Coraline

Welcome to another episode of The "D" List.

Today's review is Coraline, written and directed Henry Selick adapted from Neil Gaiman's book.

The plot of this animated film revolves around Coraline voiced by Dakota Fanning moving into a old house with her parents. Her father is a writer and her mother is the editor. For the most part Coraline is ignored by her parents as they bury themselves in their work. Coraline has a vivid imagination and loves to explore and one day while exploring the house she finds a small door hidden in the wall of the living room.

Coraline opens the door and finds a parallel world that resembles her own. The house, her neighbors, the neighborhood look the same with 1 exception, everything in this new world is what Coraline wants to have which is happiness. Her parents are loving and attentive. They fulfill every one of Coraline's desires making her want to stay in this alternate universe forever. It's that decision that will change her life and takes the movie to a darker tone.

Coraline discovers that her "other" mother as she's called is really an evil force who's only task is to collect the souls of the people that inhabit her world. Her tactic is to present a wonderful alternate reality to the person she is trying to "keep" around and when they decide to do so she takes their soul imprisoning them there forever. Coraline refuses to stay and gets back to the "real" world only to find her parents have been captured by the "other" mother. Coraline is forced to return to save her parents.

She appeals to the "other" mother's sense of gamesmanship and challenges her to a game where the prize is Coraline and her parents freedom versus Coraline's imprisonment in the alternate world. Coraline uses her resourcefulness and determination not to mention a little bit of help from outside sources to win back her freedom, save her parents and close the doorway to that world forever.

Coraline was a fun children's film. The animation was top notch. Just thinking how painstaking stop motion animation is, you can really appreciate how seamless the movements of the characters and the environments were. The story teaches you about the importance of family and how no matter how hectic life can be, it's important to keep your loved ones close to you.

The plot can be a little tough for young kids to figure out. And the dark tone when the "other" mother's plan is exposed can be a little scary or creepy but overall, Coraline is an entertaining film with some laughs throughout.

On the 5 star scale. Coraline gets 3 stars and a "Go see it" recommendation if you have kids that are old enough or if you are an animated film geek like yours truly.

Coming next is my review of The International and on tap for me at the cinema is Street Fighter - The Legend of Chun Li. I know what many of you are thinking. Street Fighter? Really? Yup. I am a huge fan of the videogame series and I am probably setting myself up for a big time fall here but I'm willing to take the risk. That's what going to the movies is all about.

Until Next Episode.....I'll Save You a Seat!

"D"