Coraline: a book review, and a review of the movie review.

Last weekend I read the book Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It is a fantastic book. (I just showed my cards, didn't I?) Anyway, it has been made into a movie, which I have not yet seen but plan to.

The story centers around a girl named Coraline who has moved into a new home with her parents, who both work out of their house. They don't have time to play with Coraline because they are working. Because of that, Coraline takes to exploring her house, meeting her eccentric neighbors, and she uncovers a door to nowhere. One night she is able to enter the door and it leads to her Other House with her Other Parents. They will give her everything she wants: food, attention, and affection. All Coraline needs to do is give up her eyes and sew buttons on instead. Seeing through this, she leaves and goes back home. Then she finds her parents are missing. She knows that the Other Mother has taken them and must decide if she is going to rescue them. There are several admirable qualities portrayed in this story. Coraline struggles with the fact that bravery means doing something you are scared to do but know is right, and she wants to be brave. She remembers a time when her father saved her from wasps by letting them sting him while she ran, and realizes there is nothing else to do but risk the same. Coraline sees through the fakeness of the Other Mother and knows that her parents do what they have to do for her. She also knows that getting everything she wants isn't what is right. What better message than a girl recognizing her parents' unconditional love, the value of hard work, and the value of frugality and patience, all leading her to be brave?

I read a review of the movie on a Christian website. Mostly it talked about how it was too scary for kids. I totally agree with that because it is a terrifying premise. But it doesn't devalue the story. It also criticized the harsh language. Apparently someone says "rat crap" and "cripes". Since rats play an actual part of the story, that isn't surprising. It is also violent. I think the reviewer is assuming that because it is animated, it is for children. It is not for children, but that doesn't mean that the whole movie should be tossed. I think the review is focused on the wrong elements. It's not dealing with the purpose of the story or the true bravery and love Coraline shows for her parents. This same site criticized Twilight, a movie about a vampire family, for being about.... gasp! VAMPIRES! It's such a surface criticism, throwing out all the positives because of a shallow and lazy morality.

I hope to see the movie soon. From what I've read and seen it seems like it's pretty faithful. I'll just have to plug my ears when they say "rat crap."