In a sea of CGI animated films, I'm glad to see films like Coraline being produced. I can seriously count the number of stop motion animated films I've seen in my life. I've been waiting for a film like this since I watched the creative The Corpse Bride. I think these films are undeniably underrated.
Coraline stars the voices of Dakota Fanning (The Secret Life of Bees), Teri Hatcher (TV's Desperate Housewives), Keith David (Requiem for a Dream), and the hilarious duo Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders (also known as French & Saunders to all you British comedy lovers) and is directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas). The story is a bit of a cover
of Alice in Wonderland, but it is not without it's original flavor. The film taps into comedy, fear, sadness, wonder, and adventure. It has a PG rating for a reason; there are specific scenes in the film that are borderline horrifying, but what are fairy tales without horror? A note to parents: please don't censor your kids from this. This film can encourage and develop imagination and creativity, qualities that no one should be without.
The story follows a young girl (not the most likeable of children) named Coraline who lives with her parents in an old apartment that they just moved into. Coraline is very bored and
her parents have little tolerance for her. She meets an a good natured but offputting boy named Wybie that she herself has no tolerance for. Coraline also meets her neighbors; Mr. Bobinksy, a retired circus acrobat who trains mice for circus performance, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, who may be retired burlesque performers (it was insinuated but never blatenly mentioned) who own way too many scottish terriers, and lastly, a mangy cat that shows extraordinary personality.
Coraline explores her apartment under the instructions of her father, and finds a small door painted over. One night when she crawls through, she finds herself back in her apartment, but everything's different. Her mother is sweet and loves to cook her favorite meals all the time, her father is as fun and creative as possible, her friend Wybie is the least bit annoying (he simply doesn't talk), and her neighbors are highly entertaining and interesting. There's just one physical difference; everyone has buttons for eyes.
Things take a turn when she meets the same mangy cat. The cat, that obtains the ability to talk in this dream world and does NOT have buttons for eyes, doesn't really warn her, but encourages her to think and to open her mind to the possibility
that this may not all be that great. Coraline blows the cat off and returns to her button-eyed parents. But then, Coraline is offered by her other mother (as we come to know her) to stay forever, just as long as she agrees to have buttons sown into her eye sockets. Just a small price right?
The story follows a young girl (not the most likeable of children) named Coraline who lives with her parents in an old apartment that they just moved into. Coraline is very bored and
her parents have little tolerance for her. She meets an a good natured but offputting boy named Wybie that she herself has no tolerance for. Coraline also meets her neighbors; Mr. Bobinksy, a retired circus acrobat who trains mice for circus performance, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, who may be retired burlesque performers (it was insinuated but never blatenly mentioned) who own way too many scottish terriers, and lastly, a mangy cat that shows extraordinary personality.Coraline explores her apartment under the instructions of her father, and finds a small door painted over. One night when she crawls through, she finds herself back in her apartment, but everything's different. Her mother is sweet and loves to cook her favorite meals all the time, her father is as fun and creative as possible, her friend Wybie is the least bit annoying (he simply doesn't talk), and her neighbors are highly entertaining and interesting. There's just one physical difference; everyone has buttons for eyes.
Things take a turn when she meets the same mangy cat. The cat, that obtains the ability to talk in this dream world and does NOT have buttons for eyes, doesn't really warn her, but encourages her to think and to open her mind to the possibility
that this may not all be that great. Coraline blows the cat off and returns to her button-eyed parents. But then, Coraline is offered by her other mother (as we come to know her) to stay forever, just as long as she agrees to have buttons sown into her eye sockets. Just a small price right?This animated tale is fresh and original. It's far from the cuteness of other CGI animated films such as WALL-E or Kung Fu Panda. I do wonder if this film can appeal to American audiences (since most of them seem to have ADD when it comes to any story other than a blockbuster). It is definitely a film that film lovers would appreciate, but may only reach to that as much. I guess only time will tell.
Anyways, go check out Coraline to get your own opinion. It's in 3D and it's awesome. If you want to check out other movies by Henry Selick such as The Nightmare Before Christmas or James and the Giant Peach, check them out on the animation rack at R5 Records. If you'd like to see a stop motion (and very bizarre) version of Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland, watch Alice (1988) directed by Jan Svancmajer.
Coraline, 2009, 1hr & 40min
RANDOM CORALINE TRIVIA: Coraline holds the record
for the longest stop motion animated film ever at 1 hour
and 40 minutes long, and is also the first stop motion film
to be shot entirely in 3D.
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