Coraline

Thank goodness there are still some great stories to tell and so what if they scare young children in the process. Newsflash kids! life is scary, get used to it. When I was growing up children's films and stories were scary. There was nothing sweet about Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal or the often overlooked Return to OZ. They were eerie, bizarre and made to ignite the imagination as well as creep us out. The thought that kids can't handle scary images saddens me. Imagine how much real world violence they are exposed to by the news and human history. You can't shield the world from your kids by always looking on the bright side. It has to be understood that there is darkness out there, that's why we value the light so much.

Neil Gaiman's Book and Henry Selick's directing have proven that you can take an audience into a fantastical story that will scare you but bring you to understand 'Be careful what you wish for'. Coraline is so effective as a film. Beautiful and technically amazing, it is definitely a film to catch in theaters. Our theater was packed and very responsive. They were really enjoying themselves while watching. Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatchers voice acting were fantastic. The animation is detailed and viewing it in 3D was a real feast for the eyes. The movie is quirky, smart, scary, funny and overall enjoyable. If you liked films like Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride, then you will enjoy Coraline. Rich's Grade: A