter, dire financial straits have forced both parents to zero-in
on their work, leaving Caroline much to her own devices.
Ever the impatient adventurer, Coraline sets out
to explore her new surroundings. Her neighbors are certainly a quirky lot. One
claims to have trained a troupe of mice to perform circus feats. The others
rave of being former beauties, only now it seems the only adoration they
receive is from their numerous collection of terriers. Some of whom have
already passed on and sit, stuffed, on the mantle.
If the real world seems creepy on its own, wait until the
"Other" world shows up.
You see, not long after moving in, Coraline comes across a
hand-stitched doll that bears a disturbing resemblance to her. Blue hair and
all. Things get weirder still upon the discovery of a hidden door in the house.
Once unlocked, Coraline finds the door a literal gateway to a dream world.
The
land on the other side closely mimics her current life, only here, all the
attention seems to center on her. Mom and Dad are doting parents, cooking
fabulous meals and writing songs for her. Even the garden is shaped to resemble
Coraline's face. It's like a Wonderland built out of her former life, save for
one little detail.
As Coraline spends more time here,
her "Other" mother informs her that certain changes are necessary.
Everyone in this reality has a pair of shiny buttons in place of eyes. Although
initially creeped out by the doll-like appearance, Coraline gets too wrapped up
in the party to care for very long.
That is until they present her with thread, needle, and her
own pair of buttons.
The Flavor:
"Coraline" treads a fine line between wondrous and
dark. Even before she crosses worlds, Coraline is surrounded by a rich array of
characters and scenery. The landscape is coated with old oak trees, roots
gnarled. The sky is an ever-present shade of twilight. It's beautiful, but
there's a slight menace to it all. Such is the tone of the entire tale.
This is only further amplified by the Other World. Here, all
the colors and characters from real life are saturated to the extreme. It's a
veritable wonderland. Only it seems to be hiding something.We, the
audience, can sense it. But Coraline, beguiled by this realm, is
drawn deeper into the web. As we watch, we urge her to see the dark cracks
forming at the seams. This is all too good to be true. But unless Coraline can
distinguish between a more mundane reality and this beautiful lie, she may lose
both.
Dread slowly begins to seep into "Coraline" as the
plot progresses. The urgency of discovering the "Other" world's true
nature gets all the more tense as the story goes on. Though non-violent,
there's a lot of surreal, even disturbing imagery. Wonderland warps into
something terrifying.
And therein lies the lesson of the film.
"Coraline" doesn't shun the idea of exploration. Rather, it embraces
it with open arms. It only wants to stress that wonderment and naiveté,
beautiful in their own regards, can leave one open to danger if they're not
careful. Also, as alluring as the 'out-there' can seem, never forget how
important home is during your travels. It's all too easy to take for granted.
Best Paired with:
A family film with a touch of grim, "Coraline"
certainly warrants Halloween viewing for most audiences. Most.
Once the true
nature of the Other world comes to light, things grow very dark. As I mentioned
above, imagery that's once colorful becomes twisted. And the monster behind it
all is a terrifying sight. I'd say anyone over the age of 8 should be
fine, but very young children will no doubt have nightmares.
Despite this, the film is a great adventure, packed with
imagination, creativity, and some valuable lessons about growing up. After
writing this review, I find myself wanting to watch "Coraline" again.
I suppose that's the best recommendation I could give the film.
Accompanying Brew:
We've sampled plenty of pumpkin brews this season. Let's try one with an adventurous new twist.
Name: Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Brewery: Weyerbacher
Where Brewed: Easton, PA
ABV: 8.0%
Style: Imperial Pumpkin Ale
An Imperial pumpkin ale that brings a new spice note to
the mix.
Color: A deep amber,
this brew glows red when held up to the light.
Aroma: Of the Fall
Trio on display, the clove aspect of the aroma is most pronounced. It's a
warming sort of spice, especially when combined with the twinge of
alcohol-sweetness from the brew. Aside from the Fall Trio, there's also
cardamom in this beer, adding further complexity to the scent.
Taste: While cinnamon
and nutmeg are present, it's the tang of the clove and cardamom that really
stands out here. The presence of cardamom adds a whole other level to the
flavor, giving it a more exotic vibe. Almost like an infusion of Indian-style
cooking. The combination of these spices, a sharply sweet factor, and a dash of
toasty caramel malts gives the beer a warming quality. Almost like it has the
slightest dash of pepper in the mix.
Aftertaste: When the hops arrive, they affect the taste in
two ways. Firstly, and expectantly, they help wipe away the sweeter flavors.
Secondly, as strong as the cardamom is initially, it gets even more
pronounced once the bitter kick arrives. What results is an aftertaste that's
very heavy on the spice. Bold and different, Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin Ale
brings another dimension to the pumpkin lineup. There's almost a
slightly-burnt quality to the taste, which considering the warming nature of
the beer, is a great thing.
Body: Medium bodied, though it feels heavy on the tongue due
to the higher alcohol content and the robust flavors.
Pair: Roasted chicken or pork, though with little in the way
of spices on the meat. This brew has all the spice character either entree
could ever need.
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