>Normally, it would be impossible to get me to see a movie starring Dakota Fanning, but since Neil Gaiman’s Coraline is a stop motion animated movie, all I had to deal with was her voice. Also I’m not usually keen on what would be considered a kids movie, but I think Coraline transcends being a movie for kids into being something people of all ages can truly enjoy much like director Henry Selicks first successful feature, the Nightmare Before Christmas.

Coraline is the story of a girl who’s family moves to Oregon from Michigan with her less than exciting parents to an unusual old house that has been converted into an apartment building with some rather eccentric tenants. She meets a local boy named Wybie Lovat, with whom she develops a reluctant friendship. Wybie gives Coraline a doll made by his grandmother which looks just like Coraline, which is strange considering that nobody had met her until that day. Coraline goes to sleep that night with the creepy doppelganger doll beside her bed, only to be awakened by the scampering of mice which lead her to a small door, which earlier was thought to be bricked off and now appears as a tunnel. Coraline ventures through this tunnel to find herself in the same house with the same parents, except everything in this other house seems too good to be true. Also, for some reason, everyone in this other world has buttons for eyes. Coraline returns to this other world every time she sleeps, and finds it to be wonderful, but a little more sinister with every visit.

Although Coraline is considered a kid’s movie, there are elements to the story that one would think would frighten small children, but then again, like one of the messages of the story, kids deserve a little more credit than adults are willing to give. I had the good fortune to see Coraline in 3-D which truly put the viewer in the movie. Sadly, by the time this is posted, Coraline probably won’t be available to view in 3-D, since the Jonas Brothers in Concert will take up all 3-D theaters (barf!) Nonetheless, I would encourage people to see it even in just standard form since it’s just a great film.

Coraline is faithfully adapted from the book by Neil Gaiman, best known for what is considered the greatest comic series of all time, the Sandman, as well as several well renowned novels like Stardust, Neverwhere, American Gods, Anansi Boys and co-author of Good Omens along with Terry Pratchett. He has also penned stories for children such as the Wolves at the Door, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, and of course Coraline. Other comic works by Gaiman include Marvels 1602, the Eternals mini series, DC’s Black Orchid, and the hard to find Miracle Man. Currently, Gaiman is attached to the current Batman story; Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader. But honestly, if you read comics and don’t know who Neil Gaiman is, shame on you.

-Jim

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