Movie Review: Coraline
July 29, 2009
St. Charles County, MO
by Kris Kolk
The movie, Coraline, was much creepier than I anticipated. Just when the viewer settles into the film’s uneasy 3-D gloominess, other images are introduced, cranking up the nightmare-o-meter.
The story:
Young Coraline Jones moves into an apartment building with her parents, who are so pre-occupated with their work project, they have little time to create appetizing meals or unpack. Her parents just gaze into their computers all day. Most importantly, they fail to give Coraline much attention.
The neighbors there are eccentric, but wrapped up in their own pursuits. They can’t even get Coraline’s name correct, often calling her Caroline. The apartment owner’s grandson, Wybie, hangs around Coraline and exchanges insults with her in a typical pre-adolescent manner.
A bored Coraline explores her new home and discovers a very short, locked door. Unlocking the door reveals only bricks behind it; apparently a result of the old home’s renovation into apartments.
Later, the small door reveals a passageway into a seemingly happier world paralleling Coraline’s. The other world comes complete with Coraline’s Other Mother, Other Father and Other Wybie among others. Coraline is able to travel back and forth between the two worlds.
The Other Mother is doting and prepares wonderful food. Coraline’s Other Father is a musician and writes a song especially for his daughter. Other Wybie can’t talk and seems to make for a more compliant companion than the real Wybie.
The Others have buttons for eyes. Coraline knows there is something wrong with this, but everything else in that world is so wonderful, this unusual feature is easy to dismiss.
However, the Other Mother soon decides it is time for Coraline to replace her eyes with buttons and join the Others. The Other Mother’s creepiness begins to be revealed. Coraline is then introduced to the ghost children.
After that, it gets kind of weird.
I would not recommend this movie to kids under 10 (or older, depending on the kid). In addition to the disturbing images, some ideas presented in the film would be hard to shake off--Coraline must save her real parents from the Other Mother, quite a scary thought for little ones. The concept of using a needle to replace eyeballs with buttons would be hard to forget as well.
For adults and teens, the film’s message of “the grass isn’t always greener” is displayed in an edgy, captivating way.
I am sure there are many symbolic points throughout this story. Some examples may be: Wybie’s real name is Wyborne (as in “why born?”); there is a talking black cat and a magical triangular trinket; and in the beginning scene, we see Coraline water-witching. Seems like a lot of symbolism-fodder to me.
Maybe it was the stop-motion technique, but the animation was annoyingly jerky. Except for a couple of instances, the 3-D effects were subtle.
This is the film version of Neil Gaiman’s novella by the same name. The book, reportedly scarier than the film, can be found in the St. Charles City-County Library District (YA F Gaiman Neil).
Coraline is rated PG and can also be found at the St. Charles City-County Library District (there is currently a waiting list).
A fun tidbit: The voices of Coraline’s real father and Other Father are performed by John Hodgman, the actor who portrays PC in Apple’s PC vs. Mac advertising campaign.
Copyright 2009 Neighbors About Town
