Review of ParaNorman (2012) by Steven R — 12 Oct 2013

Just like with FrankenWeenie, ParaNorman is a really odd film. However I will say this much for it, ParaNorman is a whole lot better than FrankenWeenie. Yes, the animation might not be the best and the film itself seems to be a little more mature than other kid movies. But it really was fun to watch and I can see why it got nominated for Best Animated Picture.

One of the greatest things in this movie is the message. Even though it's a message we've seen over and over again the film still manages to make it Fresh and important. Norman is a kid who is bullied and teased because of his gift to talk to the dead. However, the town he lives in is under a witch's curse and only Norman can stop the curse from ripping the city apart. The message of course is to not judge other people and don't be afraid of people because they're different. Again, it's a message that has been done countless times in other films. I really loved how the film worked in the Witch Trials to the film and sort of delved into the reason why they happened without going into too much history and detail.

I have only 2 problems with the film. First off, the animation is a little choppy and kind of awkward to look at. Stop Motion Animation can be cool, but you have to know what you're doing. I mean it wasn't terrible, but just very odd and kind of out of place in the movie. Secondly, the film is a little more for teenagers and adults. This is by no means inappropriate for kids, but still I think some parents might find this film a little too mature for kids ages 6 through 8.

The characters might not be all that great, but at the very least better than the characters in FrankenWeenie. Norman himself is pretty interesting (he can talk to the dead after all) and the supporting characters get a few laughs here and there. But my favorite character in this entire movie is the Witch. I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say when you finally see her it's a nice twist.

So to sum it all up, ParaNorman is a wonderful film. It has great character, excellent writing and a worthwhile message that is still really Fresh. I highly recommend this film to be seen at least once. I must say though, I still think Wreck it Ralph should've won Best Animated Picture.