Current mood:	good
Entry tags:	3d, coraline, movie, review

Review: "Coraline" in 3D

Thanks to omy.sg for a free ticket, I and a friend had the chance to watch the stop-motion film, "Coraline" in 3D. Yep, that meant putting on a pair of bulky glasses, but it was worth it.

Right from the start, the 3D experience was mesmerizing. I really felt like I could reach out to touch the objects on the screen. During the introduction sequence, when a doll is being sewed, I thought I could feel the doll if I just stretched my hand out. This is one movie where the 3D experience was definitely worthwhile. Yes, there were some parts when it felt like a normal 2D film, but those did not occur often.

And even if there were some 2D-like portions, you would most likely have not noticed. I certainly didn't, as I was drawn into Coraline's fantasy world. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, I certainly wasn't expecting a run-of-the-mill children's show. Though this movie had its dark tone, I think children, especially those who can appreciate films other than those that Miley Cyrus appears in, will enjoy this show.

And why shouldn't they? I'm sure every kid has always wondered about escaping into a parallel universe, where they are king or queen and life is superbly comfortable. That's what the heroine, Coraline, experiences. Where her mother and father were workaholics who couldn't give her the time of day, in the "Other World", Coraline gets to indulge in some good home-cooked food from her "Other Mother" and dance and play with her "Other Father".

Of course, life isn't that simple, as Coraline quickly discovers. From then on, the movie follows the tried-but-true "hero's journey": heroine faces a crisis, heroine gathers her allies and weapons, heroine faces down the villain, heroine rescues everyone. For a children's show, this works wonderfully and inspiringly. I don't know how many kids would be willing to fight a baddie who has buttons for eyes.

On the other hand, that's what I found too fantastic about this film: Coraline's quest was too smooth, too matter-of-fact. She just slid from situation to situation, without any feeling of "oh wow, what have I gotten myself into?". Even when she first saw the "Other Parents" with their button-eyes, she didn't appear repulsed. That was simply unbelievable.

So, it's a good thing that the show was saved by its strong but simple plot, and also the performances by its actors. Although there were a few big names in the show, their personalities disappeared into that of their characters. For instance, Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher were unrecognisable as Coraline and the mother/Other Mother respectively. John Hodgman, the PC guy in Apple's "Mac vs PC" ads, was similarly indistringuishable from his humorous father/Other Father character.

Which is good, because then I didn't feel distracted from the movie. That's what I wanted and that's what I got. "Coraline" is a movie that is delightful in its simple way. It'll make children feel wishful (if not too frightened by the visuals) and adults whimsical.

--

Technorati tags: 3D, Coraline, review