[9.50/10] Coraline (2009)

Coraline (2009)

This year, the amazing Laika studio has delivered what is likely to be one of the greatest non-Pixar animated flicks, "Coraline". Director Henry Selick, known as the creator of another stop-motion masterpiece, "The Nightmare Before Christmas", improves on his previous effort with superior animation, pacing, and storytelling. Selick has crafted here an entrancing and original piece of art that, I believe, will be a serious contender for wining an Oscar in Best Animated Feature category. "Coraline" manages to be quite subtle in its first half, with a slow-burning tension and quiet, offsetting realism The anticipation builds as a bizarre, charming and quirky cast of characters are introduced, with purposes not entirely disclosed until we reach the totally surprising final half. This set-up is incredible, and the multiple payoffs are even more so. At precisely the moment the audience is begging for the characteristic grotesqueness of Selick's stop-motion animation features, the film explodes in a torrent of surreal, chilling, effectively creepy sequences that are relentlessly inventive. From a very mysterious, shadow-like feline, to the frightening spider-themed villain. From a walk around the circumference of an imagined dreamland, to a haunting circus tent, to a nightmarish garden, the settings here act as their own characters with astounding effectiveness. "Coraline" is a real eye-popping treat, whether you see it in 3-D or not. As long as you can see the movie in color, then you'll easily and gaudily get the full end of the visual orgasm that "Coraline" is. Younger audiences may be put off by some of the unexpected overtones pervading the film, but more mature audiences will be able to appreciate such dark artistry and cleverly-employed subtlety. The whole movie reeks of intelligence actually, and is the final cherry on the top of this animated delicacy. Hence, it can be said that "Coraline" is not only one of the best animated films of past recent years, but it's without doubt amongst the greatest films of 2009.

• My Rating: 9.50/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (7.6/10)
• IMDb: 7.9/10