Movie Review: Coraline

[etakyma]

Run, don't walk, to see this movie. In 3D.

I saw this last night with Gwen. She-who-just-had-a-birthday picked me up, we had a quick dinner at the BBQ place and went to the movies! Mid week! How decadent. Anyway, we were the first ones in the theatre, and they weren't even playing any commercials or annoying slide-show advert thingies. By the time the movie began there were maybe fifteen of us, but Gwen and I definitely got the best seats.

The artistry of this movie is impressive. And the sheer meticulousness required to do this type of stop-motion photography is incredible. Henry Selick and his team really, truly outdid themselves. And with a source material like Neil Gaiman's deceptively simple story, they had a wonderful foundation on which to build.

The theme of buttons is creepy but not terrifying, not at first. It becomes terrifying after several back and forth through the small door to the Other Mother's world. At first we are drawn in because everything in Coraline's real world is disappointing, and hard, and they just moved to a new place and her parents shove her aside again and again. Then she finds a way to a wondrous place where there is good food, and amazing things created just for her! We get the feeling something is "off" because in the Other Mother's world it is always night. And every creature has buttons for eyes. And Other Mother prepares food for Coraline, and yet doesn't *eat* any of it. Classic case of be careful what you wish for...

Many characters make up the residence of the Pink Palace Apartments. Miss Spink and Miss Forcible (and their *fleet* of scottie dogs) were wonderfully perverse (Miss Forcible in a bikini!). They live in the basement. Mr. Bobinski with the jumping mice was strange and wonderful as well. He lives in the attic, but spends his time doing odd things on the roof. We also meet Wybie, who does not live at the house, but he visits Coraline on the grounds. He speaks a lot, but Coraline doesn't really listen to him.

You love Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning), even if she is kind of a brat, from the very beginning. Her parents are voiced by Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman (he of "I'm a PC" fame), who also voice Other Mother and Other Father.

The Cat dispenses wisdom, but in his own time, on his own schedule. He's a cat. And rather like the cheshire cat of Alice in Wonderland fame, he goes where he will.

The opening credits are brilliant, because you don't realize the significance of what is going on until the movie is over. So pay attention!

Not a spoiler - if you do see the 3D version (which I totally recommend - worth the $2 surcharge) stay until the very end of the credits for a final visual effect. And the 3D is throughout the movie - so keep the glasses on full time.

I totally want to see it again, just to bask. One to own the special edition of with hopefully the making of footage. Nearly perfect - I give it a solid A

Comments

[jennclack.livejournal.com]

Oh no! We didn't stay until the end! What was the final effect? I loved it too. Madelyn was entranced the whole time but had problems processing it afterwards. I had to lie down with her to help her go to sleep that night. But I think the lessons will stick with her so that's good.

[etakyma.livejournal.com]

The final effect was the four paper mice swirling out at you without the background of the dark house to distract you - and it seemed like it went on twice as long as the bit in the movie. There was also some Other Mother's workshop-like stuff going on behind and to the sides of the mice. Sort of a final "Other Mother is still out there" kind of thing. Wooooohhoooooo *scary fingers*

It was pretty cool, but if you didn't stay, well you didn't miss anything really important - just a fun-cool effect.

Yeah, I don't think my nieces would enjoy it. They are just not that into "dark." I would have LOVED it at their age, but I was a pretty weird kid.

[gwendolyngrace.livejournal.com]

If you want to go again this week, before the 3D goes away, I can apparently get less expensive tickets through work.

But it would have to be after Tuesday because I can't buy them until then.