CORALINE is a fantasy film where a little girl battles with her egotism and her own femininity. Though she really fights with a witch-like apparition in a bizarrely contrived environment, I noticed that Coraline really was fighting herself throughout the picture. Not only for her dreams of a well-mannered and loving family but a reasonable way to find her own voice without the pressure of elders, especially from the female characters.
The plot of the film is the usual fantasy fable that is used so often: Coraline's parents are busy with work, Coraline hates it and wishes for a relief, finds a magical creation that achieves it but regrets it later to learn a lesson. As it has been said when related to the usage of generic storylines, it is how you tell the story that makes it special. The story has been constructed by famed fantasy/comic book writer Neil Gaiman, a man whose work I enjoy though a little pretentious at times. With the help of the director Henry Selick, the two make a dull yet eerie landscape where vibrant colors stand out before being spirited away by controlling forces.
As stated in the intro, the main conflict for myself was Coraline vs. Coraline, not Coraline vs. the Other Mother. The character starts off the film way too obnoxious, simingly spurned by the treatment of her writer parents. Yet, she comes off a bit like a brat rather than an unloved child. Coraline is close to Chihiro from SPIRITED AWAY but I was fine following Chihiro's trouble beginnings, despite being overtly selfish, and not with Coraline. As the film continues, you notice the conflicting disputes she has on interests and attitudes. She is a tomboy who enjoys doing things in the rain but has a vanity for special attire to stand out when attending school. Coraline craves the attention of others but hates when it becomes overbearing or too loving. She wants to have some of stereotypical qualities of a "good woman" like cooking and gardening yet seeks independence and a place to speak her mind. The film has a fascinating take on growing up as a woman which has more magical quality to it than having some characters with buttons for eyes.
Though this conflict interested me, the rest of the film didn't have the same focus. It isn't that the film is bad, but it just didn't have that spark I was looking for to make it one of the best this year. Certainly best in animated films but not overall. Maybe it was the going-through-the motions plot. Maybe it was the weird secondary climax. Maybe it was the use of computer effects or strange moments where the slow-motion animation is stilted and too slow. I don't have a clear reason for it, but CORALINE is nonetheless a good film to watch.
One last note, the film score is exceptional. It really works with the mood while having it's own personality.
FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5
The plot of the film is the usual fantasy fable that is used so often: Coraline's parents are busy with work, Coraline hates it and wishes for a relief, finds a magical creation that achieves it but regrets it later to learn a lesson. As it has been said when related to the usage of generic storylines, it is how you tell the story that makes it special. The story has been constructed by famed fantasy/comic book writer Neil Gaiman, a man whose work I enjoy though a little pretentious at times. With the help of the director Henry Selick, the two make a dull yet eerie landscape where vibrant colors stand out before being spirited away by controlling forces.
As stated in the intro, the main conflict for myself was Coraline vs. Coraline, not Coraline vs. the Other Mother. The character starts off the film way too obnoxious, simingly spurned by the treatment of her writer parents. Yet, she comes off a bit like a brat rather than an unloved child. Coraline is close to Chihiro from SPIRITED AWAY but I was fine following Chihiro's trouble beginnings, despite being overtly selfish, and not with Coraline. As the film continues, you notice the conflicting disputes she has on interests and attitudes. She is a tomboy who enjoys doing things in the rain but has a vanity for special attire to stand out when attending school. Coraline craves the attention of others but hates when it becomes overbearing or too loving. She wants to have some of stereotypical qualities of a "good woman" like cooking and gardening yet seeks independence and a place to speak her mind. The film has a fascinating take on growing up as a woman which has more magical quality to it than having some characters with buttons for eyes.
Though this conflict interested me, the rest of the film didn't have the same focus. It isn't that the film is bad, but it just didn't have that spark I was looking for to make it one of the best this year. Certainly best in animated films but not overall. Maybe it was the going-through-the motions plot. Maybe it was the weird secondary climax. Maybe it was the use of computer effects or strange moments where the slow-motion animation is stilted and too slow. I don't have a clear reason for it, but CORALINE is nonetheless a good film to watch.
One last note, the film score is exceptional. It really works with the mood while having it's own personality.
FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5
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