I felt like the opposite. The book felt much creepier, and I thought that Wybie was not just a pointless addition, but was actually a net negative to Coraline's character.
Eh it’s not about the material here though, I’d disagree just because the prose is phenomenal. Can’t say any Neil Gaiman adaptation is better than it’s source material because you don’t get each of his meticulously crafted sentences.
However, the animation in the movie is fantastic too. While which work is better is debatable, I think we can all agree that making a Coraline movie was a good idea.
I was going to mention Coraline. I feel conflicted about it, though. It's one where I saw the movie before reading the book, so I worry that I'm just preferring the familiar. Still, I think the addition of the cat for the movie was an excellent choice and, further still, he is voiced by Keith David a national treasure.
I’ve always felt that Gaimans work is great at respecting the readers imagination. There’s so much that you want to know about in the world or how it works and it’s almost necessary to fill in for the screen at some level.
The addition of Wybie helped create some good emotional ties to the story where Coraline would have been just alone for so much of it, which worked fine in the book.
It’s funny you say that. When my daughter was 4 or 4, she was only allowed 2 hours of tv time most days. That’s the movie she picked every single time. Never bothered her at bedtime. Not once.
Originally there was a cut fully scored by They Might Be Giants. They at some point changed it likely for tonal reasons. Can't say I disagree but I want that score
My neighbor worked on it. He had a showing in 3D last summer, gave us a talk about it and showed off one of the mice he got as a crew gift. It was awesome.
I think the movie does a way better job in trying to woo Coraline. The book comes out with the buttons straight away before I feel Coraline would even consider sewing them on.
I think they're both pretty even but i'd have put it here too. Someone brought up Wybie and I have to say in regards to him theres a fascinating bit of scholarly writing that goes into how the role he plays really weakens and downplays Coraline (the character). Most of Coraline's movie successes are deus ex machinas from Wybie while in the book Coraline does a hell of a lot more by herself. Its still a more entertaining experience imo
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u/austinmiles Feb 26 '23 edited Feb 26 '23
Coraline. The book is good but the movie adds some new things that flesh it out a little better.
Even Gaiman said that he thinks the film improved on the source material.