Coraline just wants some attention from her busy, boring parents. She has just moved into a new, and rather bizarre house, with her particularly mundane parents, and her adventuresome spirit is tethered to a fantastic, but nevertheless dreary locale. Her parents are writers, chained to keyboards, and Coraline’s main interaction with them seems to be focused on trying to persuade Coraline to be otherwise occupied.
Set on the task of counting the doors and blue things in the new house, Coraline soons discovers the outline of a small door which has been wallpapered over. A closer inspection, which irritates her mother, reveals only bricks on the other side.
Coraline takes a shot at exploring the possibilities surrounding her new home, but finds only two old actresses living in a bygone era, and a Russian mouse trainer. The actresses live in the house’s basement apartment, and are lost in their glory days. The Russian lives in the attic, and is very secretive about the fantastic mouse circus he’s putting together. Coraline also meets Wybie (aka Sir Not Appearing in the Book), who is the grandson of the house’s landlady, and some sort of product of living in close proximity to this house of oddballs and nothing else for far too long. As Coraline says, “a supernerd.”
As the tedium and general aura of kookiness sets in, Coraline dreams of going through that odd little door, and finding a parallel world. She’s still in her house, but it is a house of childhood dreams. Magic and fun abound, and everything seems to have a Coraline-specific wonder to it. It is in this world that Coraline meets her “other mother,” a perfect replica of her mother with a few small changes. Her other mother is fun, attentive, only concerned with making Coraline happy… and has buttons for eyes.
Coraline visits this world in her dreams, and it is the world of her dreams, but when she finally goes through the door for real, she discovers that things are not what they seem. In the end she has to fight to get her real parents back.
Like many of the works of Neil Gaiman, and the best of fantasy more generally, Coraline is a story of the simple truths and lessons of life, told in a way that showcases their grandiose simplicity. The ride is dark, almost disturbing, magical, and beyond reality, because then we feel it. We experience the peaks and valleys, and succumb to the wonder, and only because of this do we get somewhere so simple, mundane, and gloriously “real.” Coraline, like perhaps no other movie in recent memory, captures the very essence of what “story” means.
There is a reason that Aesop’s Fables are not Aesop’s Morals, and it is that stories are doing work that simply relating the “point” of stories can never do. Hearing the moral is somehow a rather rational affair. It probably sounds great, and you aren’t likely to argue against it. You will probably even put on your smoking jacket, nod knowingly, and mutter, “Ahhh… this is so.” But, we are creatures of awe and wonder, and though you may assent to a truth in some academic sense, you will not live it until you’ve lived it. In some sense, you will not even know it.
Coraline builds a world based on one small girl’s feelings, and makes her everyone, and takes the audience on a beautiful, magical story in the tradition of the best wordsmiths the world has ever known. It is rich and filled with brilliant nuance, dark and creepy (like most of life), and moved by a spirit of adventure and honest emotion. It carries you through like another Wybie, creeping along just over Coraline’s shoulder, living the moment without having to actually slay dragons.
It must be said that completing the story in this particular instance, by bringing to a visual realization so true to the power and purpose of the book, is Henry Selick who also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach. The visual representation of the work is dazzling, yet simple in a way that is true to the intent of the story. Moreover, the changes from the original material are well-reasoned and honor the overall story. For example, there is no way to include the cellar and other father scene without creeping out the hardiest of younger audiences, and Wybie adds a much-needed sounding board for a film treatment.
All in all, this is quite likely to be one of the best movies I see all year, and will without question remain the best story.
Rating: 
7 Year Old Commentary
Such is the world we live in today, that I was able to actually ask Neil Gaiman himself about taking my son to this movie. He’s very bright, but prone to fear of a movie variety (my son, not Neil… who is also very bright, but not, I think, so much prone to movie-specific fear). Neil (because we’re tight like that) responded via Twitter @neilhimself, that he thought my son would be okay.
When you see the film, you may imagine the lengths I had to go to not to send a quick, “Thanks a lot, you bastard,” back to him during the opening moments, which are rather creepy.
In the end, my son managed to make it through with a minimum of trying to pull his jacket over his eyes, and only once or twice did I have to reassure him that everything was going to be okay.
As we got very near the end (I’ll have to spoil things and tell you Coraline gets her parents back), and I was looking on with my critic’s eye diverting me a bit from my surroundings, I looked over and noticed that my son was crying. I asked why, and he responded, “I’m just so happy that she got her parents back.”
