User reviews

I came into ParaNorman with a sense of cautious optimism. I absolutely adore stop motion animation, and I genuinely fell in love with Coraline, LAIKA's previous effort, but the trailers for the film didn't capture my interest in the story in the way I hoped they would and this film also didn't have the benefit of being helmed by the brilliant Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Coraline). That being said, I am extremely happy to report that ParaNorman absolutely delivers on every level you could hope for.

ParaNorman tells a story about a young boy named Norman who has the unusual ability to see and talk to the dead, an ability which has led him to be ostracized by the other members of his community, including his own family. The New England town in which he lives is famous for a historic witch execution, along with the legend of a curse that the witch put upon those who sentenced her to death. It turns out that the legend of the curse is true, and that Norman, with his ability to talk to the dead, is the only one who can prevent the curse from raising the dead. Unfortunately, Norman is unable to act fast enough and the Witch's curse begins to wreak havoc on the town.

ParaNorman is a film with many strengths. Stop motion animation is always a beautiful and fascinating process, and with new technological advances the filmmakers have been able to bring it to a level of detail and expression that are simply astounding. While the scope of the story may be smaller than something like Coraline or Nightmare Before Christmas, the scale of the stop motion sets for this town are truly incredible. The film absolutely immerses you in this world that feels like a living, breathing, place. As beautiful as the animation in Brave was, ParaNorman is easily the most visually impressive film I have seen this year.

As beautiful as the film is, it never falls into the trap of so many other animated films by simply being visual spectacle with no narrative soul. The story of the film is fun, intelligent, and heartfelt, and is supported by a great cast of characters. The odd kid who is misunderstood is a common trope in kids' movies, but what makes Norman stand out is that he's never mopey about it. He is ostracized, bullied, and rejected, but he's come to a kind of acceptance about the whole thing. He's certainly not happy about it, but at this point he's not trying to fit in, he's really just trying to keep his head down and get through the daily grind. This is part of what makes his relationship with the other characters in the film work so well. For instance Neil genuinely accepts Norman for who he is and it's obvious that this throws Norman for a loop and he doesn't really know how to interact with someone who "gets him." This is never spoken, but it plays out naturally through the performances of the characters.

As the narrative progresses it takes some really interesting turns, and at times is genuinely surprising and emotional. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that a large part of the narrative revolves around assumptions and misunderstanding, and it brilliantly uses the audience's assumptions and expectations about the genre and its conventions against them.

It's also worth mentioning that this is one of the rare films which decidedly benefits from the addition of 3D. There's some fun play with perspective, and being able to see the dimension that exists in these sets adds a lot to the experience.

I genuinely loved ParaNorman and it's easily one of my favorite films this year. It's not a movie for everyone, but if any of the trailers gave you even a glimmer of interest I would definitely recommend checking this one out. LAIKA is certainly beginning to make a name for themselves in the animation scene and I'm really looking forward to whatever their next project will be. I think I still prefer Coraline which definitely benefited from the combination of Neil Gaiman's fantastic story and Henry Selick's experienced hand, but ParaNorman is a truly fantastic film and it's definitely worth a look.

A-

Yes, like most "kids" movies, it had it's corny, funny, sometimes just plain silly parts, but... Paranorman left me pleasantly surprised. First and foremost, if you didn't like this movie because you compared it to Caroline, that's your problem. This movie stands well on its own and it's completely unfair to make comparisons. By the time the movie had finished, the beauty of it shone through and, without hesitation, I would say it stands up very well against "blockbuster" films designed for mature audiences. It's neither vulgar or obscene, but there are a few parts in the movie that will go straight over the youngster's heads but you will most certainly get it if you're over the age of thirty and haven't been living in a cave. If you take your kid(s) to see this, be ready; there are a few intense scenes that might have them a little frightened. Regarding the poor guy who didn't want to see the Expendables 2, I didn't see it, either, but I sure heard it. They poorly placed this movie the very next theater over from it.

(2012) ParaNorman COMPUTER ANIMATION SUPERNATURAL ADVENTURE

From the makers of "Coraline" released in 2009 written and co-directed by Chris Butler, which is really another zombie movie I had never seen before combined with the "I see dead people" elements from "The Sixth Sense". It's called ParaNorman, because aside from his uncle, he's one of few who can see and speak to dead people. In movies in general, it's hard to make a film to portray kids or people with special abilities to become outcasts, since they contain something that's not often inherited most people these days can easily make money from, as opposed to others who have to work longer and harder to achieve this for it's not like a power that can just be handed to them. In this movie, money is not the factor, it's more of the town itself which carries itself a very dark secret or past, which is slowly unrevealed until the very end. Yes, in this movie, Norman can see dead people, but can he also talk to dead people other people can see as well, who are not ghosts who are as they say, the walking dead or zombies. And the movie says why shouldn't he, which he does, something Norman didn't know at first he can do before. The other interesting thing I had never seen before was how the makers are able to scare the audience by showing the zombies only to have the audience sympathize with the walking dead later, since they have always been portrayed as disgusting, dangerous and irrational. In movies these days, everything is a possibility, its whether or not the makers are able to convince the audience to go along with it too, and in this case it succeeded- at least for me anyway.

