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Coraline Review

Movies.com Critics

5.0

Dave White Profile

"Eraserhead" for kids! Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 4.0
    80

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally favorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 100

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

    A remarkable feat of imagination, a magical tale with a genuinely sinister edge.

    Read Full Review

  • 100

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    This thrilling stop-motion animated adventure is a high point in Selick's career of creating handcrafted wonderlands of beauty blended with deep, disconcerting creepiness.

    Read Full Review

  • 63

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    Coraline is a plucky heroine, and director Selig's imagination is indisputable. But the story falters in parts, and its dark tone could be off-putting for children.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    This is a gloomy film with weird characters doing nasty things. I've heard of eating chocolate-covered insects, but not when they're alive.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    Variety Justin Chang

    This eccentric and deliriously inventive fantasy finds stop-motion auteur Henry Selick scaling new heights of ghoulish whimsy, buoyed by a haunting score that works its own macabre magic.

    Read Full Review

  • 90

    out of 100

    The New York Times A.O. Scott

    Coraline lingers in an atmosphere that is creepy, wonderfully strange and full of feeling.

    Read Full Review

  • 90

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

    This is a marvelous family story, tapping into all sorts of childhood dreams and nightmares involving Mommy, monsters and heroic youngsters. Selick's imaginative sets and puppets are in perfect pitch with Gaiman's fantasy.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Coraline reviews at Metacritic.com

Fan Reviews provided by

5

CORALINE(3D) - Amazing! Fantastic! Awesome! GRADE: A-plus ( Based on advance press preview) by MOVIES REVIEWER
Early this year I previewed this 101-minute movie-adaptation of established British author, Neil Gaiman's, novel. I was mesmerized from start till end. I read the novel 6 years ago - and the metaphor/allegory-filled story enthralled me. The 3D movie was a visual smorgasbord of the HIGHEST-QUALITY stop-motion animation(not CGI). Under the competent direction of Henry Selick, the novel was transformed into surrealistic captivating art. The fantasy/horror story/novel was awarded the 2003 Hugo Award for Best Novella, the 2003 Nebula Award for Best Novella, and the 2002 Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers - a testimony of Neil Gaiman's masterful story-telling and imagination - and creativity. A tremendous amount of thought and planning resulted in extremely detailed fantastic sets and costumes. Kudos also to the voice-talents of the talented and expressive cast! VERDICT: A MUST-SEE. So far, Coraline is the BEST 3-D animated movie!

5

Very psychedelic. Great TRIP to the movies. Visually stunning in 3D by n2ofiend
One of the best TRIPS to the movies that I have had in quite some time. The visuals are simply breathtaking and the 3D is mind blowing. There were times where it felt as if my brain was about to overload due to the sheer amount of beautiful images in this film. The story is a little dark so it may be innapropriate for very young children. ENJOY

5

Coraline rocks! by wilthedrill
Good storyline, excellent 3D visuals! Despite what some critics say, my 6 year old daughter did not even think it was scary.

2

Five Word Review by redyeah
Boring slow just so dissapointed

4

Coraline by koolk9
My family and I went to see this movie. Honestly I didn't expect alot. I was so wrong. I loved it! I loved the door leading to the "other" family and home. The cat was my favorite character, what a character he is.

5

Great movie! by maestro_pdx
Loved the book and loved the movie! Not good for little kids and not meant for them if you read the book... But great story and artistry for adults and older than 12 kids. Must see!

4

Coraline by infinitesunrise
This is one creepy movie, yet extremely entertaining. My five year old said he was scared, but it kept his attention until the end. Therefore, he enjoyed. My eight year old had no complaints at all and she enjoyed it as well. I enjoyed myself, but thought some of the content was inappropriate. I would recommend this as a GO SEE!

3

Finding her way back to reality... by Daydream
When I heard Henry Selick also directed Tim Burton's epic The Nightmare Before Christmas there was no chance I was going to pass this movie up. To think of all the work the crew went through to make this stop-motion animation film made it even more appealing. Coraline is a dark tale of a lonely and adventurous little girl who is forced to move away from her best friends into the pink palace, which houses a variety of oddball neighbors (Including a mangy, cheese-loving, jumping mouse trainer and two 80-something year old wacky, fortune-telling and dog loving, show girls). When her parents are too busy to be her parents she sets off exploring every nook and cranny of her new house and comes across a hidden miniature doorway to another world. This "other" world is an illusion of the life she always wanted, similar to the story of Hansel and Gretel getting lost and being lured to the candy house. Despite the storyline, Coraline wasnt as good as I thought it would be. (C+)

5

One of the best... by JulieMK
...animated movies I have seen in a very long time. I knew from the very beginning that this was going to be good, and I had NO IDEA! Forget that the story was based off a book, Coraline exhibits a dark, fantastical world that can only be experienced through the surreal dreams of the horrors that hide in the darkest corners of your subconscious. It's obvious that those involved worked very hard in the production of this film. If i hadn't already known, I would have never guessed this was based off a novel! And yes, this is DEFIANTLY SOMETHING YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD NOT SEE! I am so glad I did not take my five year old sister to go see this! None of the nightmares I've ever had could compare to the creepiness of this movie. "Coraline" actually managed to pull something off that those horrible slaughter movies they keep trying to make. *rolls eyes* I would say more but I'm running out of room, so all and all it was a fantastic movie. And i can't wait to se it again!

4

Great big screen experience... by lizbop
The right fairy tale style mix of creepy and magical, great set and character design as well as stop animation that is close to seamless all make this a fantastic experience. Worth it to go and check it out while it's still in cinemas.

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