As we left the theater, I asked him if he liked the movie, and his answer was very serious and slightly unusually sincere (he’s generally pretty sincere… and serious)… he said, “Of course! What do you think?! How could you not like a movie with a brilliant, happy ending like that!”
When asked about the story (and I’m paraphrasing slightly), he extolled its virtues thusly -
It was really cool she got her parents back. It’s sort of like all that stuff was really great… like Disneyland or something, and eating cake for dinner and stuff…, but it isn’t worth anything, because it isn’t real. That’s what the scary parts mean… they aren’t scary really, they just aren’t real. Stuff is boring a lot, but it’s real, and you wouldn’t trade even though you think you would. Like, when you’re at Disneyland you’re thinking, “I want to live here forever,” but you don’t realize that you don’t really, because pretty soon it would suck, because it isn’t real… and living all the time in not real stuff would get creepy. That’s what that scary part is about. Coraline is really cool though, because she’s brave and does what she knows is right. It was awesome.
In case you missed it, my son is 7.
The difference between adults and children is that children believe that what they dream and imagine is real. Adults are so so stupid.
Are You Screening?
Trailer and Interview
Related articles by Zemanta
- Movie Review | ‘Coraline’: Cornered in a Parallel World (movies.nytimes.com)
- Coraline (pastemagazine.com)
- Alex Remington: Coraline: An Instant Animated Classic (huffingtonpost.com)
- Henry Selick, Keeping Stop-Motion Moving Ahead (npr.org)
- Review: ‘Coraline’ is glorious and deep (cnn.com)
- Coraline: Out of this world (thestar.com)
- Coraline (popsyndicate.com)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=7f41a9c7-d4ad-40fd-8123-0faa640ec3f3)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Movie Review
Date Night Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway
Eat Pray Love Movie Review
The Other Guys Movie Review
Cop Out Blu-Ray Review And Giveaway
Inception Movie Review
Winnebago Man Review
@neilhimself Coraline review http://tinyurl.com/c74tww
. . . Perhaps I missed something. . . The movie didn’t have a happy ending. . . In a week or so Coraline's parents are going to go back to the way things use to be. . . Back to ignoring her and such. . . Most kids don’t get that. If you haven’t been raised in that sort of situation you cant understand what she was really going through. I can because I was raised like that. I hope no other kids have to be alone like that. If the parents can’t afford time to be with their kid then they shouldn’t have one, they don’t know how damaging it could be for a child to be left alone like that. When the mom said “Your father cooks, I clean and you stay out of our way” I heard people laughing. I couldn’t understand that! If someone told me that I would be heart broken. I wouldn’t laugh. Coraline’s mom was totally serious when she said that. . . Well enough from me. I’m glad that your son can grasp the meaning of a movie the way it was suppose to be. In the eye of the beholder. . . .
Disclaimer: I'm neither a Mother nor an Other mother, and I don't even play one on TV.
But this confirms what I noticed in the (very full) theatre this weekend. The point in the movie where the kids in the audience got really, genuinely scared was after the moment when Coraline comes back to an empty house, and realizes her parents have been taken.
There was the occasional covering of eyes during some of the creepy, darker scenes before that. But that was the moment when I started to hear a chorus of “Mommy…” followed by a collective murmuring of comforting adult voices saying, “It's OK, she's brave! Of course she'll rescue them!”
Which just confirms what I've always known, especially when I was your son's age: Kids are smart. They know what to really be afraid of, and they know what's important. Your son's analysis is spot on.
@areyouscreening your 7 year old’s reactions and commentary at http://tinyurl.com/c74tww put the hugest smile on my face.
@areyouscreening your 7 year old’s reactions and commentary at http://tinyurl.com/c74tww put the hugest smile on my face.
. . . Perhaps I missed something. . . The movie didn’t have a happy ending. . . In a week or so Coraline's parents are going to go back to the way things use to be. . . Back to ignoring her and such. . . Most kids don’t get that. If you haven’t been raised in that sort of situation you cant understand what she was really going through. I can because I was raised like that. I hope no other kids have to be alone like that. If the parents can’t afford time to be with their kid then they shouldn’t have one, they don’t know how damaging it could be for a child to be left alone like that. When the mom said “Your father cooks, I clean and you stay out of our way” I heard people laughing. I couldn’t understand that! If someone told me that I would be heart broken. I wouldn’t laugh. Coraline’s mom was totally serious when she said that. . . Well enough from me. I’m glad that your son can grasp the meaning of a movie the way it was suppose to be. In the eye of the beholder. . . .
