Children's Films, Adult Problems

Hugely anticipated and vastly over budget Spike Jonze's adaptation of 'Where the Wild Things Are'. Whilst drawing praise from fans and critics Warner are worried about the adapt and more acutely the marketing department are concerned about the breadth of the films appeal. A film with so bloated a budget needs big audiences;Warner's 'private' concern has surfaced very publicly in Adage:

"It doesn't look like a family movie," said the head of creative advertising at a rival studio familiar with Warner's angst. "Are they going for the cineastes or are they going to convince kids to go? It's the most interesting marketing problem in town right now."

Adage: Marketing 'Where the Wild Things Are' won't be child's play'

Which brings me to the other kidult film dilemma: the woeful Coraline. Billed as a 3D spectacular, today's darling format. Sadly, even in 3D this would be a disappointment unless those specs have acquired the magical property of being able to add a dimension to the characters. Two hours of deeply unnerving if beautifully crafted animation. Largely devoid of charm and bizarrely passed as PG. Coraline is very scary: at one point I grabbed the arm of the male friend who I was with for comfort, something I haven't done since I watched the Omen for the first (and last) time. Despite all this reviewers can't seem to get enough of Coraline and her nasty button-eyed friends. Five stars all round. Odd. Very odd indeed.