"Coraline"

There is something very special about stop motion animation.  It is an age old technique of creating motion pictures, but one that is constantly improving and changing, staying relevant in todays' age of visually intense films.  'Coraline' is a great example of that relevance.

The film is very dark, based off of what the author of the book 'Coraline' called 'horror for 5 year olds.'  The story is that of a young girl who discovers a door to another world where everything seems a perfect replacement to her real life, but in truth is something much more sinister. 

The artistry of this film cannot be understated.  The animation of course is superb, but the sets as well are full of vibrant colors, and everything about the film seems to come alive.  The score also is haunting, it adds to the films intense yet somehow fun nature.  'Coraline' was directed by the same director that did 'The Nightmare Before Christmas.'  They are not in themselves completely alike, but if you enjoy darker yet fun films, you will find 'Coraline' to be a perfect fit.

-David

If you do not want to be woken up in the middle of the night by your child because they've just had a nightmare, DO NOT SHOW THEM THIS MOVIE! Coraline is an excellent story that presents all the elements of a good nightmare, everything seems good at first, in fact, its better than your real life, but then events start to take a turn for the worst. You can't get away, your life is at stake, your parents have been kidnapped, yep it's all there. However, that being said, I would totally recommend this film, to children and adults alike. But if your child is susceptible to nightmares, I'd recommend watching it first. Just because the content is a bit creepy, for the reasons mentioned above.

Overall, this is a very well done film, the story line is creative, the characters are colorful, the music is haunting...and it has a positive message about appreciating and loving your family. Great movie.

-Bethany