Weekly Movie Review: Coraline

A young girl moves into a new house with her over-worked parents. Tired of their lack of attention, she seeks solace in a parallel universe that seems perfect at first, until things take a turn for the worst.

Genre: animation, adventure, a little scary (I know that's not really a genre...)

Not the little kids' movie I was expecting! I was actually a little... ok, a lot scared during this movie. Though as a disclaimer, I scare pretty easily.

The universes Coraline evolves in (both in her world and in the other world) are very Burton-esque. A mix of the fantastic and "horror" elements in a very dark setting. It's eerie and lends itself perfectly to the atmosphere the storyline requires. Very cool.

The other protagonists in the movie are equally strange and unique. Coraline's upstairs neighbor is akin to an old-school circus weight-lifter, but he trains mice to perform. The downstairs neighbors are two little old ladies who cling to the glory days of their youth.

Although it is supposed to be a family movie, I wouldn't show this to very little children because they might be frightened and have nightmares later on (again, I was scared and I'm in my mid twenties!). Everybody else should go see this masterpiece, just bring your teddy bear along.

"Black is traditional."

-Spoken by the "Other Mom" in reference to the color of the buttons Coraline would need to sew on her eyes to stay in the other world.

Although this is not a romantic movie, so you won't be getting anybody in the mood... there are some redeeming factors here. It's a slightly scary movie, so you can cuddle up with your sweety during the scary bits.

I say go for it.