By CHRIS PUNTO & NATALIE SACKET
Columnists
Welcome back to another week of movies reviews! This week we take a look at a film that has a bit of a dark side, much like Natalie (Seriously, guys, don’t let her fool you. She’s crazy).
“Boxtrolls” (2014)
Chris’ Review
4 slighty creepy trolls out of 5
When I went to go see “The Boxtrolls”, I did not expect so many adult-like topics. Read on and see what I mean. It may persuade you to watch it too.
All right, guys. It’s about time that I genuinely like a movie. “The Boxtrolls,” even though it is for the most part a children’s movie, has some topics that may pique your interest. If you expected genocide, murder, abandonment, cross-dressing and cheese, then this film is definitely for you.
If you are like what I was like before watching this film and have no idea what the plot is about, I’ll fill you in. The movie is about a young boy who was raised by boxtrolls, a misunderstood gentle species of creatures that care and look out for each other. The main villain is a greedy man named Snatcher that wants to kill all the trolls in order to climb his way to fortune.
Now here’s the good stuff. The genocide is pretty much self-explainatory through the whole “wanting to kill all the trolls” thing. I don’t want to ruin all the funny moments but there’s a man that dresses as a woman, a murder mystery, a boy that was left to the trolls and the most beloved delicacy in the land, cheese! There’s also a demented little girl who seems to worship gore and gruesome sights. So I guess it’s pretty obvious that she reminds me of Natalie.
If you want to get ahold of me, I’ll give you a review that will make my Intro to Film teacher a smile. I’ll tell you all about the Hitler allegory and how there was probably mahogany on there somewhere.
Here’s the bottom line. If the little kid inside of you hasn’t been crushed by the loads of student debt I’m sure you’re under, then watch this movie. You’ll get a few laughs and a feeling that you just got out of a Tim Burton film. I can’t promise you’ll have a warm fuzzy feeling, but you’ll leave satisfied.
Natalie’s review
4 misunderstood trolls out of 5
Nudity, genocide, insanity, slavery! What do these things make?! A great Tim Burton children’s film!
Wait. Children’s film? That’s right, “Boxtrolls” is a kid’s movie centralized around the theme of genocide. Don’t get me wrong, I adored this movie. I was completely sucked in and enraptured by the creative animation. However, I was astounded by the amount of political and social themes that were squeezed into this film.
The setting of “Boxtrolls” was similar to that of a Charles Dickens novel, yet more mystical. The animation is beautiful and very aligned with Burton’s typical style. Beneath this strange city is a magical and inventive underworld full of “boxtrolls,” inventive, fun-loving and creative creatures. They are also terribly misunderstood by those in the city. They want to kill all the boxtrolls.
The themes of this film will probably fly over the heads of younger viewers, yet hopefully will cause older viewers to think a bit about society. The boxtrolls often hide during conflict and change, choosing to fear and to take on the protection of an apathetic mindset instead. The people of Cheesebridge choose to ignore the ways and faults of their leaders, the “White Hats,” instead worrying about more important things like cheese. Themes of overcoming apathy and fear are a great message for children to embrace.
As for the humor in this film, the makers obviously didn’t set out for a comedy. There were a few puns, many of which I will admit took me approximately thirty seconds to get. (Why do you tell a blonde a joke on Monday? So she can have a little laugh on Friday.) The humor is more intelligent than that of most kids’ movies, which probably is why a lot of jokes fly over the heads of 5-year-olds (and myself). The only part at which I heard a lot of kid’s laughter was the small bit of boxtroll nudity. Yes children, butts are hilarious.
Bottom Line: This film is much like its characters — quirky, eccentric, strange and all-around very lovable and delightful.