Coraline

4/5 Stars
Rated PG

Wow! How did a dark and scary movie end up being released in February and end up being so much fun. Not fun in a bubble gum way, but in an enjoying a devilishly decadent dark chocolate mousse kind of way. Coraline is, like that mousse, a remarkable story that unfolds smoothly and evenly.

The plot expands in a very organic way, nothing feels contrived or forced. Characters, which are initially unappealing (by design) become endearing by film's end and Coraline herself becomes the heroine you'd like to see in pretty much every movie. Add a fantastically stimulating visual style and the wonder of stop motion photography and you've got yourself an outstanding film.

All but the very young will enjoy this film (I'd suggest not younger than 5ish.) The film has a scary fantasy feel but doesn't dwell on the scary in favor of the fantasy. Also, there is a disturbing fantasy sequence where two aging actresses reveal scantily clad young bodies. The animation is so distorted that there isn't really a sensual element at play, but it was rather disturbing to me and I would think that anyone with an idea of how the human body comes together might benefit from brief eye shielding. (If not for this sequence, this would have been a five star movie in my opinion.)

A Note on 3D: 3D technology seems to be coming of age in a sort of way (loosing the gimmick and gaining credibility) but there are still some kinks to be worked out - primarily increased cost and integrity of the optics used by viewers. While Coraline was fun to watch in 3D and certainly added a dimension (excuse the pun) that a standard viewing would have lacked, I don't feel as though it was worth paying an evening fare at the matinee to see it, particularly considering the glasses I was provided seemed foggy around the edges - marred by scratches and smudges. If you're a real videphille (as I am) you'll appreciate the 3D experience - otherwise, I'm not sure I'd encourage you to see it in "Real 3D."