The Boxtrolls (2014)

A Disappointing Continuation

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

In the town of Cheesebridge to citizens live in fear of the sewer-dwelling Boxtrolls who emerge at night and reportedly took and devoured a baby! Archibald Snatcher offers to catch and exterminate the monsters in exchange for a place on the town council so he can eat fine cheese and converse with the upper echelons of Cheesebridge society. It turns out that the stories about the Boxtrolls are untrue; far from eating the baby they raised him as one of their own; now known as Eggs he thinks he is a Boxtroll. One night he is seen Winnie, the daughter of city leader Lord Portley-Rind, who is fascinated with the Boxtrolls and the horrible things they are rumoured to do. After Egg's friend, Fish, is captured he returns to the surface and is shocked to learn what the people think about the Boxtrolls; he approaches Winnie to ask where Snatcher takes the captured trolls. He manages to rescue Fish and learns a shocking truth about Snatcher; if he is to save his friends he will have to work with Winnie and the Boxtrolls to defeat Snatcher.As with other films from Laika this film has some delightfully dark moments… Winnie's theories about what Boxtrolls do to people are particularly gruesome and there are some scary moments might scare younger children. Older children and adult viewers should really enjoy it though. The Boxtrolls are strangely endearing and the villain is delightfully grotesque… and gets worse when he eats the cheese he so desperately craves. There are times when it looks as if something bad happens to characters we are meant to like but in each case we later learn they are okay. Not surprisingly the stop-go animation is very good and the setting is beautifully realised with a really grungy look and some nice steampunk features. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Laika's other films or of animated features in general.

This movie is many many things. One of my favorite stop-motion movies of all time I dare say. The humour is just about dark enough to attract elderly personalities such as myself.Who is the true villain?Who is the true hero?Just go, see it, watch. Watch. With whomever! Big or small, rich or tall?IT DOES NOT MATTER. You WILL enjoy what you see. If not, well... there is pity to be had for you somewhere I'm sure. But not here. Oh no.Now go. Leave this page go buy the film.Do it now.

I am rarely amazed by animated movies. Most of the ones my kids begged me to watch with them I slept through. But this one kept me up well past my bedtime. Imagine every metaphor done to perfection - every cliché exposed, every cultural norm questioned - all in a way that most people won't even be perceptive enough to notice. It's hard to talk about this film without giving spoilers or falling into the traps laid by those who don't want you (or especially your kids!) to watch it. I can only assure you it is that rare combination of great entertainment and great art. I hope a few will believe me before falling victim to the real "trolls". And nothing is subversive - unless you think the truth of being human is subversive.

The movie/story itself is decent but full of clichés. It's nothing that will really surprise you, but it might move you a bit. Some will like the kind of "animation" that is used here, other will dismiss it. Maybe you should watch the trailer, just so you know what you are up for (so you're not surprised).The message of the movie is pretty clear and the movie while aimed at the small ones, will have a couple of things to keep the adults interested. Something Pixar does to perfection but is nicely handled here too. Some things may seem a bit bleak and dark, but the overall tone is nicely handled. Everybody needs love ...