The theme of “Coraline” is that not everything is what it appears to be. Until now, 3-D movies have sounded good on paper and have ended up gimmicky. But Henry Selick’s use of stop-motion animation and the new technology of RealD 3-D have made for what is easily the most visually stunning and deep animated movie I’ve ever seen.
It is quite beautiful yes. Most animated movies today are. And it’s not the best animated movie I’ve ever seen. There are even some classic artistic moments from other films I would favor over any in “Coraline,” such as the ballroom scene in “Beauty and the Beast,” the flight scene in “Toy Story,” watching WALL-E drag his hand through space as he clings to the rocket, or Jack’s Lament in front of the moon in “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The story and portrayal of those films made those moments stand out from the background, but in “Coraline,” the artistry is in the foreground. It’s all so eye-catching and appealing, but it also does so much for the film’s dark setting. Continue reading “Coraline”