The Spiderwick Chronicles (C+ or 2/4 stars)
When I asked a family member (some yrs. ago) if they read the Harry Potter books, I remember that individual saying, 'Nah, we're more into the Spiderwick Chronicles'. I shrugged, and said 'ok'. And now, several years later, I'm critiquing the cinematic adaptation of said chronicles. The story: Upon moving into the old Spiderwick Estate with their mom (Mary-Louise Parker), twin bros Jared & Simon (both played by Freddie Highmore), and their sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger), unlock an alternate world full of mystical creatures. The film is family friendly. The pacing is good. But I wasn't wowed. I think I'm fantasied out, for a while.
After leaving her husband (Andrew McCarthy ... random), Helen takes her 3 children from NYC to live in the Spiderwick countryside estate. She's inherited it from her old Aunt Lucinda (the always enjoyable Joan Plowright), who's been institutionalized for many years. The house is in the sticks. It's decrepit. But nevertheless, it's certainly a fun mansion for some youngens to investigate. And little do they know that the estate holds a long, dark secret: 80 yrs. ago, Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn) wrote a guide to 'The Fantastical World Around You'. By doing this, he unleashed a host of malicious forces.
Since then, a rogue army of goblins, led by ogre Mulgarath (good 'ole Nick Nolte), has aimed to steal the book from the house. Unable to explain some strange incidents around the estate, the family blames Jared for it all (as he is the one most affected by the separation of his parents). However, when the family finds out what's 'really' going on, they're main goal is to end Mulgarath's domination over the land. To win the climactic battle btwn. good & evil, the siblings must somehow get to old Aunt Lucinda, and her 125 yr. old father, Arthur, to learn ways of ending the evil reign.
'The Spiderwick Chronicles' is a well-crafted film. Its main strength is its fast-moving pace. And it concludes in a perfect 87 min.; pretty impressive for a 500 pg. book adaptation. The pedigree of the cast is impressive. The effects are stellar (particularly the good creatures who help out the siblings, Hogsqueal & Thimbletack, voiced adequately by Seth Rogen & Martin Short). The score is fine, but nothing incredible. And the plot is decent enough. And it's not difficult to follow. That may be because the subject matter is for a younger brand of children than we're used to seeing (certainly a younger crowd than say, Bridge to Terabithia, or Narnia). Magic books, cursed estates, faeries, trolls, ogres ... yet I was only mildly enchanted by it all.
10 yrs. ago, this film would have been seen as being 'great'. But I've seen 20 some-odd films of the same genre since and I'm just not thrilled anymore; they aren't special. The formula of these child fantasy flicks has gotten tired. CGI creatures running amok doesn't do it for me now. The sense of wonder & magic is deflated, a bit. And the film could have benefited from a bit more passion/energy/personality. Lastly, God help Freddie Highmore. I don't know when he lost his acting mojo, but it sure is gone. It's not that he's bad here. But all of the child star promisings from him in 2004's Finding Neverland are still left unfulfilled.
After leaving her husband (Andrew McCarthy ... random), Helen takes her 3 children from NYC to live in the Spiderwick countryside estate. She's inherited it from her old Aunt Lucinda (the always enjoyable Joan Plowright), who's been institutionalized for many years. The house is in the sticks. It's decrepit. But nevertheless, it's certainly a fun mansion for some youngens to investigate. And little do they know that the estate holds a long, dark secret: 80 yrs. ago, Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn) wrote a guide to 'The Fantastical World Around You'. By doing this, he unleashed a host of malicious forces.
Since then, a rogue army of goblins, led by ogre Mulgarath (good 'ole Nick Nolte), has aimed to steal the book from the house. Unable to explain some strange incidents around the estate, the family blames Jared for it all (as he is the one most affected by the separation of his parents). However, when the family finds out what's 'really' going on, they're main goal is to end Mulgarath's domination over the land. To win the climactic battle btwn. good & evil, the siblings must somehow get to old Aunt Lucinda, and her 125 yr. old father, Arthur, to learn ways of ending the evil reign.
'The Spiderwick Chronicles' is a well-crafted film. Its main strength is its fast-moving pace. And it concludes in a perfect 87 min.; pretty impressive for a 500 pg. book adaptation. The pedigree of the cast is impressive. The effects are stellar (particularly the good creatures who help out the siblings, Hogsqueal & Thimbletack, voiced adequately by Seth Rogen & Martin Short). The score is fine, but nothing incredible. And the plot is decent enough. And it's not difficult to follow. That may be because the subject matter is for a younger brand of children than we're used to seeing (certainly a younger crowd than say, Bridge to Terabithia, or Narnia). Magic books, cursed estates, faeries, trolls, ogres ... yet I was only mildly enchanted by it all.
10 yrs. ago, this film would have been seen as being 'great'. But I've seen 20 some-odd films of the same genre since and I'm just not thrilled anymore; they aren't special. The formula of these child fantasy flicks has gotten tired. CGI creatures running amok doesn't do it for me now. The sense of wonder & magic is deflated, a bit. And the film could have benefited from a bit more passion/energy/personality. Lastly, God help Freddie Highmore. I don't know when he lost his acting mojo, but it sure is gone. It's not that he's bad here. But all of the child star promisings from him in 2004's Finding Neverland are still left unfulfilled.