Coraline Blu-Ray 3D: THE HTF 3D ADDICT REVIEW

What can I say?  I love 3D!  From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content.  I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite.  That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT.  I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky.  However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation.  These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves.  I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum.  My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released.   As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.

Coraline

Studio: Universal

Product Release: January 4, 2011

Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: DTS-HD MA 5.1, English; French & Spanish DTS 5.1

Running Time: 101 Minutes

Rating: PG

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 5

3D Separation: 5

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 4

I continue to lash out at the naysayers who still

feel that there's nothing to benefit from 3D in the 

home.  Perhaps they would think differently if just

having watched Universal's Blu-ray release of Coraline,

whose 3D presentation clearly solidifies the worth

of this format.

Henry Selick may not be a household name but he

is the director of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before

Christmas.  Mr. Selick, 16 years later, is responsible

for writing and directing Coraline, a film that in many

respects surpasses Tim Burton's classic with an

outstanding screenplay and the enhancement of 3D.

...and I am really kicking myself here.  I regret that

I never had the opportunity to see this film theatrically

or during its initial Blu-ray release.  Possibly that turned

out to be a good thing as watching this remarkable film

unfold before me in glorious 3D has been nothing short

of a wonderful, stunning experience.

The story is about Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota

Fanning), a highly imaginative young girl who has

just moved to a new apartment located within a large,

old creepy house.  Coraline's world is lonely.  Her Mother

and Father (voiced by Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman)

are too busy to spend time with her.  The only person

she remotely considers herself close to is a hunchbacked boy

named Wyborn (voiced by Robert Bailey, Jr.) who is

more nuisance than friend.

Upon entering a small hidden door within her home, 

Coraline enters a parallel world where all the things

that were wrong become right.  Suddenly she finds

herself with her "other Mother and Father" who shower

her with love and attention.  However, she soon finds

that this new world of hers is anything but perfect. 

Coraline is an entangled story with characters that

evoke a great range of emotions. As I sat and watched

this film I couldn't help but be in awe of the complexity 

of the story.  What kind of mind thinks up this kind of

stuff?  What has been created here is no doubt going

to become a classic, timeless tale.

The 3D Blu-ray presentation is something soon not

forgotten.  Where image quality is at its most importance

this 1080p transfer does not disappoint with its razor 

sharpness.  Don't be put off by the muted colors within

Coraline's drab world.  Once she enters her parallel

universe it's as if someone switched on the light switch

and suddenly the entire screen fills with beautiful neon-like

coloration.  Black levels here are excellent adding nice

texture to the picture.

There's an astonishing level of depth that provides a

constant WOW 3D experience.  The film was specifically

choreographed for 3D with all its elements strategically

placed within the landscape to give a dazzling and

impressive visual presentation from start to finish.

There were just too many moments that I sat in my

viewing seat thinking how superb the 3D looks.

There are quite a few "In Yo face moments" that are

finely executed including one very impressive moment

at the very beginning of the film involving a needle and

thread --- but that's just beginning --- as there are many

moments where objects such as fingers or buzzing

dragonflies seemingly leap off the screen and hover

inches from the viewer.  

It's unfortunate that this near perfect presentation is

marred by ghosting that at first is very limited to sequences

where Caroline is crossing through the tunnel.  However,

I found that in the film's final 30 minutes there was a more

constant presence of double imaging in part due to the

limited amount of lighting used.  I am not going to let this

issue ruin the overall score I will give it because I am well

aware that ghosting issues will vary with different brands

of hardware.

The DTS-MA 5.1 soundtrack is superb.  I found most of

the sound emphasized through the front soundstage with

dialogue that comes across very clear without being

overshadowed by the film's dreamy, eerie musical score

courtesy of composer Bruno Coulais.  Sound levels are

so perfectly matched that the smallest nuances of effect

noise are pronounced ever so clearly.  The rears provide

a nice amount of ambient effect noise including wind,

thunder, rain and various creaking noises.

The disc comes with an assortment of bonus features

that include a feature commentary, making of featurettes

and deleted scenes.

CONCLUSION

There is nothing I have enjoyed more than watching

quality 3D content and then having the opportunity to

share the experience with all of you in review.  I am

proud to exlaim that Coraline is an intensive, enchanting 

viewing experienced that had me hypnotized throughout thanks

to its superior 3D presentation. 

No argument that this is one of the top 3D titles I have seen

to date and highly urging everyone to purchase.

Images are for illustrative purpose only not representative of the picture quality of this disc. 

Equipment

LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display

LG BX580 3D Blu-ray Player

Denon 3311CI Receiver

Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers

SV Sound Subwoofer