影响你一生的电影：鬼妈妈——成长中的第十四道门

　　成长就像是要通过一道道紧锁暗门的探险之旅，总是充满了未知和诱惑。每个人都会禁不住好奇心的驱使，打开门，一探门后的世界。2009年上映的电影《鬼妈妈》（Coraline）讲述的就是这样一个成长故事。故事的主人公是个名叫Coraline的12岁小女孩。她好奇心很强，满脑子奇思妙想。她的父母靠编写园艺书籍为生，但由于事业失意，他们举家迁到远离城市的乡下，住进了租金便宜的Pink Palace。在Pink Palace这栋偏僻老旧的公寓里，Coraline意外发现了一道通往"完美世界"的门。在好奇心的驱使下，Coraline走进了那道门，有了一次奇特的成长经历......

　　《鬼妈妈》改编自英国当代奇幻文学大师Neil Gaiman于2002年发表的同名小说。原著发表当年即夺得了最著名的世界恐怖文学大奖"布拉姆·斯托克奖（Bram Stoker Award）"，次年又勇夺著名的世界科幻/奇幻文学大奖"雨果奖（Hugo Award）"。这部影片充满了浓郁的哥特风格，由《圣诞夜惊魂》（The Nightmare Before Christmas）的美国著名导演Henry Selick执导。2009年6月，该片还在国际顶尖的动画评奖节--法国昂西动画节上获得了"最佳动画长片"大奖。

现实世界令人不满

　　影片一开始便将一个凄冷的世界呈现在我们眼前：陈旧的房屋、了无生气的花园、枯寂无声的山岗，到处死气沉沉。Pink Palace徒有虚名，浴室墙上爬满了嚣张的小虫子，久置不用的水龙头流出来的是污浊的黄水......房子里的一切都令Coraline感到厌烦！父母更是令她失望。他们忙于工作，连顿像样的饭菜都没做过，就更别提时刻关注Coraline的感受了。

　　[窗外淅淅沥沥下着小雨，Coraline给妈妈讲述她昨天遇到同龄男孩Wybie以及发现一口古井的经历，竭力想引起妈妈的注意。]

　　Coraline: I almost fell down a well yesterday, Mom.

　　Mom: Uh-huh.

　　Coraline: I would've died.

　　Mom: That's nice.

　　Coraline: Hmm. So, can I go out? I think it's perfect weather for gardening.

　　Mom: No, Coraline. Rain makes mud. Mud makes a mess.

　　Coraline: But, Mom, I want stuff growing when my friends come to visit. Isn't that why we moved here?

　　Mom: Something like that. But then we had the accident.

　　Coraline: It wasn't my fault. You hit that truck.

　　Mom: I never said it was.

　　Coraline: I can't believe it. You and Dad get paid to write about plants, and you hate dirt.

　　Mom: Coraline, I don't have time for you right now, and you still have unpacking to do. Lots of unpacking!

　　Coraline: That sounds exciting!

　　妈妈无意听Coraline的历险故事，也不许Coraline外出种花，只转交给Coraline邻居小男孩Wybie送来的一个小布偶。受到妈妈冷落的Coraline拿着小布偶去找爸爸。

　　Coraline: Hey, Dad. How's the writing going? Dad!

　　Dad: [通过电脑屏幕的反光] Hello, Coraline and [转身看到了那个布偶] Coraline doll.

　　Coraline: Do you know where the garden tools are?

　　Dad: It's ... it's pouring out there, isn't it?

　　Coraline: It's just raining.

　　Dad: Hmm. What'd the boss say?

　　Coraline: [模仿妈妈的声音] "Don't even think about going out, Coraline Jones!"

　　Dad: Hmm. Then you won't need the tools. [失望的Coraline故意将门弄得嘎吱作响，爸爸只好回过头] You know, this house is 150 years old.

　　Coraline: So?

　　Dad: [随手抓起一个本子扔给Coraline] So explore it. Go out and count all the doors and windows and write that down. List everything that's blue. Just let me work.

