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Coraline: A Creepy Halloween Blu-ray Movie Review

Treasures-By-Brenda by Treasures-By-Brenda
Last updated: 09/26/2011

Coraline A Haunting Scary Halloween Movie

Coraline is, in my mind, is a great choice of Halloween movie for young teens and some tweens who want to be scared and watch scary movies but who are not old enough or ready to watch horror movies.

Coraline is an animated 3D stop-motion film, which is based on the award-winning children's book of the same name by Neil Gaiman. The movie is definitely creepy and scary. The book, appropriate for a slightly younger age group.

On this page you will find reviews of Coraline from the experts and from ordinary movie goers like you and I. You will also find the movie trailer, information about how Coraline is rated and whether or not it is appropriate for your children, some fantastic Coraline pictures and great Coraline gift ideas. You will also have the chance to share your opinion on whether or not you think Coraline is appropriate for tweens and teens.

Click here to order your copy
of the Coraline movie
from Amazon.

coraline-picture



"Visually stunning and emotionally profound,
Coraline is smart and charmingly creepy.
It is not a film for everyone,
and some children may find it a tad scary
(some adults may even find it a tad scary),
but that is the point of the film."

~ Andrew Ellington


Coraline Official Movie Trailer

Coraline Web Trailer HD
by CoralineFilms | video info

6,457 ratings | 2,697,386 views
curated content from YouTube

Coraline Fast Facts & Information

  • ACTORS: Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French
  • DIRECTOR: Henry Selick
  • WRITER: Henry Selick (screenplay), Neil Gaiman (book)
  • PRODUCERS: Henry Selick, Bill Mechanic, Claire Jennings, Harry Linden and Mary Sandell
  • STUDIO: Universal Studios
  • MOVIE RELEASE DATE: 2009
  • DVD RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2009
  • RUN TIME: 100 minutes
  • RATED: PG

Coraline Official Movie Description

coraline-movie-reviewCoraline is a movie about family, one that is dark and creepy. It was directed by the director of Nightmare Before Christmas and is based on the book of the same name by Neil Gaiman. This movie's claim to fame is as the first stop-motion movie filmed in Stereoscopic 3D. It figures odd looking characters with big eyes and evil grins teamed with spooky backgrounds and music.

The star of this film is 'Coraline' a teenager who is bored, bored, bored. She's been moved with her writer parents to a house located%u2026well, nowhere. She meets a talkative boy, eccentric neighbors and a button-eyed doll who looks at least a bit like Coraline%u2026

Eventually she finds a secret door, unlocks it and discovers%u2026bricks. However, when she visits it again later those bricks disappear and she finds a path to a world that is what she wishes for. In this alternate world her parents are perfect and loving and have plenty of time and interest to anticipate and fulfill her every desire. At the beginning it all seems kind of perfect but soon it loses that lustre%u2026and Coraline finds out some nasty secrets about these alternate parents and their world but it could be too late for her to return to the real world.

When Coraline revisits the door later that night, the bricks magically disappear and she discovers a strange pathway to another world where everything is just what she wishes for. In stark contrast to the real world where Coraline's parents just don't have time for her, her "Other Mother" and "Other Father" in this alternate world are the perfect loving, attentive parents who anticipate her every need and desire. Initially comforted and quite happy in this new world, suspicion that things may not be quite as they seem grows inside Coraline and her disquiet is furthered by the mute "Other Wybie" and a strange-talking cat that seems to move between both worlds.

Amazon sums up their plot summary with, "Coraline is a disturbing, intriguing film that both captivates and frightens." HOW TRUE.

My Review of Coraline in 100 Words Or Less

coraline-t-shirtI enjoyed Coraline and I'd be the first to say I have rather eclectic taste in movies because I like so many movie genres. Too much violence, sex or language is what puts me off a movie and, of course, Coraline did not have too much of any of those issues.

It is, however, a somewhat unusual piece in the style of The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach with the connection to those movies in the form of the shared director, Henry Selick. If you liked those films, you will probably like Coraline. Of course, if you are not a fan of them or of animated stop motion movies in general, this movie is probably not for you.

We purchased the blu-ray disc for home viewing and debated on whether or not to bother with watching the 3D version of the movie. Eventually we decided that we wanted to really enjoy the 2D version and, since Sound & Vision magazine recommended the 2D version because it provides a "truly high-def experience of rich color and impressive detail" that is the version that we chose to watch.

My family was split exactly as I might have forecast. Two of us love Tim Burton style films, two of us do not. As a result, two of us quite enjoyed Coraline and two did not. If you have children and are considering showing this movie to them, I highly recommend you take the time to read the discussion of Coraline in the rating for children section first.

