Jeanene and I went to see Coraline this evening with our youngest daughter and her friend. This is a very unusual movie, to say the least. The movie is worth watching if only for the unbelievably beautiful set designs, all of which are real miniatures. Serious eye candy.
 
I enjoy Neil Gaiman's work, particularly the Sandman comic books. As you'd expect, the story is filled with fairy tale archetypes. Chock full of them. It's Hansel and Gretel meets Alice in Wonderland with a 3 part quest thrown in for good measure.

I found myself feeling unsatisfied with the ending, which I won't reveal here. It felt strange. The resolution was very fast and relatively easy, though things don't end where you think they will, of course. Upon reflection I decided that even the ending was classic fairy tale. Fairy tales tended to resolve rather quickly. Once the hero discovers the secret, the quest is ended. And their families are often just there to get them started on their quest with abuse or neglect. Fairy tales do not follow a standard 3 act screenplay model.

So I think it's fabulous. I give it 4 stars. But go in knowing you are going to be taken back to an earlier kind of storytelling. And this fairy tale is grim, like the old Grimm's fairy tales. Do not bring small children to this movie.

Button, button, who's got the button?

rlp