Coraline

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: February 9, 2009

DVD Release Date: July 21, 2009

Plot 411: A bored little girl discovers a hidden doorway that leads her to an extraordinary life.

Review: Coraline (Dakota Fanning) moves into a new home with her parents (voiced by Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman), but they don't even have time to unpack because they need to finish writing a catalog. Bored out of her mind, Coraline explores her new home and finds a hidden doorway. One night she goes through the door and enters a new and exciting world. Everything appears to be the same but is completely better in every way. The only distractingly different thing is that her new parents have button eyes and want her to stay forever. For a children's film, this movie was extremely scary and unnerving so I don't think it's fit for younger kids. The animation is sort of Tim Burton-esque and just creepy all around. Even the opening credits are disturbing and could have actually been the opening of a horror movie. It instantly reminded me of Tales From The Crypt for some reason. This movie is definitely on the cutting edge of not only animation but imagination. It easily creates a new world into which you are pulled. The contrast in color and texture between the real world and the other world are instantly recognizable, and the moral lesson is a good one. Also providing voice talent are Keith David, Jennifer Saunders and Ian McShane.

Watch It: Because it's one of the first movies in a long time that actually gave me chills. It's just messed up that it's a kid's movie.

Skip It: If you like your cartoons all Winnie the Poohish.

MirrorMask

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: September 30, 2005

DVD Release Date: February 7, 2006

Plot 411: A girl enters a fantasy world in which she is mistaken for an evil princess.

Review: I don't know who suggested that I watch this (I suspect it was one of the podcasts I listen to), but man, I was kinda bored throughout the entire movie. The film is about a girl named Helena who works in her family's business, which happens to be a traveling circus. Like most teenagers, she doesn't appreciate her unique circumstances or the value of her parents. When her mother falls ill after a verbal bout with her, Helena finds herself in an alternate world. Let's just say this movie is like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Coraline (which, by the way, is also a film by Neil Gaiman, the co-writer of this movie). Visually, this movie is a bizarre buffet of weird characters that only exist in your wildest of dreams. That's about the only facinating part about this movie. However, after a half hour of these weirdly wonderful creatures, I just got tired of them. The plot is twisted (not in a good way) and convoluted. Despite being on some kind of personal journey, I just don't give a care (haven't heard that saying in a while now have you?) about Helena.

Watch It: If you're into the Tim Burton-esque touch and feel because this is quite similar.

Skip It: If your idea of fantasy is fire-breathing dragons or hobit-like creatures. This is a fantasy, but thoroughly born from Gaiman's imagination.

Alice In Wonderland 3D

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: March 5, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: Alice returns to the land she visited as a child and thinks she's living a dream.

Review: Tim Burton's version of Alice In Wonderland is just so Tim Burton. The movie aesthetics and visuals do not seem like they could be done by anyone but Burton. The colors and bleakness of the settings and the dark nature of the so-called children's film are obviously Burton's signature. Watching it in 3D was probably not necessary though. It didn't have the same all-encompassing feel that Avatar did. In fact, I think it could've pulled the audience in a lot more than it did, which is a damn shame. Some of the CGI work was pretty bad. It looked like I was watching video game graphics. Despite this, I still enjoyed it a great deal. I'll probably rent it when it comes out on DVD. Somehow, I didn't find Anne Hathaway all that appealing in this movie. She really got on my nerves with all her twirling and fluttering about. I did, however, love, love, love Helena Bonham Carter. She did a perfect job as the Queen of Hearts. What does it say when I relate more with the bad queen than the good one? Of course, Johnny Depp played the Mad Hatter. Really, he was just re-doing his Jack Sparrow routine but with a snazzier-looking outfit and caked on makeup. Also providing voice acting are Stephen Fry as the cheshire cat and Alan Rickman as the caterpillar.

Watch It: For a Burton re-envisioning of all your favorite Wonderland characters.

Skip It: And watch the regular version. No need to pay extra for IMAX 3D or Disney Digital 3D.