Very enjoyable animated version of a familiar story

Rating: 9/10 (20 April 2014)

We all know the feeling we had when we were kids: our parents are lousy; if we had another set, they'd love us cos we're just so precious.
Well, this isn't exactly like that, but the premise is similar. Coraline feels neglected by her parents, that they don't make time for her or listen to her, or give her what she wants. She crawls into an alternate universe where her Other parents treat her the way she thinks she should be - food she likes, clothes she likes, all the time and attention in the world.
But as in all fairy tales (and it's a fairy tale if you think parents will just give you everything you want), there is a caveat. They aren't really the good "Other" parents; there is a catch that I'll let you find out for yourself. It's both fun and disgusting at the same time.
In the end of course, she finds out she really treasures her own real parents after all, warts and all. The process of finding that out, and a subplot of helping the other ghost children trapped there, is a visual and storytelling treat.
I highly recommend this. I only wished I had caught the 3D version when it was out in the theatres - I had to watch this 2D and I had the nagging feeling I missed a 3d visual feast.