　　Coraline完全被忙于工作的父母忽视了，她的生活孤单寂寞，她的倾诉无人肯听。仅有的几位邻居不仅屡屡叫错她的名字，而且似乎都有些行为怪异：楼上的Mr. B (Bobinsky) 简直就是个疯子，想要训练跳鼠表演马戏；楼下的Ms. Spink姐妹肥胖臃肿，屋里摆满了当年杂技团演出时的海报；唯一的同龄人Wybie还是个说话饶舌的男孩，初遇Coraline时就"伙同"一只神秘的黑猫捉弄她......这便是Coraline眼中的现实世界--一切都令人不满。

完美世界令人沉醉

　　白天，Coraline在数Pink Palace有多少道门时，无意中发现了一扇奇特的门。它是这里的第十四道门，非常小，打开门后依然是砖墙。但就在那天夜里Coraline再次打开这扇门时，门后却出现了一条散发着神秘光芒的通道〔3〕。Coraline禁不住好奇心的驱使，爬过通道来到了"另一个世界"。她惊讶地发现，这个世界简直就是现实世界的翻版，只是这里所有的人和物的眼睛都是纽扣！更令她惊讶的是，这个神秘的世界似乎正等待着她的到来！

　　[Coraline赌气没吃爸爸做的难以下咽的晚饭就上床睡觉了，此刻，饥肠辘辘的她一踏入门后的世界便被诱人的饭香引到了厨房。可正在做饭的人看上去居然像是平日里声称决不下厨的妈妈！]

　　Coraline: Mom? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?

　　Other Mom: You're just in time for supper, dear.

　　["妈妈"转过身来，眼睛赫然是两粒黑色的纽扣！]

　　Coraline: You're not my mother. My mother doesn't have ... buuuuu ...

　　Other Mom: Buuuu ... buttons? Do you like them? I'm your other mother, silly. Now go tell your other father that supper is ready. Well, go on. He's in his study.

　　[Coraline推开"爸爸"的书房门，却看到不会弹琴的"爸爸"端坐在钢琴前，他的眼睛也是两粒纽扣！]

　　Other Dad: Hello, Coraline. Wanna hear my new song?

　　Coraline: My father can't play piano.

　　Other Dad: No need to. This piano plays me.

　　["爸爸"在钢琴的操纵下，为Coraline弹曲唱歌。一曲终了，Coraline想起自己来这里的目的。]

　　Coraline: I'm sorry, but she said to tell you the food is ready.

　　现实世界中，妈妈忙于工作，对Coraline漠视、专制；爸爸虽然能理解她，但也不能忙里偷闲陪她玩。而在门后的"完美世界"中，"妈妈"为Coraline精心准备美食，对她倍加呵护，视为掌上明珠；"爸爸"幽默风趣、多才多艺，还为Coraline谱曲唱歌，珍爱有加。所以，尽管初次来到"完美世界"的Coraline对长着纽扣眼睛的"完美父母"有些害怕，但最终还是和他们共进晚餐，并住进了他们为她精心准备的公主卧室。可这些似乎只是个美梦，Coraline早上醒来，发现自己依然身处破旧的Pink Palace，周围的一切依然不如人意。现实世界的冷漠、孤寂与完美世界的温馨、有趣形成了鲜明的对比，父母的持续漠视、邻居们频频说错自己的名字则更是加剧了Coraline对现实生活的不满。Coraline开始蠢蠢欲动，殷切期待夜晚到来后能再次进入"完美世界"。而"完美父母"似乎早已预知她的到来，为她准备了更大的惊喜。

　　[Coraline前往花园叫"爸爸"回来吃饭，但眼前的景象令她惊叹不已。]

　　Coraline: Ah! Oh!

　　[随着"爸爸"的螳螂车从花园一角出现，奇花异草在悠扬的音乐声中绽放舞动，整个花园变得流光溢彩。]

　　Other Dad: Hey.

　　Coraline: I love your garden!

　　Other Dad: Our garden, Coraline. Hop (跳跃) on, kiddo (孩子). I wanna show you something.

　　[Coraline乘螳螂车飞到了花园上空，发现花园居然是按照自己的样子打理的。]

　　Coraline: I can't believe you did this.

