The Boxtrolls may be Laika's weakest movie, but they deliver visually impressive movies with lots of creative effort put into them every time.
This is the kind of movie you have to see to believe. Yes, the central plot may be predictable, but the world it is set in is so enjoyably weird that you can't help smiling.
Aside from the imaginative world, we get a handful of characters who, honestly, are a mixed bag. Our main character, Eggs, started off promising as an abducted baby raised by the boxtrolls with whom he builds fun gadgets from junk found in the streets above.
But an evil exterminator, Snatcher, has sworn to rid the town of the trolls to get a position among the higher-ups. He is so enjoyably evil and brought to life magnificently by Ben Kingsley who gave his all to secure him a place as the most memorable character in the movie.
I say that, because after we get acqainted with the other main character Winnie, we end up with a fish-out-of-water story in which Eggs must reveal Snatcher's plan to save the his troll family. Not a terrible plot, but seen before. That mixed up with mostly forgettable characters with Snatcher being the exception dragged the movie down a notch.
Again, still worth watching just for the animation and Snatcher!
This is the kind of movie you have to see to believe. Yes, the central plot may be predictable, but the world it is set in is so enjoyably weird that you can't help smiling.
Aside from the imaginative world, we get a handful of characters who, honestly, are a mixed bag. Our main character, Eggs, started off promising as an abducted baby raised by the boxtrolls with whom he builds fun gadgets from junk found in the streets above.
But an evil exterminator, Snatcher, has sworn to rid the town of the trolls to get a position among the higher-ups. He is so enjoyably evil and brought to life magnificently by Ben Kingsley who gave his all to secure him a place as the most memorable character in the movie.
I say that, because after we get acqainted with the other main character Winnie, we end up with a fish-out-of-water story in which Eggs must reveal Snatcher's plan to save the his troll family. Not a terrible plot, but seen before. That mixed up with mostly forgettable characters with Snatcher being the exception dragged the movie down a notch.
Again, still worth watching just for the animation and Snatcher!