CORALINE
Shroomers of the world, rejoice - Coraline has arrived, a dazzlingly whimsical work of intoxicating eye-and-ear-candy that’s gorgeous enough on its own, but mind-blowingly beautiful in 3-D.
True to Neil Gaiman’s original dark fairy tale, director Henry Selick’s (The Nightmare Before Christmas) film is more dream than cartoon, long on visuals and atmosphere, shorter on traditional animation drawbacks like kinetic pacing and frequent comic relief. Not everyone will go for this approach - no doubt many will find this film a beautiful bore. Truly, there were moments where I was lulled - like MirrorMask before it, also based on a tale by Gaiman, Coraline features a beautiful and haunting score that flows like a dark lullaby, a perfect blend for the visuals, but also so ethereal as to cause the eyelids to swoon. But like a great dream, Coraline is a magical thing of beauty: dark at times, mysterious, grand, surreal, and ultimately perfect unto itself.
A sort of Pan’s Labyrinth-lite, Coraline is the story of a dissatisfied little girl who, bored with her new surroundings and all but ignored by her career-obsessed parents, discovers a hidden door (strangely similar to that found on the 7 1/2th floor of the Mertin Flemmer Building) that leads her to a world that is near-parallel to her own, but with notable changes: her parents are affectionate, her otherwise dilapidated house looks exceptional, and everyone she runs into - human and animal alike - has buttons sewn into their eye sockets. Initially unfazed by this, Coraline soon comes to suspect that there is something sinister about her new world, leading to a third act that is surprisingly suspenseful and heavy on spooky imagery.
Rare is the film that almost shouts out for a second viewing with the company of your favorite opiate; expect to see a few groups in Skellington hoodies sit gawk-eyed in their seats long after the credits have run.
A good movie for the kiddies? Maybe, if your kiddies can handle it. Children with a penchant for Miyazaki will have a fine time with this film; the Spongebob set will be squirming in their seats for more stimulation within the first ten minutes.
One Comment on “CORALINE”
Comment:
February 8th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
beh. Maybe it would have been less boring if Coraline was played by John Malkovich. Absolutely beautiful, yes, but not until some time into the latter part of the second half, by which point I’d already spent 187 minutes thinking “is it almost over? No. No climax, yet. Damn. I’m not sure it’ll ever build into a climax, though. Was that it? No. Hmm. Do I need to pee? No. Not hungry, either….ooooo….that was cool looking!! I need a cigarette. I shouldn’t have quit. I wonder what Gaby thinks? She’s not squirming. Am I squirming? Why is this kid’s hair blue?…”