. . . Perhaps I missed something. . . The movie didn’t have a happy ending. . . In a week or so Coraline's parents are going to go back to the way things use to be. . . Back to ignoring her and such. . . Most kids don’t get that. If you haven’t been raised in that sort of situation you cant understand what she was really going through. I can because I was raised like that. I hope no other kids have to be alone like that. If the parents can’t afford time to be with their kid then they shouldn’t have one, they don’t know how damaging it could be for a child to be left alone like that. When the mom said “Your father cooks, I clean and you stay out of our way” I heard people laughing. I couldn’t understand that! If someone told me that I would be heart broken. I wouldn’t laugh. Coraline’s mom was totally serious when she said that. . . Well enough from me. I’m glad that your son can grasp the meaning of a movie the way it was suppose to be. In the eye of the beholder. . . .
What a great comment, and wonderful observation. I really appreciate having that added to my review actually, and you're very correct.
In our theater there was no one peep during the entire film, except at one point when my son started laughing really loudly… and it wasn't exactly at anything I wanted to stand up and cheer that my son was laughing.
Appreciate the comment.
Disclaimer: I'm neither a Mother nor an Other mother, and I don't even play one on TV.
But this confirms what I noticed in the (very full) theatre this weekend. The point in the movie where the kids in the audience got really, genuinely scared was after the moment when Coraline comes back to an empty house, and realizes her parents have been taken.
There was the occasional covering of eyes during some of the creepy, darker scenes before that. But that was the moment when I started to hear a chorus of “Mommy…” followed by a collective murmuring of comforting adult voices saying, “It's OK, she's brave! Of course she'll rescue them!”
Which just confirms what I've always known, especially when I was your son's age: Kids are smart. They know what to really be afraid of, and they know what's important. Your son's analysis is spot on.
Disclaimer: I'm neither a Mother nor an Other mother, and I don't even play one on TV.
But this confirms what I noticed in the (very full) theatre this weekend. The point in the movie where the kids in the audience got really, genuinely scared was after the moment when Coraline comes back to an empty house, and realizes her parents have been taken.
There was the occasional covering of eyes during some of the creepy, darker scenes before that. But that was the moment when I started to hear a chorus of “Mommy…” followed by a collective murmuring of comforting adult voices saying, “It's OK, she's brave! Of course she'll rescue them!”
Which just confirms what I've always known, especially when I was your son's age: Kids are smart. They know what to really be afraid of, and they know what's important. Your son's analysis is spot on.
What a great comment, and wonderful observation. I really appreciate having that added to my review actually, and you're very correct.
In our theater there was no one peep during the entire film, except at one point when my son started laughing really loudly… and it wasn't exactly at anything I wanted to stand up and cheer that my son was laughing.
Appreciate the comment.
What a great comment, and wonderful observation. I really appreciate having that added to my review actually, and you're very correct.
In our theater there was no one peep during the entire film, except at one point when my son started laughing really loudly… and it wasn't exactly at anything I wanted to stand up and cheer that my son was laughing.
Appreciate the comment.
Charming. Your son seems very bright and reminds me of the matter of fact logic of my daughter at that age. I was already inclined to see this story. Now I definitely wil.
RT @neilhomself: @areyouscreening your 7 year old’s reactions and commentary at http://tinyurl.com/c74tww put the hugest smile on my face.
RT @neilhimself: @areyouscreening your 7 year old’s reactions and commentary at http://tinyurl.com/c74tww put the hugest smile on my face.
Charming. Your son seems very bright and reminds me of the matter of fact logic of my daughter at that age. I was already inclined to see this story. Now I definitely wil.
Charming. Your son seems very bright and reminds me of the matter of fact logic of my daughter at that age. I was already inclined to see this story. Now I definitely wil.
The only place my ten year old son covered his eyes was during the performance by the actressess…that was a lot of curves bouncing around up there, and he got embarrassed!
Excellent review, from both you and your son!
What to do with the kids this weekend? See Coraline. http://tinyurl.com/c74tww
The only place my ten year old son covered his eyes was during the performance by the actressess…that was a lot of curves bouncing around up there, and he got embarrassed!
Excellent review, from both you and your son!
The only place my ten year old son covered his eyes was during the performance by the actressess…that was a lot of curves bouncing around up there, and he got embarrassed!
Excellent review, from both you and your son!