Click here to order your
Coraline t-shirt from Amazon.
Photobucket

Amazon Customer Review of Coraline


"...Coraline is a great film for families with kids over a certain age. The film has some dark elements that might scare some younger kids and even though this is an animated film, if you take very young kids to see it, you'll only have to leave the theater early when they get scared. I know some parents have difficulty taking their kids to films like 'Curious George'. If this is you, stay away from 'Coraline'. But if your kids are, oh, at least 10, this is a great choice for the whole family because there is something for everyone to enjoy and delight in."

~ Thornhillatthemovies

Looking For A Great Coraline Bag?

Coraline Messenger Bag


Click here to order your
Coraline Needle-In-Your-Eye messenger bag
from Amazon.
Photobucket


"Nobody can drench a book in creepy, dank atmosphere like Neil Gaiman, infused with humor and more than a little horror. Fortunately that flavour is kept alive in the movie adaptation of Coraline, brought to life by the talented Henry Selick. It's a haunting little dark fairy tale full of decayed apartments, dancing rats and eerie soulless doppelgangers, as well as a gutsy heroine who finds herself in this ominous 'other' world."

~ E.A. Solinas, Amazon Customer Reviewer

Coraline Rated

Is the Coraline movie appropriate for children?

coraline-t-shirtCoraline's official rating is PG. However, as a parent, I always wanted more guidance than that. In the case of the movie Coraline, you need to know that it has some downright scary and disturbing moments and that this movie is definitely not for young children.

Some children might find the images disturbing. Others may be upset by some of the themes. Still others may be reassured by the brave heroine. Children do react to movies differently and it is up to you to know your own child.

Amazon recommends Coraline for children aged 11 and up but I have also seen recommendations for middle school aged children and up.

The New York Times said, "As long as it doesn't go too far toward violence or mortal dread, a film that elicits a tingle of unease or a tremor of spookiness can be a tonic to sensibilities dulled by wholesome, anodyne, school-approved entertainments."

If you want to read more about the rating of Coraline, I highly recommend The Movie Mom's review of Coraline's appropriateness for children which you can reach by clicking right here. On her discussion of whether or not Coraline is too scary for children, The Movie Mom has had a whopping 72 comments from concerned parents so you know that this movie stirred up some discussion. The Movie Mom's final recommendation? That this movie is appropriate for middle school aged children. If you are concerned about what you show your children, her reviews are an excellent resource.

Click here to order your
Coraline t-shirt from Amazon.
Photobucket


"CORALINE is a MUST SEE movie for 2009 and is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by my entire family. We had a great time watching it together. CORALINE might not be typical family movie night fare, but it worked for us."

~ Karen Joan Siren, Amazon Customer Reviewer, (whose 12 year old loved it and 4 year old was fine with it)

Coraline Blu-ray Movie Reviews From The Experts

Coraline Blu-ray Movie Review
"I wasn't expecting Coraline to resonate with me nearly as much as it did, but its engrossing story, engaging characters, and chilling monstrosities drew me in and refused to let go. The Blu-ray edition is just as extraordinary. It offers fans 2D and 3D versions of the film, a top-tier video transfer, a powerful DTS-HD Master Audio track, three exclusive Picture-in-Picture tracks, and a satisfying supplemental package. This release will certainly find a spot on my list of the best Blu-ray releases of 2009."
Coraline Blu-ray Review by High-Def Digest
"Taking audiences into a world where wishes become nightmares, 'Coraline' is the newest animated film from visionary director Henry Selick. Adapted from the novella by imaginative author Neil Gaiman, the film is a splendid and astounding visual delight with a narrative that's genuinely - and appreciably - terrifying, one that may not work well with younger viewers. The Blu-ray edition arrives with a reference level picture quality and an audio presentation to match. The supplemental package is extensive with exclusive material to owners of Blu-ray players, making this a must-own purchase for fans of the fantastical and bizarre. For everyone else, the disc comes highly recommended."
Coraline Movie Review by IGN
"Coraline is an intriguing film that isn't just for kids. Adults will appreciate the artistry that went into the production, and it's showcased well in this HD presentation. The 3-D technology still has a few kinks to work out, but the 2-D version here is more than sufficient."
Coraline Blu-ray Review by Kidstvmovies
"Coraline on Blu-ray looks absolutely beautiful, but don't expect much from the 3D version (the technology just isn't that great yet). Fans will love the behind the scenes footage of the fascinating stop-motion process and the handmade detail that gives the film such charm. As for the family friendly aspect, though, make sure to preview this film before letting kids watch it if you have any qualms about the fear factor or other content. Coraline can best be described as a horror movie when it comes to kids."
Coraline Blu-Ray Review By HollywoodChicago.com
"Great films refuse to go away. Since I saw Henry Selick's excellent "Coraline" months ago it has lingered in my memory like a dream and watching it again on the recently-released Blu-Ray ("Coraline" is also available on DVD), I'm reminded of how clever, creative, and captivating this piece of film was in theaters and will be every time I watch it with a perfect home release. Nothing gets old about "Coraline". Actually, it gets richer with each viewing. That's the mark of a great movie..."
Coraline, One Of The Best Blu-ray Movies of 2009
If you have blu-ray, you should add Coraline to your list. It was one of the best blu-ray movies of 2009.

