Rated PG for crude humor and some intense action

By Patrick Sessoms
BEACON COLUMNIST

posted Aug 24, 2012 - 9:21:25am

Just to start off, forget every preview you ever saw from ParaNorman. Personally, I was dreading sitting through this newest flick from the team that brought moviegoers Coraline. Much to my surprise, though, it turned out to be a really great film.

It’s not so much that ParaNorman is a new-age classic, but it packs some incredible messages every child should learn and does so in an easily accessible manner without coming across as preachy. Parents will like the film well enough, but also they will enjoy knowing their kids enjoyed it.

In a unique blend of genres, ParaNorman creates what will probably be one of the next great children’s Halloween movies by blending humors and a homage to the terrible B-Horror films of yesteryear. From zombies moaning "braaaaains" to a synthesizer-inspired soundtrack, the movie pulls all of its elements together to create something great.

The story follows a young boy named Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who lives his life as an outcast because of his ability to talk with the dead. Constantly bullied and misunderstood, Norman feels all alone. That is, until it becomes his responsibility to save the town from a 300-year-old curse that will raise the dead. So, he reluctantly sets off with his new friend Neil (Tucker Albrizzi), local bully Alvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), ditzy sister Courtney (Anna Kendrick) and muscle-brained jock Mitch (Casey Affleck) to battle zombies and ghosts for the fate of the town that treated him like a freak.

ParaNorman utilized a unique style of stop-motion animation that finds its charm in the slightly disjointed feel to its fluidity. It is reminiscent of films that are right at home in Tim Burton’s catalog, but with more depth. The directorial team of Chris Butler and Sam Fell capture a bit more heart behind the character and really focus on the themes.

At its heart, the movie is about accepting those who are different from you. Norman is just a regular kid who is an outcast because people are afraid of him and his ability. It’s not only about accepting people who are different, but also about showing that just because a large group of people believe something doesn’t mean they're right. This is subtly reflected repeatedly throughout the film. The point is, ParaNorman teaches kids about the dangers of intolerance, but also teaches them to break away from group mentality. Its message is for kids just to be themselves, which might sound a little melodramatic, but it conveys this idea while still being a fun adventure for everyone.

Suffice it to say, ParaNorman stands a good chance at going toe-to-toe with Pixar's Brave at the Oscars: It’s that good. Even if you don’t have any rugrats of your own, it’s a great movie that will touch on enough nostalgic elements and universal themes to let you escape from the monotony of everyday life. Plus, the film is very pretty, enough so to be worth the extra bucks for 3D.

Stars & Popcorn grade: 4 1/2 stars, 5 popcorn

— Born and raised in the sunshine state, Patrick grew up loving movies. He’s currently attending the University of Central Florida and is a Cinema Studies major. Along with being the president of Stars and Popcorn, he’s a player in the independent comics scene.

Sponsored by Liebe Entertainment Group, Marketplace 8. Click here to see showtimes for ParaNorman

Visit Stars and Popcorn at www.starsandpopcorn.com

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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