Maha, you know what I hate? Movies where the family gives the money-bringer (usually dad) a rough time because he's always working. I hate Ugly Betty's family because they nag at her to do something like set up a garage sale or something when she is trying to keep her job. It irritates me that so many movies end with someone not answering or throwing away their cell phone when it rings so that they can spend time with their family, because it's completely unrealistic. Would that be nice? Yes. But people are trying to do what they can to keep themselves fed. I hate those types of movies because they put unrealistic expectations on people, just like you're doing right now.
In a week or so they'll go back to the way things were. Working their butts off to try to keep Coraline from starving to death. How horrible of them! And maybe you went to get more popcorn quite a few times, because I could've sworn that Coraline's father was sweet, joking around with her and singing songs that made all of our ears bleed. Oh, but that's a father who just doesn't CARE about his daughter. Or how about her mother? She was clearly bothered by the fact that she couldn't afford to buy Coraline the gloves that she wanted. And when Coraline refused to go shopping with her, that hangdog look her mom gave was SURELY because she wanted to make Coraline carry the groceries in, right?
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to play with their kids at every moment of the day. Coraline is lucky that her parents work at home. Most kids wouldn't be able to see their parents at all during the day, but apparently that's okay. If they're there and they're busy, that's a crime, though.
The point of the movie isn't that things were happy and lovely and perfect, it's that she had her REAL parents back. Things might still be as boring as ever, and she might still be left to entertain herself while her parents put a roof over her head, but she has learned to appreciate what she has.
Very glad to hear it. I do not think you will be disappointed.
Thanks for the comment.
I very nearly put in a bit about that scene, but was rather afraid I might ramble on about it too much.
You're quite right, that was a somewhat odd amount of skin.
Thanks for the comment.
You know what I hate? Movies where the family gives the money-bringer (usually dad) a rough time because he's always working. I hate Ugly Betty's family because they nag at her to do something like set up a garage sale or something when she is trying to keep her job. It irritates me that so many movies end with someone not answering or throwing away their cell phone when it rings so that they can spend time with their family, because it's completely unrealistic. Would that be nice? Yes. But people are trying to do what they can to keep themselves fed. I hate those types of movies because they put unrealistic expectations on people, just like you're doing right now.
In a week or so they'll go back to the way things were. Working their butts off to try to keep Coraline from starving to death. How horrible of them! And maybe you went to get more popcorn quite a few times, because I could've sworn that Coraline's father was sweet, joking around with her and singing songs that made all of our ears bleed. Oh, but that's a father who just doesn't CARE about his daughter. Or how about her mother? She was clearly bothered by the fact that she couldn't afford to buy Coraline the gloves that she wanted. And when Coraline refused to go shopping with her, that hangdog look her mom gave was SURELY because she wanted to make Coraline carry the groceries in, right?
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to play with their kids at every moment of the day. Coraline is lucky that her parents work at home. Most kids wouldn't be able to see their parents at all during the day, but apparently that's okay. If they're there and they're busy, that's a crime, though.
The point of the movie isn't that things were happy and lovely and perfect, it's that she had her REAL parents back. Things might still be as boring as ever, and she might still be left to entertain herself while her parents put a roof over her head, but she has learned to appreciate what she has.
Very glad to hear it. I do not think you will be disappointed.
Thanks for the comment.
I very nearly put in a bit about that scene, but was rather afraid I might ramble on about it too much.
You're quite right, that was a somewhat odd amount of skin.
Thanks for the comment.
Maha, you know what I hate? Movies where the family gives the money-bringer (usually dad) a rough time because he's always working. I hate Ugly Betty's family because they nag at her to do something like set up a garage sale or something when she is trying to keep her job. It irritates me that so many movies end with someone not answering or throwing away their cell phone when it rings so that they can spend time with their family, because it's completely unrealistic. Would that be nice? Yes. But people are trying to do what they can to keep themselves fed. I hate those types of movies because they put unrealistic expectations on people, just like you're doing right now.
In a week or so they'll go back to the way things were. Working their butts off to try to keep Coraline from starving to death. How horrible of them! And maybe you went to get more popcorn quite a few times, because I could've sworn that Coraline's father was sweet, joking around with her and singing songs that made all of our ears bleed. Oh, but that's a father who just doesn't CARE about his daughter. Or how about her mother? She was clearly bothered by the fact that she couldn't afford to buy Coraline the gloves that she wanted. And when Coraline refused to go shopping with her, that hangdog look her mom gave was SURELY because she wanted to make Coraline carry the groceries in, right?
