Saw Coraline last Wednesday night. The first stop motion film to be filmed entirely in 3D. Of, course, The Nightmare Before Christmas was adapted in 3D (which was wicked awesome I might add), but this was the first to be produced in 3D.
The film tells the story of Coraline (duh), a young girl with a dull life. Her parents are workaholics with little time for play and imagination. Having just moved into the Pink Palace apartments, their residence is riddled with unpacked boxes, unfinished rooms, etc. The whole place has a certain grayness, which correlates the doldrum of Coraline's everyday life. The character is voiced by none other than Dakota Fanning, but if you weren't aware of this beforehand, you wouldn't notice it was her. Her voice over work is top notch, never once interrupting our belief in Coraline as an actress in and of herself. The first part of the film acts as a sort of exposition for the supporting cast. We initially meet Coraline's parents, tired and busy and never available to spend any time entertaining their daughter. As she walks the grounds we meet Wibey, a boy-next-door sort who exhibits a certain eccentric social awkwardness. Eccentric is the word of the day as well when it comes to the Pink Palace's other residents. The top floor home to Mr. Bobinskiy, an older Russian man diligently training his mice for a mouse circus. In the basement we find a pair of sisters, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, who in their youth performed in burlesque shows, and still exude a risque stage presence even in their old age. Of special note is the voice work of Keith David, who voices the black cat in the film with unmistakable smoothness. Nothing like a black cat to voice a black cat.
Eventually, Coraline discovers a small door in one room of the apartment. Long covered in wallpaper, Coraline convinces her mother to open the door for her to satisfy her curiosity. Lo and behold, behind the door is a brick wall, temporarily ending Coraline's suspicions.Later in the evening Coraline, in true Alice in Wonderland fashion, awakes to find a jumping mouse in full marching band uniform hopping out of her room. She follows it as it enters the small door, discovering now that the brick wall has disappeared and a mysterious, colorful tunnel beckons her through the other side.
Through the tunnel Coraline discovers a strange parallel universe, full of life and color, and where her parents cook amazing meals and devote all their attention to making Coraline happy. Coraline awakes the next morning believing this all to have been a dream, but subsequent visits begin to further blend this parallel world with her own.
Frustrated more and more with her everyday world, she becomes more entranced each time she visits. We meet again all the eccentric residents of the Pink Palace, this time in the same color and imagination as the bright new world around them. Suffice it to say, all is not as it seems. The film takes a turn for the dark as we discover that Coraline's alter ego mother has less than motherly motives. The film has some very creepy scenes, even for the adult viewer, and moves at a calm pace which to some may seem slow at times. Personally, I enjoyed the pace as it provided an opportunity to truly appreciate the intricate work taking place. As far as the creepiness is concerned, it's easy to see why some more conservative parents may think twice before packing up the kiddies, as some scenes may be too intense for younger viewers.
In entrancing, dark, and imaginative fashion the film whisks you away to a world not unlike our own dreams. The animation is accentuated by the addition of 3D technology. The use of 3d is subtle and not blatant a la "Journey to the Center of the Earth", a film better viewed (if you must) without the 3D glasses, in my opinion. It adds dimension to the viewing experience without detracting from an otherwise magical storyline. Clever use of green screen and CGI provides some never before seen approaches to both 3D and stop motion. If you can, while you can, head out and see Coraline in 3D. If not, no worries about waiting for this one to hit DVD. It will no doubt return every few years for a 3D re-release should it acquire a Burton-like cult following, which is always a possibility with films as unique as this one. The story, while following a traditional "grass is not always greener" approach, exposes the viewer to so much color and imagination that it feels somehow new again.
Four out of five white rabbits.
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