Coraline features a stellar voice cast that rise to play the changes in their characters perfectly. Teri Hatcher (Mother/Other Mother) does a phenomenal job with the many different facets of her character(s) and makes viewers shiver with every blood-chilling laugh. Ian McShane (Bobinsky), though, completely steals the show with his wild, eccentric Russian accent that is completely over-the-top and hilarious.
Along with the voice talents, Bruno Coulais' spellbinding score captures the tone and the spirit of the film perfectly. The music is childish and innocent, yet haunting and underlined by an eerie sense that something isn't right. From the very first note to the last, Coulais' music is filled with astonishing beauty and emotion that completes the world of Coraline.
The bonus features in this DVD set are wonderful. They include deleted scenes, director's commentary, a very thorough collection of "making of" featurettes, and interviews with voice actors Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, and others.
The "making of" featurettes are both entertaining and informative. They cover every aspect of the film, from sets and animation to puppets and costumes. These featurettes highlight all of the hard work, time, care, and craftsmanship that went into the making of this film. It certainly helps viewers gain a greater appreciation for the film when they see the dedication of the animators and staff who made the world of Coraline come to life.
Though perhaps geared to some extent towards children, it is somewhat difficult to think of Coraline exclusively as a children's movie. The darkness and the scary elements may frighten most small children and perhaps even cause them to develop phobias involving dolls and buttons, but older audiences will appreciate the film's unique approach and its appeal to viewers of all ages.
While some may be bothered by the pacing, Coraline is a visual treat and stunning piece of film making that's destined to become a classic.
Check out the official Coraline channel on YouTube here.
Article comments
1 - Raymond Day
Thank you, your good at doing a Review. I seen this on DVD and when it was over I said to my self that was very good. I was thinking of getting the 2 set disc with a lot of bonus features. Because I like this one a lot. That's how I found this. Thank you for doing a good review of it.
-Raymond Day