CORALINE 3.0***…almost 3.5*** (a DVD rental or cable movie)
To begin with, this is a 2009 movie that superbly employs stop action animation with some computer generated effects. Also, it is a film adapted from a book that won the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers. Even so, it is not a movie for very young children ( under 10 years old). It is a dark fantasy… a gothic fairy tale with creepy images and a sometimes spooky look. But, for age appropriate kids and adults, it is very, very good in a very, very different way. And for those who look for the pearl in the oyster, it is a surprisingly fine family film because it focuses on what family is all about and points out the danger of strangers, especially those who try to lure kids with nice things.
The Story: Coraline is a young girl, 8 to 9 years old, but wise beyond her age, who has just moved into an old house with her parents, who can best be described as workaholics. She left behind good friends and new ones are very hard to find , While Coraline doesn't really dislike her parents, she feels neglected and disconnected from them. Coraline, in her search for something to do…for some excitement in her otherwise boring life, finds a secret door in the house which leads to a different world—an alternate universe. Coraline goes through the door and discovers her "other" mother and father. They look exactly like her real parents except they have buttons for eyes. Coraline is seduced by all the wonderful things the new parents have to offer. She's treated to sumptuous meals and given a tour of a garden outside the house which is full of fantastic creatures which Coraline finds enchanting. As you watch this unfold, you get that bad feeling that it is TOO good to be true … that evil may lurk in that strange alternate world. So, tension builds as you worry about whether Coraline will see what may be behind those button eyes…and be able to resist the lure of the parent “strangers”? And the answer …well, that’s for you to find out.
The best way to describe the over-riding theme of this fine film is right up there in the movie poster…”Be careful what you wish for.”
Clark
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