Coraline

First up – Coraline is pronounced like Caroline with the “o” and “a” swapped around. Something that is emphasised as the film progresses. Secondly, it’s creepy. Don’t take anyone too young or you will inevitably have episodes of “monsters under the bed” for the next few bedtimes.

Plot-in-a-nutshell: girl moves into new house, finds secret doorway in wall with lovely “other” mum and dad through it… only things aren’t as nice as they first seem and she ends up having to become more the heroine than the loved daughter.

Unfortunately I didn’t get the see the film in 3D as the showtimes didn’t suit, which is a shame as it looks absolutely beautiful in 2D. Without a shadow of a doubt, Coraline wouldn’t have been half the film had it been realised in any way other than stop motion. This method lends an automatic creepiness to any story, which goes hand in glove with the subject matter here.

A personal highlight to hear Dawn French (her character with enormous boobs, naturally) and Jennifer Saunders playing off each other again.

I guess two people need to be thanked: Neil Gaiman for such a great children’s story and Tim Burton for making big-screen stop-motion fashionable again with Nightmare Before Christmas.

Definitely one to see, but as I said – be a responsible adult as to how young the nippers are that you take.