　　Other Dad: Mother said you'd like it. Boy, she knows you like the back of her hand.〔4〕

　　奇幻花园令人流连忘返，美食又让人欲罢不能，而"妈妈"之后的安排更令人惊喜：有Mr. B绝妙的跳鼠马戏团，有吃下玉米排出爆米花的公鸡，有会射出棉花糖的大炮，甚至还有男孩Wybie。一切都符合Coraline的口味，甚至原本饶舌的Wybie都是被"妈妈""修理"过（嘴巴被缝上了）才送来陪她玩的。面对这样一个梦幻天堂，Coraline开始有些乐不思蜀了。

危机显现，奋力逃亡

　　再次一觉醒来又回到现实的Coraline越发觉得现实世界一刻都难以忍受。于是尽管尚在白天，她也趁着妈妈外出购物，第三次进入了"完美世界"。这次，"妈妈"不仅为她奉上了姐妹花精彩绝伦的表演，还让她参与其中，成为整场表演最引人注目的人。Coraline兴奋至极，开始希望永远留在这里。可世上没有免费的午餐，要享受就得付出惨重的代价！

　　[表演结束了，Coraline依然兴奋不已。]

　　Other Mom: You could stay here forever if you want to.

　　Coraline: Really?

　　Other Dad: Sure. We'll sing and play games, and Mother will cook your favorite meals.

　　Other Mom: There's one tiny little thing we need to do.

　　Coraline: What's that?

　　Other Dad: Well, it's a surprise.

　　["妈妈"递给Coraline一个盒子，Coraline打开盒子，发现里面赫然躺着两粒黑色的纽扣！]

　　Other Mom: For you, our little doll. Black is traditional. But if you'd prefer pink or vermillion (朱红色) or chartreuse (黄绿色) ... Though you might make me jealous.

　　Coraline: No way! You're not sewing buttons in my eyes!

　　Other Mom: Oh, but we need a "yes" if you want to stay here.

　　"妈妈"在满足了Coraline无休止的各种愿望后，终于表明了她的真正意图--给Coraline的双眼缝上纽扣，将她永远留在门后的世界。Coraline惊恐地跑回卧室，希望一觉醒来自己能像前两次那样返回现实世界，可这次她失败了。曾经迫不及待想来"完美世界"的Coraline此刻只有一个念头--逃离！但逃离谈何容易，曾经捉弄过Coraline的神秘黑猫倒是试图帮Coraline逃跑，但却以失败告终。Coraline被遭到拒绝的"妈妈"无情地关了起来。

　　[被关起来的Coraline遇到了三个灵魂被困的鬼孩子。]

　　Coraline: Why are you all here?

　　Ghost Children: The beldam (恶婆).

　　Sweet Girl Ghost: She spied (暗中监视) on our lives through the little doll's eyes.

　　Boy Ghost: And saw that we weren't happy.

　　Tall Girl Ghost: So she lured us away with treasures and treats.

　　Sweet Girl Ghost: And games to play.

　　Boy Ghost: Gave all that we asked.

　　Sweet Girl Ghost: Yet we still wanted more.

　　Tall Girl Ghost: So we let her sew the buttons.

　　Boy Ghost: She said that she loved us.

　　Tall Girl Ghost: But she locked us here.

　　Ghost Children: And ate up (吞噬) our lives.

　　Coraline: Well, she can't keep me in the dark forever. Not if she wants to win my life. Beating her is my only chance.

　　从三个鬼孩子那里，Coraline终于彻底明白了事情的真相。原来，"妈妈"利用小布偶的眼睛偷窥小孩，一旦发现小孩对现实世界不满，就会引诱他们打开那扇神秘的小门，自投她的罗网。最终，小孩会被吃掉，变成没有眼睛四处飘荡的鬼魂。幸运的是，"完美世界"的"哑巴"Wybie及时赶来，帮助Coraline逃了出去。可返回现实世界就意味着彻底逃脱了吗？

勇敢反击，心灵成长

　　Coraline逃回家，却发现父母双双失踪。她请Wybie帮忙，可却被Wybie无情拒绝。她寻求姐妹花的帮助，却只得到一块用途不明的三角形石头。唯有神秘黑猫始终不离不弃，在它的指引下，Coraline才顿悟：自己的父母原来是被"妈妈"绑架了！愤怒的Coraline终于明白，要想帮助眼睛被偷走的三个鬼孩子，解救被困的父母，她就必须重返门后的世界，打败可恶的"妈妈"--蜘蛛精。在黑猫的陪伴下，勇敢的Coraline再次踏入"完美世界"，决心迎战蜘蛛精，救回父母。

　　[按照黑猫的建议，Coraline想诱使正在做饭的蜘蛛精同她玩一个"游戏"。]

　　Coraline: Why don't we play a game? I know you like them.

