RANDOM REVIEW OF THE DAY: Coraline (2009)

A film that's a good example that a film doesn't need to be sugar coded sweet with whip cream on top to be a good family film. All is needed is a original story, some great and memorable characters, and a fun and entertaining environment that both kids and adults can enjoy. Coraline is that film. I do not know if people either complimented or criticized this film for being dark. From my perspective whenever people talk about this film, they like that it's dark and intriguing. It definitely has a creepy premise, but it follows the motif that you can up the creep, dark, and violent factor in a family movie as long as there is an uplifting, positive, and satisfying happy ending. I think what creeps me out the most is those button eyes and how everybody in the alternate dark world wants to give them to Coraline. There's even a new doll out with those exact same creepy button eyes. I SWEAR, I saw a commercial for it the other day! But anyway, I think what I like most is the third act of the film, because it's ironic how Coraline in the beginning wanted to escape her boring everyday life in the normal world but wanting to live in the dark world, but it turns out now she wants to escape the dark world and return home because she realizes it's creepy and threatening and now everybody in that world to whom she thought were her friends suddenly wants to get her! It's one of those great scenes where you think your protagonist has finally escaped all the madness and chaos, when it turns out there is something else he/she must confront and that is constantly trying to get them. Slow at first but intense at the right time! I only saw this film once in in my lifetime but I can already tell you it's well worth a watch! Grade: P