This 2009 stop motion animated movie was directed by Henry Selick and its one of those names that makes me go ‘where have I heard that name before’? Well to be frank from lots of fantastic movies he has directed. When you realise, he directs stop motion movies and they include James and the Giant Peach, Monkeybone and the Nightmare Before Christmas which Tim Burton gets all the credit for well Henry directed that not Tim. When you watch Caroline and go this is a copy of A Nightmare Before Christmas remember that it is the same director and when you look back on his animated career you have to be impressed. Pete’s Dragon, Animalympics, Fox and the Hound, Tron, Winnie The Pooh, Return to Oz and the list goes on. This movie released 4 years after Moongirl a which was a short movie he directed and some 16 years since Nightmare Before Christmas. This one stars the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr and Ian McShane. It was created on a budget of $60m and went onto make $124.6m at the box office again you have to see that as a success. Critically IMDb gave it a solid 7.7/10 whilst the Rotten Tomatoes boys and girls gave it a whooping 90% so everything is showing what a good movie this is. Shall I give you and introduction of the plot.
The story is that of a young girl named Coraline and another world. She and her family had recently moved into an old house called the Pink Palace Apartments. Her parents are busy working on a gardening catalogue she is left alone in the house most of the time. She meets some of the neighbours and one of which is called Wybie. Wybie is the grandson of the landlady of the house and he gives Coraline a ragdoll that looks suspiciously like her but with buttons for eyes. Later at night the doll lures Coraline to a small door in the living room that is bricked up and requires a button shaped key to unlock it. A mouse guides her through the door to discover a mirror world on the other side. Her parents are there but everyone has sewn buttons where their eyes should be. This alternative world is so much better than the dreary life she had left behind. Her parents are kind and attentive to her, she realises that she prefers this world than the other and keeps returning every night. So, the other mother suggests that she moves there permanently with the proviso that she has buttons sewn into her eyes, this proposition is definitely not on Coraline’s agenda and the sweet loving mother of the other world changes into menacing evil version of herself and demands Coraline stays. Now this is where the brown sticky stuff hits the fan and where I will end my plot description without a mention of Coraline escaping this new scary world to get back to her own to find that her parents are gone an she is really up a certain creek without a paddle.
The tagline for this movie is be careful what you wish for and it is perfect for this kid’s story that has some sinister overtones. This is played to perfection to have kids hiding behind hands in the cinema or the sofa when at home but not terrifying enough to have them run away and not watch till the end. It is a good story told in a very Nightmare before Christmas style of lighting and the stop motion makes it feel very similar. The story is completely different without the musical elements but the vibe is just very similar. This is a likeable and enjoyable movie to get you gripped by your affection of Caroline and the predicament she finds herself in. You really want a happy ending and I won’t spoil the end but this is a dark and moody feel to the film. Honestly give yourself and the kids a treat and put it on! Especially on Halloween night!!
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