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Coraline (2009)

Director: Henry Selick

Time Out rating

Average user rating

44 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Maintaining the gothic quirks of his debut, ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, but adding a welcome layer of queasy childhood angst, Henry Selick’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s bestseller is an original, entrancing, occasionally worrying fairy tale. When inquisitive pre-teen Coraline discovers a secret door in her family home, she stumbles into a universe of apparent perfection – and underlying danger.

The film’s biggest draw has to be its intricate visuals, particularly in 3D. Selick plays with expectations superbly, presenting a drab, grey-hued world which slowly transforms into a dazzling phantasmagoria of talking cats, flying trapezes and a uniquely terrifying villain. This dark edge will be the biggest test of the film as a commercial prospect: it may be too terrifying for the target audience. But for braver kids – and parents – this is a thrilling, even challenging ride.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2020, May 7-13, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Eileen said...

Posted on Aug 16 2009 08:32 I didnt realise button-eyed-people would be so creepy...I'm 13 and I still found some scenes quite....nightmare material? But overall a pretty good film :P

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Rachel said...

Posted on Aug 11 2009 19:34 ZACHARY, Twilight is the best film.

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Jas said...

Posted on Aug 11 2009 09:58 This movie was on as part of the Kids Club at Vue so I thought it would be safe for the kids to watch, but it wasn't. The content, dark themes and imagery of the movie can be compared to that of horror movie. This movie should be a 12A and is not one for kids.

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Zachary said...

Posted on Jul 24 2009 07:08 Almost all of the negative reviews in the comments are from obviously unintelligent people, but this one takes the cake: "For all you saying this is the best film ever, you obv haven't seen Twilight! "
LMAO
(the film is amazing, btw. see it.)

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Clare said...

Posted on Jun 25 2009 12:05 NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! It was that bad i fell asleep!! I totally agree with other people that this film sholud really be a 12A. I took my 5 year old who was quite frightened by some of the scenes. My 9 year old wasn't too impressed either and also found some scenes made her jump and hide behind her hands. PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN _ I would advise you not to take your small children to see this. Overall it was a huge disappointment

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Rachel said...

Posted on Jun 20 2009 10:23 For all you saying this is the best film ever, you obv haven't seen Twilight!

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Gertrude (gerty for short said...

Posted on Jun 17 2009 13:22 good day everyone. Well id just like to say i rather enjoyed this film. i think it should be a fifteen though. my mummy thought it was a bit inaprpiate

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Reynir M. said...

Posted on Jun 02 2009 04:36 This movie has taken “the art of movie making” to a higher level - True breakthrough.

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Banoffe Pie said...

Posted on May 29 2009 21:10 Would you like a slice of mii pecan pie?
Coraline is the best film ever.
You would want to watch it with mii Pecan pie.
You would enjoy it in 3D.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

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CHicken said...

Posted on May 29 2009 21:03 CHUBA
I like Chicken
CHUBA
The best film i've ever seen in mii life. Fantastic film watch it in 3D it soo much better then 2D.So plz watch it for me.
Good little people :L :D :P
:P
=)
:P
:D
:)
:P
:L

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Jack said...

Posted on May 29 2009 12:41 I watched it a few weeks back,Horrible animation a big dissapointment would never reccomend it to friends 1 star

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tayyab khan sahab said...

Posted on May 28 2009 00:32 well this film may entertain kids of younger age, but i dont know why on earth am i being forced to watch sumthing that kids find amusing, i want to watch drag me to hell, but my girlfriend and her friend want to watch this THING :(

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Ms. Rogers said...

Posted on May 27 2009 20:36 Well, what can I say? Coraline is a magnificent film, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This goose-bumping PG, thrilled my daughter, Naomi and I. With a heart-racing storyline, Coraline is the film to see. My daughter is 12 years of age and her exact words after the film were ‘Wow mummy! I want to see it again!’ I couldn’t disagree at all. What a marvellous way to spend 100 minutes of my life, watching an extremely well scripted and action packed film. We saw it in 2D; however it was just as affective. The tension is exhilarating and even jumpy at occasions. You really do create a personal bond with each and every character throughout the film. The look on my daughters face at certain moments throughout the film, were as if she’d seen a ghost. We were both completely into the film and the atmosphere around us was fabulous. Everyone in our screen seemed interested in the film. I would happily sit through this film again... and again! I think I will be the first to buy Coraline on DVD. Pure FANTASTIC entertainment- for all ages! Fabulous! ---- STOP READING THIS NOW AND GO AND SEE THE FILM! YOU WONT REGRET IT!

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nathan said...

Posted on May 27 2009 17:55 BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT.
Oh yeah.. and......
BRILLIANT!

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kerry said...

Posted on May 27 2009 17:48 it was gr8 but i cnt believe it was a PG i would have thought it shud ave been at least a 12!!!!!!!

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