I have always been a great fan of animation, so I'd see any film or show regardless of its general consensus. I found myself absolutely loving ParaNorman, it is not the best animated movie I've ever seen and there may be a couple of scenes that may fly over the heads of some, but there is so much great about ParaNorman that I didn't consider either of these huge problems. ParaNorman I found to be a great movie, even better than Aardman's The Pirates. The stop-motion animation is superb with beautiful colours, well-crafted character designs and surreal backgrounds. It also succeeds in looking like and capturing the atmosphere of classic horror films. The soundtrack is zany with some haunting moments that enhance the ghoulish surprises that are apparent here. The storytelling is rock-solid all the way through, the ending is thrilling in how surreal and ghostly the animation and atmosphere are especially and the message of humanity in the face of fear is a wonderful one and incorporated in a way that doesn't come across as preachy. The writing is hilarious and clever, with witty dialogue and great references for adults to savour to Halloween, Friday the 13th and a few others. There are also times where ParaNorman has an emotional core, and this isn't done in a manipulative way, in alternative it is done in a genuinely heartfelt way. Some have complained that some parts are too scary, something I didn't find, indeed there are some spooky scares but not overly so and they suited the story and atmosphere seamlessly. I loved the characters as well, they are not the most original in hindsight but still hugely engaging and fantastically developed. The voice acting from all involved is terrific. All in all, an outstandingly good movie, animated and otherwise. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A stunning spectacle of animation, and another stellar addition to Laika's catalogue of not-quite-for-kids movies. It's got it all - loveable characters, a goofy spooky adventure, a beautiful score, an excellent voice cast, some genuinely disturbing imagery, and a twist that'll wrench your gut on its way to touch your heart. This is a movie for all the weird kids whose weirdness was seen as something to be driven out through discipline, and for all the adults who were once those weird kids: you don't have to be a ghost to feel seen by Norman.

Like the kid from the 6th Sense, Norman Babcock sees "dead people" and even dead animals. And like the kid from the 6th Sense, no one believes him except his best friend, Neil. The film has its own plot and story with a few new elements, such as witch's curse and zombies, but the main premise is the same as the 6th Sense. However, this film is more Kid-friendly. The animation style probably won't be for everyone, but I think it adds to the creepiness and grotesque feeling of the film. I don't think the style will bother any kids, although they may get a little scared at some of the scary parts if they are really young. But I think the average kid will be fine in part because it is a comedy. There are tones of jokes. I laughed the whole movie every time I watch it, usually around Halloween. Some of the jokes only the adults will get, like the scatted horror references throughout the film. However, there is nothing I would say isn't Family-friendly. There is also a softer side to it, and I think it actually has a good message to it about being kind and forgiving. Plus, the voice acting was phenomenal as well. Anna Kendrick voices Norman's old sister, Courtney Babcock, who is one of the movie's best characters. Courtney is your typical Boy crazy teenage girl who is trying to look after her little brother. However, her story does have a few fun twists. Also, she has some of the best funny one-liners in the film. As always, Anna Kendrick simply kills it in her performance, which is pretty amazing since it is just her voice in this film. The performances of John Goodman, Casey Affleck, Jeff Garlin, and Leslie Mann are all excellent as well. Overall, it's a cute Halloween movie for kids and adults with a lot of humor and a feel-good message.