　　Other Mom: What kind of game would it be?

　　Coraline: An exploring game. A finding things game.

　　Other Mom: And what is it you'd be finding, Coraline?

　　Coraline: My real parents.

　　Other Mom: Too easy.

　　Coraline: And ... and the eyes of the ghost children.

　　Other Mom: Huh. What if you don't find them?

　　Coraline: If I lose, I'll stay here with you forever and let you love me. And I'll let you sew buttons into my eyes.

　　Other Mom: Hum, and if you somehow win this game?

　　Coraline: Then you let me go. You let everyone go. My real father and mother, the dead children, everyone you've trapped here.

　　Other Mom: Deal!

　　聪明的Coraline根据蜘蛛精的提示，利用姐妹花给的三角形石头找到了三个鬼孩子的眼睛。但蜘蛛精给她限定的时间到了，父母却仍不见踪影。Coraline和一直陪伴她的黑猫再次落入了蜘蛛精之手。

　　[蜘蛛精要求Coraline交出鬼孩子们的眼睛，但Coraline决定最后一搏，她拿着鬼孩子们的眼睛在蜘蛛精面前虚晃一下。]

　　Coraline: Hold on. We aren't finished yet, are we?

　　Other Mom: No, I suppose not. After all, you still need to find your own parents, don't you? Too bad you won't have this.

　　[蜘蛛精得意地烧毁了Coraline的三角形石头。而一个鬼孩子的眼睛则暗暗提醒Coraline千万别交出眼睛--交了，蜘蛛精也不会放她走。Coraline瞥到了那扇紧锁的第十四道门，心生一计。]

　　Coraline: I already know where you've hidden them.

　　Other Mom: Well, produce them.

　　Coraline: They're behind that door.

　　Other Mom: Oh, they are, are they?

　　[Coraline根据鬼孩子们的提示，发现了困着父母的玻璃球，她克制住欣喜，继续哄骗蜘蛛精打开那扇门。]

　　Coraline: Go on. Open it. They'll be there. All right?

　　[蜘蛛精吐出了她从Coraline那里抢来的唯一一把钥匙，打开了门。]

　　Other Mom: You're wrong, Coraline. They aren't there. Now you're going to stay here forever.

　　Coraline: No, I'm not!

　　[Coraline猛地将怀里的黑猫扔向蜘蛛精，蜘蛛精被抓掉了纽扣眼睛，瞎了。Coraline乘机抓起困着父母的玻璃球，打算逃跑。]

　　Other Mom: No! No! No! You horrible cheating girl! No! Where are you?

　　Coraline最终夹掉了蜘蛛精的一只爪子，把蜘蛛精锁在了第十四道门里。父母得救了，三个鬼孩子也找到了眼睛，灵魂终于得到了自由。并且，现实世界的Wybie最终相信了Coraline所说的一切，及时帮Coraline毁掉了深夜妄图偷走钥匙释放蜘蛛精的那只爪子。钥匙被扔进了Coraline初来Pink Palace时发现的那口深不见底的古井，蜘蛛精永远被困在了第十四道门里。笼罩着Pink Palace的黑暗消散了。

　　书稿敲定的父母在花园里种上了郁金香，了无生气的花园开始有了色彩。那些曾经看似怪异的邻居们也纷纷前来帮忙种花，一扫这里的沉闷。经历过这次事件的Coraline此刻心态和看问题的视角发生了极大的改变：父母礼物背后的关爱在她眼里被放大了，简陋的家在她眼里变得温馨了，冷漠怪异的邻居们变得友善热情了。Coraline终于能停止对父母宠爱的无限索求，懂得不应事事苛求完美。她学会了发现并珍惜现实生活中的美好，开始在成长的路上阔步前行。而对于每个走在成长路上的人，影片海报上的那句宣传语似乎同样值得铭记：Be careful what you wish for!