The Boxtrolls (2014)

22 October 2019

The Boxtrolls (2014) is an animated film starring Ben Kingsley as the villain Snatcher, and introducing Isaac Hempstead Wright as Eggs. It's one of the Laika films I've owned as part of a multipack, but never really sat down to watch.

Laika films stand out with their craft and style, and I've adored watching all their films, from Coraline (2009, 8/10) to Kubo and the Two Strings (2016, 8/10). This one has some sharp edges to it, with a story that is darker than some, and characters that can rub you the wrong way in bits and pieces. But I enjoyed watching the story develop and most of the characters really grow and get be interesting as the story progresses.

It's a solid Laika film, and though I don't think it'll hold up as well as either of the previously mentioned ones, it underscores how beautiful and strong their animation style is. 7/10

9 February 2015

I found a 3-pack of Laika films over the weekend, and watched the first of them again this evening: Coraline (2009). It was one of the few movies I appreciated seeing in 3D, and it was a really good film in general. The other films are ParaNorman and the Boxtrolls - overall a great set of animated films from an impressive studio.

Three Film Laika Collection (Coraline / ParaNorman / The Boxtrolls) [Blu-ray]