ParaNorman doesn't seem to be doing quite the business it should. The animation is stunning and it has a great message of tolerance. Some people claim it's too spooky for kids, but there are also creepy scenes in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and many other classic animated features. It gets my vote for one of this year's most magnificent underrated films.
Well, I wouldn't take the littlest ones to see that... or Rango, for that matter. I'd rather take them to see that than the
other film that came out on Oogust.
But Paranorman is why I always say NEVER release a film in August. No one sees films in August anymore. Especially since Summer movie season starts in April now.
It really is a shame that it's so low key release like Scott Pilgrim was (and that was a shame all its own). But I guess they couldn't release it in September (Finding Nemo rerelease and Hotel Transylvania) or October (Frankenweenie) due to that competition. July would have seen it smothered by Dark Knight and Ice Age. It really does stink when they have to release the real gold off season.
I'll also add Pirates: Band of Misfits to the underrated pile. While not as gorgeous as Paranorman was, it had that old Aardman charm. But seriously. The ONLY product tie in that got was Langer's Apple Juice. Not to mention it disappeared in the box office quite fast.
I love the fact we had 3 stop motion films this year, but it looks like Frankenweenie is the only one that will get any attention.