This very engaging story comes to Blu-ray in eye-popping animation, and with the special feature to view it in 3-D. You might not chose this option (the Blu-ray comes complete with 2 paper pair of 3-D glasses), but you will enjoy it either way - the animation is that good.
The voice cast of Coraline includes Dakota Fanning (Coraline), Teri Hatcher (Mother/Other Mother), Cat (Keith David), Father/Other Father (John Hodgman), Mr. Bobinsky (Ian McShane).
The film is based on the best selling book by Neil Gaiman - with some changes of course. However, the changes made to the movie from the original story, in my opinion, don’t distract from the enjoyment. If you have read the book as I did, you will note the differences but not be disappointed.
The main difference is that the character of Hybie (voiced by Robert Bailey Jr.) is totally invented for the movie. But, upon reading and listening to director Harry Selick’s reason for adding him (the screenplay actually went through many, many script changes), I was won over. The character of Hybie is charming, a welcome addition (and he adds a rather nice heroic foil for our heroine Coraline).
There are other changes, of course, but visually the film is only enhanced, and of course Blu-ray brings this wonderful world to life with vivid colors. The gardens of Coraline’s other house are brightly lit, the flowers wink and nod at you. In contrast, when she is in the real world, the one visual that stands out, to me, is her home, the Pink Palace, aptly named for the movie.
I was thoroughly charmed with the movie (as well as the book) and both stand alone and equal in my humble opinion. The character of Coraline is strong and brave, and though afraid at times, she doesn’t hesitate to do what is right, and she knows, has a sixth sense so to speak, that the other place is wrong.
And the other house is very wrong. The movie sugar-coats the wrongness at first, lulling you into the other world that she arrives in (in the book it moves much faster and the evil comes on full-force).
Her other mother is charming, a happy homemaker (think 1950s mom with a well-placed mole), who cooks a wonderful dinner for Coraline and seems genuinely interested in Coraline. Coraline, whose real world and real parents largely ignored her, seems a bit starved for attention (and good food!).
Upon a few visits to the other house by way of a small door (a sparkly tunnel at first, which Blu-ray makes pop and glitter), Coraline’s other mother asks her to trade her real eyes for the dark button ones that all in the other world wear.
Her other father supports her other mother, but we soon find out that he is just a puppet to be used by the creature that is “other mother”. Her appearance begins to change (again, enhanced by Blu-ray and the spectacular animation), she becomes taller and thinner and thus we see more of the evil.
It at this point that small children might be a bit frightened! My five year old ran screaming from the room and refused to watch anymore as the other mother became more and more spider-like. However, my ten year (who has read the book), sat mesmerized and thoroughly captivated.
The 2- disc Blu-ray comes loaded with special features, including U-control and BD Live, and a Digital Copy. The Hi-Def features that are included are: deleted scenes, the Making of Coraline, Voicing the Characters, and Creepy Coraline, a look are the world of Coraline with director Henry Selick and author Neil Gaiman.
The back story to Coraline is very interesting---from the idea to very pre-stages of writing the screenplay to the final product took seven years. An additional feature includes a feature commentary with director Selick and composer Bruno Coulais.
All in all, Coraline is a delight to the senses. Fans of Selick’s previous work (Nightmare Before Christmas) will delight in the familiar touches of animation that make the story unique but hauntingly creepy just the same. This film is a rare gem, and will enchant older children and adults alike.
Coraline [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
Your Talkback on this Story