I often make a point of seeing new movies based on children's and young adult books as soon as they come out in theaters. I wish I could say it was due to a sense of professional obligation. More often than not, however, I am just another fan. In the last few months alone, I've seen Twilight, Inkheart, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, The City of Ember, and The Tale of Despereaux. Just this weekend, I saw another recent favorite; Coraline. More than some of these others, I thought Coraline did a great job of staying true to the book and its characters. So kudos to the adaptation and direction of Henry Selick.

On a separate note, Coraline is an intense movie. The surreal quality of the book's imagery was fully represented in the movie's visuals. There are some truly scary moments, even for adults. I heard a child of maybe seven years complain to his mother, 'I don't like this movie' in a voice that registered more than a little aprehension. While I think most kids and adults will really enjoy the great action and visuals, Coraline is not for everyone. So, please do your kids a favor and scan some reviews before deciding if those PG or PG-13 movies are right for them.