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to play with their kids at every moment of the day. Coraline is lucky that her parents work at home. Most kids wouldn't be able to see their parents at all during the day, but apparently that's okay. If they're there and they're busy, that's a crime, though.
The point of the movie isn't that things were happy and lovely and perfect, it's that she had her REAL parents back. Things might still be as boring as ever, and she might still be left to entertain herself while her parents put a roof over her head, but she has learned to appreciate what she has.
Maha, you know what I hate? Movies where the family gives the money-bringer (usually dad) a rough time because he's always working. I hate Ugly Betty's family because they nag at her to do something like set up a garage sale or something when she is trying to keep her job. It irritates me that so many movies end with someone not answering or throwing away their cell phone when it rings so that they can spend time with their family, because it's completely unrealistic. Would that be nice? Yes. But people are trying to do what they can to keep themselves fed. I hate those types of movies because they put unrealistic expectations on people, just like you're doing right now.
In a week or so they'll go back to the way things were. Working their butts off to try to keep Coraline from starving to death. How horrible of them! And maybe you went to get more popcorn quite a few times, because I could've sworn that Coraline's father was sweet, joking around with her and singing songs that made all of our ears bleed. Oh, but that's a father who just doesn't CARE about his daughter. Or how about her mother? She was clearly bothered by the fact that she couldn't afford to buy Coraline the gloves that she wanted. And when Coraline refused to go shopping with her, that hangdog look her mom gave was SURELY because she wanted to make Coraline carry the groceries in, right?
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to play with their kids at every moment of the day. Coraline is lucky that her parents work at home. Most kids wouldn't be able to see their parents at all during the day, but apparently that's okay. If they're there and they're busy, that's a crime, though.
The point of the movie isn't that things were happy and lovely and perfect, it's that she had her REAL parents back. Things might still be as boring as ever, and she might still be left to entertain herself while her parents put a roof over her head, but she has learned to appreciate what she has.
Maha, you know what I hate? Movies where the family gives the money-bringer (usually dad) a rough time because he's always working. I hate Ugly Betty's family because they nag at her to do something like set up a garage sale or something when she is trying to keep her job. It irritates me that so many movies end with someone not answering or throwing away their cell phone when it rings so that they can spend time with their family, because it's completely unrealistic. Would that be nice? Yes. But people are trying to do what they can to keep themselves fed. I hate those types of movies because they put unrealistic expectations on people, just like you're doing right now.
In a week or so they'll go back to the way things were. Working their butts off to try to keep Coraline from starving to death. How horrible of them! And maybe you went to get more popcorn quite a few times, because I could've sworn that Coraline's father was sweet, joking around with her and singing songs that made all of our ears bleed. Oh, but that's a father who just doesn't CARE about his daughter. Or how about her mother? She was clearly bothered by the fact that she couldn't afford to buy Coraline the gloves that she wanted. And when Coraline refused to go shopping with her, that hangdog look her mom gave was SURELY because she wanted to make Coraline carry the groceries in, right?
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to play with their kids at every moment of the day. Coraline is lucky that her parents work at home. Most kids wouldn't be able to see their parents at all during the day, but apparently that's okay. If they're there and they're busy, that's a crime, though.
The point of the movie isn't that things were happy and lovely and perfect, it's that she had her REAL parents back. Things might still be as boring as ever, and she might still be left to entertain herself while her parents put a roof over her head, but she has learned to appreciate what she has.
Very glad to hear it. I do not think you will be disappointed.
Thanks for the comment.
Very glad to hear it. I do not think you will be disappointed.
Thanks for the comment.
Very glad to hear it. I do not think you will be disappointed.
Thanks for the comment.
I very nearly put in a bit about that scene, but was rather afraid I might ramble on about it too much.
You're quite right, that was a somewhat odd amount of skin.
Thanks for the comment.
I very nearly put in a bit about that scene, but was rather afraid I might ramble on about it too much.
You're quite right, that was a somewhat odd amount of skin.
Thanks for the comment.
I very nearly put in a bit about that scene, but was rather afraid I might ramble on about it too much.
You're quite right, that was a somewhat odd amount of skin.
Thanks for the comment.
My son was very upset after watching this movie. He is 7 years old and has not stop crying at all times of the day. He is afraid he’s going to have nightmare’s from the other mother. It’s been six days since viewing Coraline. He sleeps at nights after being distracted with a bedtime story. The problem is I do not know what to do about the crying during the day. How can I help him thru this phase. He has never been scared by a movie before. Any good advice out there?