Amazon Customer Review of Coraline The Movie


"People keep declaring stop-motion dead, but every couple of years, a movie is made of the very format that used to comprise all mainstream visual effects films. "Coraline" is 2009's entry in this not very long list of feature-length films. The blu-ray's visuals are top-notch, with sharpness, vibrant colors, and very good black/white ratio. The DTS-HD audio track is excellent, with everything heard clearly, and nice use of surrounds for atmosphere."

~ Andrew Rowland, Amazon Customer Reviewer

Order Your Copy of Coraline on Blu-ray

coraline-on-blu-ray

Click here to order your copy of
Coraline on blu-ray
from Amazon.
Photobucket

Coraline Blu-ray Gift Set

This blu-ray gift set qualifies for FREE shipping AND Amazon has the price reduced by just over 35 percent.

coraline-blu-ray-gift-set


Click here to read more about
or to order your Coraline blu-ray gift set
from Amazon.
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Order Your Copy of Coraline on DVD

If you prefer DVD, there are a number of options available including a gift set.

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Coraline In The News

5 Movies That Will Make You Believe Your Childhood Was Wasted
In the movies, growing up is full of adventure, and I'm not talking about your average building-a-fort-out-of-pillows-in-the-living-room kind of adventure. If you happen to be a kid in a movie you will undoubtedly end up facing down the government to ...
Tech and the movies: 3D printing brings new angle to animation
is the first animated film to widely embrace 3D printing, although the 2009 film ?Coraline? used a similar technique on a smaller scale. ?Using 3D printing technology in animation is brand new to me,? Brown said. ?I had no idea they were using 3D ...
Kids' zombie film ParaNorman: too creepy?
"I see dead people" ? the famous line uttered by Haley Joel Osment in horror-thriller The Sixth Sense 13 years ago is now the centre of a freaky new 3D stop-motion animated movie for kids: ParaNorman. From LAIKA, the same producers behind Coraline, ...
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Neil Gaiman's Coraline Book

neil-gaiman-coraline-book
The following review of the Coraline book, written by Paige Turner and posted on Amazon, has me wanting to read this book.

"...there is a bit of horror in Coraline, but to me this made it deliciously creepy. And it is not your typical "dark and stormy night" creepiness either. Coraline is very unique, a sort of mixture of science fiction and mystery that blends together perfectly to create a great story, the perfect book for nighttime reading."

Click here to order your copy of
Coraline the book
from Amazon
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"Coraline is not exactly a family friendly movie and should be previewed before letting your children watch it if you have any qualms about the scariness of this movie. It is definitely a horror movie for OLDER children.

Do you think Coraline is appropriate for tweens?

(Tweens are sometimes definted as 9 to 14 year olds.)

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Have you seen the Coraline movie? Would you recommend it for tweens?

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  • Reply
    thrivingmom Jul 29, 2011 @ 10:17 pm | delete
    A really great and informative lens! My husband and I watched Coraline. We liked it, but feel it is super creepy and not kid appropriate. My sister-in-law let her four year old son watch it over and over and that horrified me a bit. I know as a kid, the idea of losing your eyeballs to be replaced with buttons would have given me nightmares for months.
  • Reply
    llamagirl May 1, 2011 @ 3:36 pm | delete
    Coraline is by far one of my favorite films, however, it must be said that there are some pretty scary moments. I mean, the entire premise of the film is that Coraline's "Other Mother" wants to replace her eyes with buttons; that's pretty messed up. Most tweens (and even some younger children) will have no problem with Coraline, but others will. If your child is easily frightened do not let them see this film.
  • Reply
    hlkljgk Aug 5, 2010 @ 7:32 pm | delete
    i forgot about this movie, and i've wanted to see it for a while. thanks for the reminder. :)
  • Reply
    WhiteOak50 Jul 24, 2010 @ 8:00 am | delete
    I haven't seen this movie either, but Brenda I have to tell you, you make some of the best family lenses. Are you or were you a teacher? Because you have a very unique way of talking about children related films and it always seems to touch that inner child part of people. Fantastic Job!! You my friend have a very unique gift!
  • Reply
    Treasures-By-Brenda Jul 25, 2010 @ 1:46 pm | delete
    Thank you very much, I wasn't a teacher but I was a very concerned parent and, therefore, very careful about the movies and shows that I let our children watch.
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Treasures-By-Brenda

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