There are themes and situations in Coraline that may frighten children. This is not so much a warning as it is an informative recommendation. Stories that have the courage to elicit a response of uneasiness and questions can be a healthy antidote for souls polluted and poisoned by sterile "family" entertainment. In other words, that which seems good may not necessarily be true.
Henry Selick's Coraline is a beautifully realized and imaginative adaptation of the beloved Neil Gaiman novel. Whereas the film is indeed animated, it is also an antithesis to a stereotypical children's feature.
Technically speaking, Coraline has the distinction of being the first hi-def, stop-motion animated feature filmed entirely in stereoscopic 3D. With the current abundance of 3D gimmicks, Coraline feels deliberately restrained in this area. The result is a refreshing balance of substance, story, and style. Here, the 3D elements are used in artistic contrast to the tactile nature of Selick's stop-motion animation. For fans of animation, that is a milestone achievement. For the general audience, that translates as an entertaining and immersive movie experience.
When the story begins, a bored and isolated girl named Coraline has just moved in to a gloomy old house. Her dull and distracted parents ignore and neglect her. Her new neighbors include a pair of flamboyant elderly actresses, a former circus acrobat with a troupe of trained mice, and an odd boy with a creepy black cat.
Late one night, she discovers a small, hidden door inside the house. To her surprise and relief, the door is actually a magic portal to an alternate version of her life. In this vivid surrogate reality, Coraline's "other" parents seem much more lively and interesting. Better still, they seem much more interested in Coraline. In fact, they're glad to provide whatever she wants - even if she doesn't know she wants it.
In this enchanted existence, a lavish outdoor garden has been landscaped to look like Coraline's likeness, the neighbor's eccentricities increase, and the odd boy's creepy black cat is able to speak with charming, albeit distressed, articulation. When Coraline begins to discover that her parallel is not without peril, she also learns that she could become trapped inside forever.
Although there seems to be a subtle emotional detachment between the characters themselves, this (arguably) weak connection may not actually be transferred to the audience. In fact, the decision to direct the cast toward a slightly superficial performance may have been intentional, as a warmer, more personal approach may have felt too predictable, and provided a less interesting foundation to the protagonist's journey.
Overall, Coraline is a delightful story that explores the wisdom of limitations, and serves as a prompt reminder that in life people often seek escape from the lives they've created. While the film offers a delicate illumination to the dangers of desire, the symmetry of tale and technique is delivered brilliantly.
Like most enduring children's tales, the book and film both explore the wonders of adolescence, but not at the exclusion of adult-themed malevolence. This may be a key to the secret door of timeless stories.
Until next time…
JP
