Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageCoraline (2009)
Director: Henry Selick
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
User reviews of this film
-
- sam said...
-
Posted on May 18 2009 18:27
i am going to
cant wait to go and see this film sounds scary!
seeya LOL - Report as inappropriate
-
- zareena said...
- Posted on May 16 2009 16:37 gonna see this film tonight,its gonna be great
- Report as inappropriate
-
- lucy said...
- Posted on May 16 2009 16:36 this is going to be a real good film,im going to see it tonight,tell u how it is later bye
- Report as inappropriate
-
- lucy said...
- Posted on May 16 2009 16:34 i am gonna see it tonight at 9;50 i cant belive i am gonna see it. will tell u wat itts like when i have seen it ,it will be cool
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Carrie Davies said...
- Posted on May 15 2009 17:56 Took my 4 year old son to see this film today! It is a good film and the 3D was excellent, however I would not recommend it for children under the age of 12! It is a very dark and scary film! I had to cover my sons eyes a few times throughout the film, as there were bits i found frightening for him!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Jade said...
- Posted on May 15 2009 11:19 Me and my friends Sinead; Taylor; Dannielle and Robin are going to see it!!!! IN 3D! Cannot waaaait!!!!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- morri said...
- Posted on May 11 2009 10:09 Brilliant movie, Bit slow to start but it's filled with unpredictable circumstances and it's filled with excitement and is a bit scary. Long film though but really enjoyable. 3D is fabulous, animation was brill. filled with unbelievable new characters and twists and turns. 10/10..Go and see you won't be sorry : )
- Report as inappropriate
-
- KitKat718 said...
- Posted on May 09 2009 19:31 i loved it when here mum had buttong eyes reall y really scary xD
- Report as inappropriate
-
- lilylocloc said...
- Posted on May 09 2009 18:28 its well cool but scary at the same time but pepole should go and see its the best 3d ever dudes
- Report as inappropriate
-
- lilylocloc said...
- Posted on May 09 2009 18:28 its well cool but scary at the same time but pepole should go and see its the best 3d ever dudes
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Megan said...
- Posted on May 09 2009 14:24 I think this film looks really cool and me and my mom are goin 2 watch it 2day at 15.40 at star city Birmingham...Cant wait..lol
- Report as inappropriate
-
- bobin said...
- Posted on May 08 2009 16:27 Lol, me and my mates are gong to see it tomorrow and mi mate niall says it is rubbish but ollie says its great were gonna go see it n 3D lol hope its good tell u about it wen i see it
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Maaatt said...
-
Posted on May 02 2009 08:42
FINALLY!
I've been waiting ages for this to come out!
(Now; how do i convince S&S to come with me...)
Lol - Report as inappropriate
-
- melissa said...
- Posted on May 02 2009 08:09 i think this film sounds really cool but i dont know if my brother or sister will like or wont like lol
- Report as inappropriate
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade
Ten years, thousands of movies and millions of dollars in international box office, and it all boils down to this
Martin Provost discusses 'Séraphine'
Trevor Johnston talks to the director of 'Séraphine' about bringing a little known French painter back to life
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now