Coraline

I'm not ashamed to say I love a certain class of movies for younger audiences. Not just any kid's movie; many I can enjoy at a lower level, and some I consider surprisingly clever and even deep, but I rarely "love" them. But there are some very special films that aren't so much for kids, as for everyone; films that can be enjoyed on so many levels, and are sort of ageless and universal. One good example would be Spirited Away (and almost anything else by Miyazaki); another would be The Nightmare Before Christmas. And I include some of the better Pixar movies in this class...

Coraline is a new example of this kind of movie, and quickly on track to become one of my favorites. Written and directed by Henry Selick (Nightmare..., James and the Giant Peach) and based on a book by Neil Gaiman (Beowulf), this is a stop-motion wonder that shares some things with Nightmare, but isn't as dark, and as far as I'm concerned, is more nuanced and enjoyable. The story, characters, voice acting, animation, art production, etc. are all top notch, but what really gives Coraline a special spark is fantastic music by Bruno Coulais and how well it evokes different moods. I've already bought the soundtrack...

And the characters are really fleshed out well; they each have some depth to them. Coraline in particular is quite complex; sometimes she's sarcastic and moody, then she's innocent and playful, and when push comes to shove, she's determined and brave. She exhibits an enjoyable range of facial expressions and body language. It is almost impossible not to forget that she's "just" a "puppet" as the movie progresses.