Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline” movie good, creepy fun
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
Anyone planning to take their 5-year-old child to see the animated 3D movie, “Coraline” should go ahead and trash that idea unless they want to return home with a screaming, crying child.
Don’t get me wrong, this movie is great, but it is not something I think many children will enjoy. To quote one friend of mine who watched the movie with me, “Man, if I was a child I think that movie would creep me the Hell out.” And indeed it does.
The opening title sequence is gorgeous, with these needle like hands sewing together a doll and it just sets the tone from the beginning of the film and holds up to the end. It’s dark, yet beautiful and simple, but sinister.
Based on Neil Gaiman’s novel, “Coraline” is the latest film from Henry Selick, the director of the Tim Burton produced “Nightmare Before Christmas.”
The story follows Coraline, a young girl who has moved into a new apartment building and is constantly ignored by her parents. When she receives a doll that looks very much like her a series of strange events occur, with Coraline opening a door to another world. There she meets button eyed replicas of her family, including her Other Mother and Other Father.
In the Other world, all of the characters have buttons covering their eyes, making them look like giant cloth doll people.
Haunting and fun, “Coraline” captures what I loved about Neil Gaiman’s book. The cast includes Dakota Fanning as the voice of Coraline and Teri Hatcher as Coraline’s mother. A nice surprise “guest” appearance in the film was turned in by Jennifer Saunders, from the great BBC show, “Absolutely Fabulous.”
Some of my favorite sequences in the film include the Other Father going to play the piano, only the have a set of giant hands come out and grab the character’s wrists and guide him playing the piano. The bit even includes an upbeat musical number that made me smile.
Another great moment, also involving the Other Father, was when Coraline goes out into the garden. A magical blend of strange flowers flutter about yard, creating a perfect blend of strange and surreal colors.
My only real complaint is that the movie didn’t really have a lot of actual 3D effects, as far as I felt. I had just watched “My Bloody Valentine” in 3D this week, and though that story was pure crap, the 3D was awesome. After seeing that movie, it almost felt like, for the most part, “Coraline” was originally conceived as a 2D movie that they decided to turn into 3D at the last second
That said, the movie is still great. And creepy. The most disturbing scene for me was a shot of a group of creatures that were a combination of bats and terrier dogs. I walked out of the movie, grumbling, “Fricking bat dogs man. Fricking bad dogs!” Because all I could think about was how those damn dogs could get rabies and be flying around after my ass. Not a fan!
Which is why I’m not thrilled that I’m crashing at a friend’s house. Because they already threatened to go out and buy a doll that looks like a terrier dog and put wings on it and suspend it over my bed. If I wake up, after writing this article, and see a blasted bat terrier hovering over my bed I don’t mind telling you… I will freak the frick out!
Bottom line, go see the movie. It’s got gorgeous animation, a great story and some fun sequences. Just don’t take your little kiddies with you. Unless you’ve got a case of valium with you of course.
