Coraline Review

Henry Selick, director of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach," wrote and directed the 2009 stop-motion adaptation of the book by Neil Gaiman, which is about a young girl who finds a secret, dreamlike world in her new home, to find it might be more menacing than it seems. I remember seeing trailers and posters for this film when it was released, and always thought it was a Tim-Burtonesque film, filled with quirky, weird looking characters, and a creepy side to it, such as "Corpse Bride," or "Frankenweenie." This film features incredibly skilled craftsmanship, as the attention to detail is very meticulous. Color is a big part of the film, as it tells a lot about the connotation of the different surroundings that Coraline is in, with the more dull and boring settings featuring colors that are very gray and glum, while the happier, more exciting settings, feature very vibrant and warm colors. The development of all the characters is present, and character's decisions and motives make sense. The soundtrack in the film is also very eerie, yet beautiful, and adds a lot to the tone and feeling of the movie. The imagery can actually be decently creepy at times of the film, and could possibly frighten small children. The film puts its main focus on Coraline and her interests, and really is more of a kids film, instead of a film marketed for any audience. The main theme resonates mostly with children, who will probably sympathize with Coraline's feelings of covetous desire after watching this movie. As this film is more geared towards children, it does take some predictable turns, however, it also foreshadows certain scenes that happen later on in the film decently. "Coraline" is an enjoyable movie, made with incredible skill and hard work, and while the film is promoted for younger audiences, can still be entertaining for anyone to watch.