Quickcard Review Coraline Directed by: Henry Selick Cast (voice): Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, David Keith, Ian MacShane Time: 1 hr 20 min Rating: PG
Plot: A young girl finds a hidden door in her new home and finds that it leads to an alternate, seemingly happier, version of her own life.
Who’s It For? This one is a little spooky, so you need to be pretty confident your kids (and some adults) can handle this beautiful looking picture.
OVERALL I've lived in Portland just a little more than six months now, but one thing I've learned is ... buy local. So, with Coraline, being produced right here in Portland by LAIKA Studios, we pretty much have to love it right?
Well, luckily, we don't have to try too hard. It's directed by Henry Selick who also did A Nightmare Before Christmas, and this is the first stop-motion animated feature designed for 3-D.
It tells the story of Coraline ... a little girl unhappy about her move from Michigan to Oregon ... so right there you know it's make-believe. And with her parents too busy, she eventually stumbles onto a secret door.
It leads to an alternative universe where everything seems better. Her mom is more attentive, a better cook, her dad is tons of fun. Coraline's the center of this new world. And the side characters are great with Miss Spink and Miss Forcible probably getting the most laughs.
But then comes the doubt ... and the creepiness. This will give your little ones nightmares. The story seems to get lost from time to time but the look of the film is hypnotic.
Just like the Muppets, there is something magical about stop-motion, and the 3D just brings you in that much more.
Plus, a dreary Oregon day never looked better.
The most recognizable voices you'll be hearing belong to Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman and Ian McShane.
No matter how you look at it ... people having buttons for eyes is scary. Which is why you'll have to be cautious bringing your kids to this movie. Here's my recommendation, don't let this be their first scary movie, especially in the 3D ... which is the only way to see it.
Final Score: 8/10