The Day I Saw Coraline: 15th Anniversary Celebration

On Friday, Aug. 16 2024, my dad and I visited Manville Reading Cinemas in Manville, NJ, located about 50 minutes from campus, to catch the 2009 hit Coraline. The film returned to theaters worldwide from August 15-22 in a newly remastered 3D release to celebrate its 15th anniversary. 

Coraline is a famous stop-motion animated dark fantasy movie directed by Henry Selick, featuring Dakota Fanning as the main character, Coraline Jones. For over 10 years, it has been praised for its amazing visuals and animation, which took the hard work of hundreds of technicians, animators, designers, and model makers. Released in February 2009, the film earned $16.8 million in its opening weekend in the US. Coraline is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes for good reason, earning high praise from both critics and audiences!  

Coraline's Journey Through a Dark Alternate Reality

Coraline is an eleven-year-old girl who stumbles upon an alternate reality that mirrors her own life but appears to be much better. However, in this new world, her parents turn out to be evil figures who plan to keep her there forever. Coraline soon  realizes that this “perfect” life isn’t what she truly wanted. 

In Coraline, the Other Mother, the main villain, tries to turn Coraline into a doll by sewing buttons onto her eyes to keep her in the alternate world. There is also a doll that looks like Coraline, which the Other Mother uses to lure her into this strange place. Coraline is a real girl in the story, and the doll plays a big role throughout the movie. Coraline must fight to keep her freedom and return to her real life. 

Anticipation in the Crowd

There was a large crowd in attendance at the theater, which didn’t surprise me. I’m sure many were there for the same reason I was: a shared love for Tim Burton-esque films and stop-motion movies. Some of my favorites are The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride. Although Tim Burton had no involvement with Coraline, you can clearly see a Burton-like influence in the film through director Henry Selick’s distinct style and vision. Selick, who also directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, brings a similar aesthetic to both works. I really love that aesthetic!

I was eager  to get into the theater because I had been so excited to see one of my personal favorite movies back on the big screen. Even though I had only really seen the first part of the movie, I connected with the entire aura, imagery, and concept of Coraline, especially the animated dark fantasy horror vibe it gives off. So, you could say it’s one of my favorites! 

When we got into the theater, there were so many people who reminded me of myself–people who liked the same things I do. It’s rare for a movie like this to be re-released, and everyone came together to enjoy it! Even though the version I was about to watch was a newly remastered stereoscopic 3D, I had actually seen this movie in 3D before when I borrowed it from my local library. 

A Magical Screening Event
When the movie was playing, I felt like I was part of the story with Coraline. It was unforgettable to see the visuals, stop-motion, and 3D animation showcased on such a large screen! The whole presentation was really enchanting. I truly believe 3D makes you feel immersed in a movie, allowing you to focus on everything–from the plot to the different angles and scenes. I had only seen the first part of the movie before, so I did not expect all the jumpscares. They definitely caught me by surprise. 

It was absolutely insane how many people were there–the movie must have been sold out! It goes to show that even for an older picture, it still draws a crowd, and people love to go see it. My dad actually enjoyed the movie–at least some parts of it–which I did not expect, as he typically doesn’t like films like this! 

This impressed me and proved that Coraline is a pretty universal piece that can appeal to a wide audience, including you, Centenary University students reading this!  Watch Coraline for free today on Tubi! Or catch Coraline back in theaters this Halloween (Oct. 31) for yet another re-release, following its $53 million box office success during the August anniversary run.

My Rating: