A mummy's review of ParaNorman (3D)

In all truth and reality, with so much going on in Singapore during the September School Holidays, and with 2 kids aged 5 and 7 years old, going out to a cinema is not on the top of my to-do list. Well, if it’s a Transformers Movie, a Barbie Birth Movie, and then it’s a different story altogether.

The first time Mummy Eliz came across the ParaNorman (3D)Movie was at the local library. A sticker featuring characters from the movie was given away with every loan of 6 books. So we got a total of 4 stickers, and it sort of freaked Mummy Eliz out. The zombies, the fear in the characters’ eyes made her doubt that would be a good educational show. She thought it would be something along the line of the Plants vs. Zombies game, gruesome killing.

Well, by chance, Mummy Eliz was to be proven wrong, armed with 4 tickets to the show, and feeling up for a little adventure, the family of four took a gamble, and had an enjoyable night. Thanks to www.omy.sg.

Here’s the Synopsis:

"In ParaNorman, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst of all, moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits. Following LAIKA’s groundbreaking Academy Award-nominated animated feature Coraline, ParaNorman is only the second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D."

There were unexpected laughs, mis-understood intentions, and unexpected turns of events. Well Mummy Eliz shouldn’t spoil it all for readers of this blog, so in short, if you are game for some fun, go bring your kids to this movie.

Disclaimer:

Mummy Eliz also enjoyed Ghost Whisperer, and of course, if you compare this to Ghost Whisperer from an adult’s point of view, it might not be too impressive. But from the eyes of a child, it might show him a different angle to see things. As in, who says Zombies are scary, maybe Zombies are the cursed ones? They are the ones who live in fear of humans forever, without the chance of any eternal rest. 

Titanic 3D, in all its former glory and more ...

It was a trip down memory lane, memories of yester-years, of my youth, in fact, for most of us above 30 years old; it should be a beautiful collective memory.

It was a massive global hit and single-handedly turned Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into Hollywood royalty when it was released 15 years ago, yes more than a decade ago, unbelievable right? [Mummy Eliz wondered if Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are going to catch this 3D version of Titanic, and what would be going through their mind if they are catching it.] Leonardo DiCaprio looks much younger and handsomer than I remembered [Gosh, I’m falling in love with his character all over again] and Kate Winslet seems really girlish and innocent next to the Oscar-winning actress she is today.

Mummy Eliz caught it at that time, and it did live up to her expectations then. Before viewing it, many friends already were raving about it non-stop, and having the soundtrack "Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you" on repeat mode on their computers while they were doing lab work and project work at Nanyang Polytechnic. [Unbelievably, no one ever complain, probably everyone craves for a love as deep and as self-sacrificing as that, and were willing to make do with the comfort of the song in the meantime while slogging through tertiary school.]

At that time, despite already knowing the gist of how the ending would be, the movie still left a deep impression on Mummy Eliz, she knew Jack was going to die, and every time she thought Jack would not make it, he made it.

And now, on the 100th anniversary of the ‘Ship Of Dreams’ ill-fated maiden voyage, 'Titanic' makes its triumphant return to the big screen in all its 3D glory. And it was with great anticipation, as Mummy Eliz can share this award-winning classic with her dearest daughter, Princess Chelsea.

~ A classic movie poster ~

Mummy Eliz must say, revisiting the film had been a great joy, it’s a little like meeting up with an old friend and despite a 15 year gap, it seemed like only yesterday that Mummy Eliz first saw Kate Winslet stepping from her car and staring up at the huge ship from underneath the brim of her majestic hat. Just that scene alone reminded me why Titanic was such a phenomenon. It was powerful.

Seeing it once again on the big screen really does lend an epic feel to the movie that is lost on television.

The 3D aspect is most powerful in the epic scenes. The shot of the ship, the hull steering straight into an iceberg and desperate passengers scrambling for their lives are even more enthralling and horrifying in 3D and you cannot help but feel like you are a part of the movie rather than just a spectator.

'Titanic' has not lost any of its magic in the 15 years since it first burst onto our big screens. It looks as fresh and impressive as it did then and more like a new blockbuster than a re-showing of an old favourite.

Nothing looks dated in the movie, and the only thing that reminded me it was not a new blockbuster was probably the fact that now, I have my dearest daughter next to me, enjoying the show as much as I do. If not for that, I would probably think I got into a time travel tunnel, and am back in those youthful days.

And Princess Chelsea sat glued to her seat, totally drawn into the storyline. That’s how good it is.