Coraline: 3.5 stars

Henry Selick has proved with “Coraline” that he doesn’t receive as much credit as he should for Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” This time around Selick is the writer, in addition to director, and he delivers another stop motion wonder. I had a bit of trepidation going into this film, as Selick hasn’t done much since Nightmare, and was worried the brooding edge would be lost. I was very wrong. In fact, I was surprised at how chilling some scenes became. Don’t worry; there are plenty of laughs too.

Based on a novel by Neil Gaiman, "Coraline" tells the story of a family that has moved into a new apartment within an old Victorian home split up into multiple units. There are retired one time affluent actresses in the basement, the great acrobat Mr. Bobinsky upstairs, a young boy named Wyborn who lives nearby and a mysterious black cat who all add a little bit to the story. In Caroline’s eyes her parents are emotionally detached and more involved with themselves. One night Coraline finds a small door in one of the new rooms where she discovers a portal to an alternate version of her life. She meets her Other Mother and Father as well as alternate versions of all the supporting characters. Everything seems wonderful at first and her Other parents invite her to stay forever. However, it becomes apparent that something just isn’t right and things start to take a turn for the worse.

One thing that works so perfectly in this film is the build up. Selick slowly builds the tension, like pulling back the coil on a pinball machine, and then releases everything he has in the climax. Visually it is something to behold and only gets better as the action progresses. The artistic approach is great; borrowing the elongated figures from Tim Burton (who borrowed them from Edward Gorey anyway) with Selick’s own twists. It is also a very balanced animated film. There have only been a handful of animated movies that are suitable for children but equally entertaining to adults, and this is one of the best. That is, as long as your child doesn’t mind being scared.

Remember how fickle we all were as children? One day you would love your parents with all your soul and the next you’d be wishing multitude of bad things upon them. Well, “Coraline” takes place on one of those bad days and lucky for Coraline she has a portal to an alternate universe that reminds her things aren’t that bad. I can’t say enough about the amazing talent that goes into stop motion animation films such as this, and am impressed at how fluid and detailed they have become. Artists and fans of this process will adore “Coraline.” Fans of a story well told and full of imagination won’t be disappointed either.

**This was also a milestone for me as it is the first 3D film I have attended. I must say it worked very well. After getting used to the glasses you forget that it is in 3D unless you are actively admiring it. Every once and a while something pops out to remind you, and I must say it’s pretty cool. If you have a chance to see it in the theatre then definitely do so.