A film that assures kids that there is nothing wrong with being different.
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When I first saw the trailers for this film, I was intrigued. It looked like it could be a good film, but like any animated film it can be terrible with little effort. If these family films just go for simple humor and have no heart or brains in their story lines, they can come out with barely a splash made, and are forgotten. Luckily, this is not one of those films. It not only is very clever, but it is full of heart and wonderful lessons every child should know. The plot is very intricate, and it is full of surprises. You must go see this film with your kids, they will thank you for it.
The film takes place in the land of Cheesebridge, where naturally everyone loves cheese. There are the white hats, who are the ruling elite class who not only get to have private meetings but eat rare and exquisite cheeses everyday. At night odd creatures named Boxtrolls come out, believed to be dangerous monsters who will steal your children and dine on their bones. They rummage through the trash all night collecting odd trinkets, and hiding from the people in their boxes, making them blend into the shadows. There is a man named Archibald Snatcher who is collecting all the Boxtrolls in town, and it turns out there is a boy who lives among these creatures named Eggs. He was raised by one of the Trolls, named Fish, and seems to live a simple life among them. One night, a girl, Winnie bumps into some of the Boxtrolls, and she sees this boy with them. Who is he? How did he come to live with these supposed monsters? And why does Snatcher want to catch all of the Boxtrolls in town?
Newcomer, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, is wonderful as Eggs. He brings a lot of heart and innocence to this character, and really helps this character come to life. He is like a little kid, sometimes scared and in fear, but he is always there to help those he cares about. Once this film is over, you will love how much of a hero he becomes. Elle Fanning does a great job as Winnie. She is a kid who is neglected, and although she is from a different world than Eggs, she is more accepting of new concepts than you would think. She seems stupid at first, but once the film progresses your views on her will change. She is someone who has a lot of heart, and is willing to take risks to help people see the truth. Ben Kingsley is wonderful as Archibald Snatcher. He is a wonderful villain for this movie. In the beginning, he seems transparent and simple to read, but there is more dimensions to him than you would think. By the films end, you see just how cruel and evil he is.
This movie did okay this weekend. It came in #3 and made $17.2 million, not a bad opening for an animated film. It got decent reviews from critics but audiences liked it enough to go see it in good numbers. There are not many family films out right now, so it should do pretty well at least for the next few weeks.
If you were a fan of Coraline or Paranorman, you should go see this film. If you are looking for a good film to see with your kids, this is the film for you. If you are a looking for a good Halloween film that will be fun but not that scary, look no further. It is an amazing animated movie, with very intricate sets and unique characters. Go see this film with your kids, they will enjoy every minute of it.
