Coraline : Crazy, Climactic, and Controversial

Coraline: Crazy, Climactic, and Controversial

      

           
Be careful what you wish for, especially if you are Coraline Jones, the new girl from Michigan who really just wants a little extra attention from her parents. Henry Selick creatively and successfully uses the children’s book Coraline, written by Neil Gaiman, to step us into the first 3D stop-motion animated film with perfect voices such as Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher.

      

            Coraline has just moved into the Pink Palace homes with her parents, also owned by Ms.Spink and Forcible and Mr. Bobinsky. After being notably neglected by her mother and father, Coraline decides to check out the new place, while also discovering a suspicious tiny door, which inside turns out to be the life she’s always dreamed of. This “Other World”, however, is home to her “Other Mother” and “Other Father”, who have buttons for eyes, as well as everyone else in this “magical” place. Despite the warnings from neighbors to enter this door, Coraline continues to return all to escape the bore of her parents. Unfortunately, after her last return to her real home, her parents are nowhere to be found, and kidnapped by Coraline’s  “Other Mother”. To get her parents back and get rid of this “Other World” forever, Coraline must uncover many secrets and undergo many obstacles to return to the real life that she originally took for granted.

      

            With a director and producer like Henry Selick and hundreds of special effects and makeup department assistants, it comes to no surprise this movie was nominated for an Oscar, won eight other awards for Best Picture of the Year, and twenty -four other nominations.

      

            One aspect of making Coraline, is the stop motion animation that was deeply taken into account while watching this movie. Stop motion is a technique in which an inanimate object, or a puppet, has the ability of looking as though it is moving on its own. Stop motion requires moving the object in small increments while taking pictures, creating the illusion of movement. Also, many images were printed as 3D to create the look of real life. The animation includes different facial expressions, real horsehair, and special puppets, to make the image realistic.  Another captivating piece of this movie, is the score. Composed by Bruno Coulais and performed by the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra and Children’s Choir of Nice, the score was able to take home the Annie Award in 2009 for Best Score in an Animated Feature.

          

             Although this movie had won many awards, and even nominated for an Oscar, it is known to be rather controversial. Many people are skeptic about believing this movie is children appropriate. WARNING: SPOILERS -With the suggested thought of cutting out Coraline’s eyes and replacing them for buttons, may be a little inappropriate for young children, seeing this is a “children’s film”.  Also, some of the scenes in the movie may be disturbing, such as the incident in which “Other Mother” pins “Other Wybie’s” mouth up, so he will always be smiling. Another example would be the frightening images in which “Other Mother” goes crazy, turning into a spider-type lady, and chasing Coraline, through the “Other World” realm. However, there aren’t any sexual innuendos or inappropriate stereotypes at all in this movie, so in my opinion, it’s all good, but know your viewer before watching this movie. 

      

       In my opinion, this movie deserved every award won and nominated for. The animation was spot on, the characters’ voices were perfect, and the music score for an animated film was astounding. Teri Hatcher’s sweet, yet creepy voice fits perfectly with the split personality of the "Other Mother". Also, Dakota Fanning’s voice has the innocence and longing that Coraline portrays. When I first saw the movie, my first impression was, that it was a weird film, but really, it’s just creative. Anyone who can come up with this creative storyline and put it into this colorful, magical, strange cinema, is Oscar winning to me.