Coraline (2009)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2009
	Director: Henry Selick (The Nightmare before Christmas)
	Actors (voices): Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman
	Country: USA
	Genre: Animation, Fantasy
	Conditions of visioning: 06.09.2015, Blu-ray, Home cinema
Synopsis: Coraline (Fanning) moves into a countryside apartment with her parents. After meeting the neighbours, she will acquire a doll that looks suspiciously like herself, an discover a tunnel leading to a dream world.
Review: Coraline belongs to the short list of western animated films partly intended for adults (in Asia they are much more common), or at least that contains elements that are not all beautiful and perfect. Some scenes are even slightly disturbing or spooky (the ghost children, the people with button sewn on their eyes...). Not very surprising when you have seen the previous movie by the same director The Nightmare before Christmas. What is most impressive about this movie is that it was produced using the traditional techniques of stop-motion, i.e. image by image animation of puppets. Only a few elements in the movie were enhanced or created using digital technology. This is very impressive, and Coraline may be the movie in which this century-old art is best looking. There are many scenes that are pleasantly colorful and fantastic. But all in all, I could not really immerse into the atmosphere of the movie, maybe because I am too detached from the preoccupations of the main character.
Rating: 5 /10