Coraline 3d (pg)

May 7 2009 By Pierce Hunt, Surrey Herald

DIRECTOR Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) embarks on one of the most jaw-droppingly spectacular 3D productions ever made.

Adapting Neil Gaiman's children's tale Coraline, the transition to the big screen certainly does the novella justice, making sure all the dark elements from book are exposed with eye-popping visuals.

The painstaking efforts that went into the stop-motion animation process meant that the scale of the whole production was colossal. Each individual set (more than 140) was created within a huge warehouse, with the help of a team in excess of 400 people.

As you'd imagine, the final product is outstanding, proving that countless hours spent in production were worth every second. When you put into

perspective that one puppet for Coraline took 10 individuals three to four months to complete, you soon realise that you're watching something special.

The narrative captures Gaiman's original outlook, but also sees Selick's twists added, complementing both fantasists.

Coraline tells the story of Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning), an 11-year-old girl, whose independent and curious nature sees her seeking out her own adventures as her father (John Hodgman) gets stuck into his writing and her mother (Teri Hatcher) begins to set up home in their new country house. She is soon befriended (or pestered as Coraline sees it) by Wybie Lovat (Robert Bailey Jr), a boy of similar age.

But it's her eccentric neighbours that intrigue Coraline. Ageing British actresses Miss Spink and Forcible (Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French) are always pleased with the company, while Russian Mr Bobinsky (Ian McShane), a keen body builder and all-round entertainer, adds to the colourful neighbourhood.

Even with so much to keep her occupied in the new surroundings, Coraline's adventurous streak kicks in when she finds a secret passage in the living room. Unsurprisingly, she ventures through the doorway, discovering a similar version of her own life in this parallel existence, only much more enjoyable.

Her Other Mother and Other Father seem a lot more warm and welcoming, making Coraline the centre of attention. But things aren't quite as they seem as she soon discovers, making her question whether the initial niceties were a trick to keep her in the parallel existence.

The film manages to capture the imagination of children and adults alike, with enough twists and turns and amazing aesthetics that you cannot fail to be blown away by this incredible film.