This film written and directed by Henry Selick (he also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas) is based on Neil Gaiman's book. It opens February 6, 2009 on 3-D screens and conventional 2-D.The story begins when Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) moves with her two parents to a dreary rural area. Her parents pay no attention to her as they are busy editing and writing a new catalogue. She is left to explore her new space and meet the new neighbors and creepy neighborhood kid.
Continuously neglected by her parents she is given a doll that looks uncannily like her. Then weird things start to happen.
She goes through a door and enters a parallel world in which her button-eyed parents are awesome. They cook great food, make beautiful music and have a cool garden. Coraline then starts to like this world better than her 'real world' with her 'real parents'. Then, as the tag line says 'Be Careful What You Wish For'.
The script is equal parts funny, heartwarming and silly. The voice work is fun and sound like the characters. However, what's really on display is the absolutely stunning stop motion animation. Coraline's world is such a unique place with unique characters, that I was in awe of the imagination and creativity of Selick's mind. He has the ability to make cheery, candy-coloured designs and later turn these on their head to mean something completely different.
I saw it in 3-D, and enjoyed how they really exploited depth in the set designs which were magnified with the medium. It's a refreshing change from the usual 3-D movie cliche of having the flying knives coming at you. Don't get me wrong though, there are a few gimicks. I'm sure if viewers can't see it in 3-D, it will still be beautiful as the colours will be much brighter and objects more sharply drawn.
Coraline is definitely a great start to the year.
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