I am 33 y/o and a long time horror fan and I absolutely loved this film. Yes the film looks wonderful and the execution is awe inspiring, yes the story of Norman brought tears to my eyes a few times, yes I jumped a few times and yes I think this is one of the best films of the year! The film centers on a young boy named Norman who has a special gift that allows him to see and communicate with ghosts. He has a bad reputation in his small town famous for burning a witch at the stake over a century ago. He's bullied constantly because he's different and even his family doesn't take him seriously. He's a big horror movie fan especially zombie films and on the eve of the burning's anniversary he is contacted by a smelly homeless guy who he finds out shares his gifts. Unfortunately the man passes away and he is made aware of his responsibilities in the town. Since he's able to communicate with the paranormals he is to read from a special book at the witch's gravesite before the sun sets so that he can prevent her curse from becoming realized. Something obviously goes awry and the curse begins as the bodies of the people that slain her rise. And it's only up to Norman to save the day before the town goes crazy. ParaNorman is such a great film. Besides being a visual marvel the films explores deeper and more prevalent subject matter including bullying, being scared, handling prejudice if your different, the acceptance of parents and the acceptance of ones self, How people who are scared make bad decisions sometimes, the acceptance of different people, and the devastating effects of how reacting negatively to negative actions only make matters worse. I know it may sound somewhat trivial to an extent or even childish but all of the lessons in this film can spill over into so many aspects of everyones life. In that alone it is completely relatable to everyone. The voice work from Kodi Smit-Mcphee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck and Christopher Mintz amongst others is inspired as well as the accomplished direction that fuses genre staples with a light hearted family film to near perfection. Also I'd like to praise the film makers for taking an innocent and appreciated step into full acceptance of everyones lifestyles (you'll know what I'm talking about when the film ends) and the clever nods towards the horror genre that made me feel like a big kid again. The same company who executed the small but over rated hit Coraline present this as well. But the work here is far better, the film is much more engaging and easily relatable and I didn't fall asleep in this film. ParaNorman is a true instant classic. A gateway film for younger fans wanting to explore the genre and a great, smart, funny, entertaining film and one of the best of the year! 4.5/5

The movie is about finding yourself and being more tolerant towards people that are different in opinion or appearance than you. Great messages that have been done a dozen time before, but there is nothing wrong with that. The film is also an homage and parody to classic horror movies. From making fun of their structure to embracing it for laughs, the movie does a great job of being original while not forgetting its roots.

"Paranorman" is very well directed. It is a stable for stop-motion films and what is possible with the medium. From impressive camera angles and shots to the fluidity of motion on the character, I almost thought I was watching a CGI film. The directors also do a great job of throwing you a curve ball. Right when you think were the movie is headed something happens and it is a pleasant surprise keeping you on your toes. The film starts off slow, but gradually gets better and it concludes with an epic ending, filled with great animation, effects, and music Writing is fairly strong, some of the jokes don't work, but they are far and in between.

Characters are mostly archetypes of characters that have been done before. However, they are still funny and charming throughout the film. Norman is the main character, who has a hard time fitting in. However we can relate to him, but he has this annoying character trait about him that can me grating. He seems isolate himself so much that even when someone wants to be his friend, he pushes them away. Neil is Norman's friend and the comic relief of the films, however he does bring some heart to the table. Courtney is Normans sister and the typical valley girl, who only thinks about being popular and guys. She's good, but not one of the more memorable characters. Alvin is the bully, he has his moments. Mitch is Neil's brother and probably the most hilarious part of the movie. The zombies are funny too, but don't have a unique personality. Overall the characters are good and fill in their archetypes well, while still bringing some original personality.

Animation is gorgeous in this film. Each character moves so fluidly, it felt as if I was watching a CGI film. The overall look of the film is charming and brings back some nostalgia. The musical score is great. Starts of very subtle, but is amazing near the end with the visual effects. This film is a stable in terms of its animation for stop-motion films.

Overall "Paranorman" is a fantastic movie, the best animated movie of the year and in my opinion the best stop-motion movie I've ever seen. Sure the characters and the story are sort of generic, but the directors know how to through a curve ball into the mix and keep the audience on their toes. The conclusion is brilliant and I love how they throw in something new for a character in the end. I give it a 4.5/5, fantastic animation, surprising twists, and great musical score.

"Fetch Status"

Wow. This is an amazing movie one of the best kids movies I've ever laid eyes on, the premise is very unique, interesting and cool especially for a kids movie. There's a lot of dark tones throughout the movie giving it a very interesting vibe while still being appropriate for all ages. Around the hour mark the movie does start to drag a bit in my opinion, but it doesn't take long to get right back on track and be super interesting. The comedy is superb I laughed out loud a good couple times during this movie. The storytelling is very clever and very well done I even cried at the ending. All the characters are likeable, interesting and relatable in their own right. The movie tributes hundreds of horror movies while also making fun of them all at the same time, I can not stress enough how good this movie is. Just give it a try.

This is the most underrated movie i've ever seen in animated genre apart from Tim burtons Frankenweenie which was a halloween masterpiece. But this movie did over the top clay animation that added real ghostly texture to the story. The most to take away from the story that you don't always need a villain in the story to create motto for heroism rather need for heroism arise from simple act of kindness. Kindness is so much underrated in this world that it always goes unnoticed. Heck you could be a ghost and still have all the emotions as a living person, that is what enthrals me the most how creators make dead people compassionate. Unlike coco which was a movie on a bigger scale representing festive point of view of this concept. ParaNorman is sweet and innocent movie that is perfect scary to enjoy but also keeping you at your edge of your emotions and all in good humour. This movie will age well with time.

