SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

February 16, 2009 by Travis Jonker

Movie Review: Coraline

February 16, 2009 by Travis Jonker   6 comments

corposter

Coraline
Directed by Henry Selick
Starring (the voices of) Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman, Ian McShane
Rated PG
In Theaters

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

What you’ve got here on your screen is a children’s literature blog. So if I watch a movie based on a kid’s book, you best believe I’m gonna be comparing the two. Actually, this review (and I use that term very loosely) will likely make even less sense if you haven’t read Neil Gaiman’s book. Times listed below are wildly approximate. I didn’t have a watch on, so I made my best guess about what happened when.

7:10 – Walking into the theater, checking out the Coraline poster. Nice poster. It sets the spooky tone properly. Coraline is looking into the door. The little door. Smaller than in the book, but it’s still working for me.

7:15 – Preview time. Ice Age 2 (or is it 3? It’s 3) and Monsters vs. Aliens. Nothing book-related to see here folks. Both use computer-generated animation, which is nice and all, but I’m getting ready to kick it old school with stop-motion for the next hour and forty.

7:22 – Opening credits. Yeeah boiii! The visuals are on point. The sequence shows the “Other Mother” sewing a Coraline doll. Everything looks good. I’m realizing that this format, due to the hand-made nature, always makes me marvel at how they created the shots. Is this distracting? Not sure, but I’m enjoying it.

7:25 – We see Coraline for the first time. Again, well done (prediction: I’ll be saying variations on this statement often). You can see some similarities to The Nightmare Before Christmas in her skinny limbs. Her voice fits. No complaints.

7:30 – New Character Alert. Wybie appears and helps Coraline find the well. I’m glad I decided to read some reviews earlier today, or else Wybie would have been a complete surprise. I can’t say I’m a fan of added characters, but I’m willing to wait and see how this one fits in.

7:40 – Did I not pay close enough attention while I was reading, or are there a lot of small differences from the book here? Were both parents writers? They are in the film. Coraline’s dad is spot on – John Hodgman (aka the “I’m a PC” guy) does a good “mildly aloof” voice. Coraline’s mother is a little more inattentive than I remember, but it fits with the story. Dad is wearing a Michigan State sweatshirt – I have no qualms with that.

7:50 – Still no formal introduction to Miss Forcible, Miss Spink, or Mr. Bobinsky, but Coraline is making her first trip to the other world. I’m excited here – the story is really starting to get underway.

7:51 – When Coraline opens the little door, a tunnel expands to the other world. It kind of reminds me of a really big, fluffy vacuum hose. There are even some cobwebs and dust in there to complete the look.

7:53 – This is great. The other parents are just how I pictured them. Friendly, but just a little off. The button eyes are creepy – intended effect successful!

8:02 – Alright – Mr. Bobinsky is introduced. He’s more of an acrobat here than in the book, and also more inhuman with blue skin and very exaggerated proportions. But the voice is well done and his appearance fits with his seemingly crazy mental state.

8:10 -Did I mention that the black cat is great? He’s been popping up here and there. A little more friendly than in the book, but still doing his own thing.

8:22 – Wait, did I just see pasties!? (Rubbing eyes, blinking, taking a second look) Yep! Coraline just watched Miss Forcible and Spink’s performance in the other world, and there they were. I did not know the words scantily clad and stop-motion could be used in the same sentence, but used together they are. Don’t worry about the kids though, it’s more funny than anything else. A bit of a jaw-dropper nonetheless.

8:28 – Here’s the big turning point. The other parents just offered to keep Coraline and sew on the buttons. You can feel the change in their tone and the spookiness is stepping up. The music is reflecting that too.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

8:35 – The Other Mother just threw Coraline behind the mirror where she finds the ghost children. I’m guessing they used computers to create these characters – they are transparent and look like there’s some kind of “ghost effect” going on. The story kicks into high gear as Coraline gets out and discovers her parents have been stolen.

8:40 – Coraline just made the bet with the Other Mother, and is hunting for the lost children’s eyes. Things are moving quick here.

8:48 – Best shot of the film so far. Check out the wallpaper curling up on the walls as Coraline and the cat go to confront the Other Mother. Amazing. The reason? Coraline just obtained the last eye (with the help of the black cat, who wins the “coolest voice” award), and the other world is falling apart.

8:52 – The sequence where Coraline finishes off the Other Mother is outstanding. Exciting, thrilling stuff. Not much to add here – it’s just like the book.

9:00 – Oh, right. I forgot that the story isn’t over yet. The Other Mother’s hand comes back for the key. Wybie reappears to help end the story. I think I preferred the book, where Coraline doesn’t need saving, but Wybie’s appearance does make for an exciting conclusion.

Overall, the film version of Coraline was very good. When the visuals are this accomplished, it’s hard to find too many faults. The changes that were made from the book helped the film. If you’re looking for a shot for shot adaptation, you’re not going to find it here – but you’ll be pleased nonetheless. Absolutely recommended both for fans and nonfans of the book.

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

December 2022

9 Books I Loved (But Didn't Review) in 2022

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

Books on Film: I Need a New Butt!

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

Behind the Scenes Q&A: Skater Baby by Jack Noel

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

2022 Books from Caldecott Winners

by Travis Jonker

February 2022

Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#35)

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Sydney Taylor Blog Tour: THE TOWER OF LIFE by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Abecedarian Movement and Dance: A Q&A with Corinna Luyken About ABC and You and Me!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Haley Newsome on Unfamiliar | Interview

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Writing Trans Joy in Spite of Everything, a guest post by Edward Underhill

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Luminous Review, Twitter Exodus, and a Thoughtful Airport Encounter | Readers Respond

Changing the Narrative | The Year in SLJ Covers

Graphic Novels: Inclusivity Fuels the Continued Boom!

SPONSORED

Everybody Loves a Winner | Top Stories on SLJ 

The hOle Story: Kids’ Books Come to Life on a Giant Scale at a New Kansas City Venue

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JOIESHA says

    January 6, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    U DID NOT TELL ME THE SIMILARITIES OF THE BOOK CORALINE AND THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

    • Travis says

      January 6, 2011 at 1:18 pm

      Sorry about that.

      • www.connectedclass.org says

        February 18, 2014 at 6:04 am

        Please teach the rest of these internet hooligans how to write and research!

  2. Cherry says

    August 19, 2011 at 12:48 am

    Amused at you thinking her voice fits. You forgot the big change of Coraline the book (British) and Coraline the film (American). I think a more fitting voice would have an English accent. Why’d they have to go change her nationality? Can American audiences not cope with British accents?

  3. dobre t?umacz angielskiego w katowicach says

    December 30, 2015 at 8:56 am

    wzorowe tanie biuro t?umacze? katowice najlepsze

Trackbacks

  1. On Hold @ the Library: March « 100 Scope Notes says:
    March 30, 2009 at 2:05 am

    […] by Neil Gaiman. Interest in this title probably has to do with the recent release of the film (read my review of said film here), since this one wasn’t on hold much before the last few months. Good to […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023