I meant to write this last week when I saw the movie...but time flies...
I've been a huge fan of both Neil Gaiman and Henry Selick for years and years. Selick made two fantastic stop motion animated movies, The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach. Neil Gaiman is quite possibly my favorite author, writing strange, funny, spooky stories for adults and children. When I heard that they were going to be working together, it filled my geeky heart with joy.
I read Coraline soon after it came out and I loved it. It's a creepy adventure...a kids horror story. Henry Selick is the perfect director to bring it to life.
The film is fantastic! The stop motion is beautifully done, and all of the characters and sets are well designed. It follows the book fairly closely. The most major difference is the addition of a character, Wybie Lovat, the grandson of the woman how owns Coraline's house. I didn't mind him so much, since he is actually there for a reason (not just added for nothing) and he has one of my favorite creepy moments in the movie (smile!)
I love that the film makers left in all of the creepy things that I love in the book. Spink and Forcible's dead dogs, the Other Mother's real form, the ghost children, and the way the Other World falls apart as the Other Mother realizes that she's loosing Coraline.
The visuals are amazing. I love the character designs! Coraline has blue hair, which I hadn't pictured on her when I read the book, but suits her...she's a little rebel!
Overall this is a beautiful, creepy, fun movie. I highly recommend seeing it! 5 out of 5