I really enjoyed this film, the trailer looked funny and light hearted but once the film got a good hour in it was clear it was so much more.

First off I wouldn't personally take a young child below say 9 to see it as it is rather creepy/ scary. The adult jokes arn't an issue, as they wouldn't be understood by anyone young, but simply it is a bit full on for young viewers. HOWEVER, I feel this does need to be said, there is a gay joke in the film, for which some reviewers have dropped it to 2 or 3 stars for. This is outrageous. I would not feel any need to warn anyone within the 21st century that there is a homosexual joke... come on people none of your kids are going to be traumatised by this. My reason for a warning is simply the scary scenes (I'm sure of which most children could deal with anyway).

The animation of the film is brilliant, and it adds a needed unrealistic feel to some of these'full on scenes'. The humour of the film is brilliant, from slap stick for the young viewers to adult jokes and references for the adults watching.

Keeping it short, ParaNorman is a fantastically funny film, with a warm hearted message about being accepted; by yourself more than by others. It touches on some serious issues and obviously, deals with the issue of death, hence the PG rating. I think it would be a shame to miss; good family film, nice messages, great laugh as well as edge of seat action.

went to see this film earlier today. 2d version with my kids, girl 7, boy 5. i loved it. loads of funny adult humour which flies over the kids heads. very unique cartoon in a very good way. i normally sleep through kids films but this one kept me awake. the fact its not CGI is a huge plus. film had a more realistic feel to it because of this. visually film is excellent so congrats to whoever was involved with that side of things. two kids never opened their mouths from start to finish bar laughing and milling 4euro bars of chocolate. normally they ask me when is the film over or i'm bored etc etc. had a feeling they were as impressed as me which they both confirmed at the end of the film. all in all, 3 of us went home very happy. regarding bringing young kids to it, don't worry at all in my opinion. Was loads of kids in the cinema and i didn't see anyone leave early or cry or appear frightened. thanks all involved with with the film. probably my favourite kiddie trip to the cinema!!!!!!!!!

So good!!! I have never seen such dark animation in a kids film. Anyway, its still epic.

I have never been a big stop-motion animation fan, the frame rate they are filmed in sometimes make me uncomfortable as I'm more used to smooth exaggerated 2D animation. But I have certain exceptions like Chicken Run and Kubo and the Two Strings whose screenplay was coincidentaly written by Chris Butler, one of the screenwritters of ParaNorman!

So when I first heard of this movie I thought it was going to be a Tim Burtonish creepy looking movie like Corpse Bride which is a style that I don't like that much. But I kept being recommended this movie so one day I gave it a try and boy was I glad I got over my loathing prejudices.

Eversince I started watching Stranger Things, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and IT, I have started to dig the whole "horror genre" but felt a preference in the more classic spooky horror style as I grew up with Goosebumps novels and so I began watching Ghostbusters, Monster House, Fright Night and I began to love this sort of movies and tropes. So I was excited to find out that this movie is a perfect mix between novelty spooky horror, Tim Burton's wackiness and Steven Spielberg's character tropes; all while it delivers an unexpected deep message (at least in my part) that connects to the beginning of the story and leaves the audience in a wholesome state.

The art and crafting of this movie is exceptional. If they used any CGI, which judging by some of the special effects and scene shots which looked complex and ambitious enough to need CGI to become true, it was so well blended in that you couldn't tell what was stop-motion and what was computer generated. Maybe I haven't seen that many new stop-motion movies and the use of CGI has become more of a common practise but either way I was amazed!

And what to say about the story. What starts as a pretty "cliche" set of characters and plot and subplots design mature with the flow of events and make for entertaining character developments and unpredictable third act (which from the beginning was unpredictable as the movie pretends to keep the audience engaged throughout the movie to learn what the secret of the town is)

In conclusion, my favorite aspects of the movie are the character developments, the ending of the movie (and big reveal), the craftmanship behind the setting, costume and character designs of spooky noveltys horror and the Steven Spielbergish feel to it. If you want to experience something similar to this movie almost in every aspect I described of this movie, you should watch Monster House

After 163 reviews posted here there isn't much left to write about this movie --- other than it is great fun.

I noticed in some other reviews here there is a question on it's "family appropriateness". I disagree with them considering whats on daily TV. And the joke at the end goes by so quickly I didn't even realize it until I read some reviews.

Altogether 'Paranorman' is a funny and suspenseful flick with a great use of non-computer graphic technology for the characters and some really spooky and gross-out scenes the tween set will enjoy.

And somewhere in the story is message for us all.