Coraline feels like a classic fable. There's foreshadowing, symbolism, setup/payoff, earned growth, and subtextual dialogue. It has themes of fear, indulgence, attention, escapism, identity, neglect, imagination, independence, choice, illusion, manipulation, family, control, and facing obstacles. The characters are distinct, layered, relatable, motivated, interesting, and emblematic. Its voice acting offers chemistry, range, contrast, inflection, charm, and internal conflict. Detractors might find the plot overly simplified, the structure repetitive, and the climax witless, but those flaws are debatable. Therefore, Coraline delivers a cautionary tale that's both familiar and strange.
Coraline is dazzling. Its direction nails a creepy yet family-friendly tone. The imagery uses lighting, framing, depth, composition, movement, and angles. Its effects utilize hand-crafted stop motion with digital touches. The music has original songs, eerie atmospheres, and motifs. Its sound adds stings, echoes, voiceovers, layers, ambiance, match cuts, and genre elements. The production design is gothic, surreal, detailed, tangible, unique, symbolic, colorful, and aesthetic. Its cast isn't star-studded, but offers skill and fit. The editing provides montages, match dissolves, inserts, structure, and a brief runtime. Overall, Coraline is a timeless balance of accessibility and artistry.
Writing: 9/10
Direction: 10/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 8/10
Sound: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 10/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 10/10
Overall Score: 9.0/10
Comments