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Old 02-13-08, 10:12 PM
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The Spiderwick Chronicles thread

Usually these kinds of movies don't interest me, but this one looks appealing for some reason. Anyone seen it yet? The reviews are positive so far.
Old 02-13-08, 10:16 PM
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I watched a pre-screening of it last week and I would say it was just ok. It was much shorter than I expected but worth watching once. The dialogue was a bit rough in parts but the special effects were solid.
Old 02-13-08, 10:26 PM
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I like Freddie Highmore. I'll definitely be checking this out soon.
Old 02-14-08, 12:54 AM
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Once again, the music will be my "in" regarding seeing the movie.
Some people see a movie because of a director, some because of a writer, or an actor, so this is no different.
Old 02-16-08, 01:24 PM
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^^^ The music is pretty magical.

I saw "The Spiderwick Chronicles" this afternoon, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's pretty straightforward, but it's done well. The kids really aren't more annoying than if they were really going through stuff that normally happens in broken homes. It's nothing too original (especially the broken family subplot), but I think it's a fun time as you're watching it.

The CGI is good, not great (I didn't see it at the IMAX), but other than that I couldn't point out any noticable flaws. The characters were simple but strong (as you'd expect from a "kids movie"). I especially liked the bird-crazy Hogsqueal. I was surprised how emotionally involved I got near the end. Usually it's done by-the-numbers, but David Strathairn and Joan Plowright are wonderful as Arthur and Lucinda Spiderwick.

If you don't like the kids-books-to-screen trend, I don't think you'll like it much, but if you do I think you'll enjoy it.
Old 02-16-08, 06:25 PM
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I liked it a lot, but it was shorter and lighter than I was expecting... not that I want a lot of substance in my kids movies, but I thought they could have fleshed out the world and themes a bit better but it was entertaining and fun enough to recommend.
Old 02-16-08, 07:14 PM
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I was thinking of seeing this but didn't know if it was a "kids" movie or not. The previews actually look a little frightening for kids.
Old 02-16-08, 09:17 PM
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I'll see anything that Milfweed is in
Old 02-19-08, 09:25 PM
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Saw this and it wasn't bad. I wasn't a fan of Narnia at all, and I liked Golden Compass (just a bit). This was decent but it started to drag near the end. A few minutes could've been excised. Pretty good overall.
Old 02-19-08, 09:28 PM
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Does anyone know if this is all 5 books adapted into the movie, or just 1?
Old 02-19-08, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by dek
Does anyone know if this is all 5 books adapted into the movie, or just 1?
It's supposed to be all of them condensed into this one film, instead of the usual franchise setup. One film, no sequel. I'm going to try and see it tomorrow.
Old 02-19-08, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Nick Martin
It's supposed to be all of them condensed into this one film, instead of the usual franchise setup. One film, no sequel. I'm going to try and see it tomorrow.

Thanks, we enjoyed it and was hoping for a sequel.
Old 02-19-08, 11:17 PM
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hmm, i might aswell check this one out. it seems worthy of a view
Old 02-24-08, 05:08 PM
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Took the wife and kids to see this yesterday. We enjoyed it. My son really liked it.
Old 02-24-08, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Nick Martin
It's supposed to be all of them condensed into this one film, instead of the usual franchise setup. One film, no sequel. I'm going to try and see it tomorrow.
Wow, that would piss me off if I was a fan of the books. However, I had never heard of them and I thought it kind of worked.
Old 02-24-08, 06:18 PM
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good movie, wish there was a sequel. never heard of the books.
Old 02-24-08, 08:23 PM
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Saw the movie in I-MAX with my girlfriend and one of our friends over the weekend.

I have to say I really enjoyed it. I agree with others that said the dialogue was pretty shotty at times, but the movie was fun to watch.

I really enjoyed all the CG effects and the movie was pretty intense for being a "kids" movie.

Mulgarath was pretty awesome and I thought it was pretty funny when
Spoiler:
he changed himself into Jared's deadbeat dad.
Old 02-25-08, 12:02 PM
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I was shocked at the end when I saw that the twin boys were both played by Freddy Highmore. I just assumed they were real twins, or at least real brothers who were close in age. I can usually spot FX a mile away, but I didn't notice any greenscreen shots or telltale signs that any trickery was going on. Kudos to the FX team!

And kudos to Highmore as well, for so convincingly playing 2 people.

I could hear Martin Short's voice in Thimbletack, but I would never in a million years have guessed that Hogsqueal was voiced by Seth Rogen.

Spoiler:
When the villain turned into a bird and Hogsqueal ate him at the end, I was half expecting the bird to turn back into the full size troll and cause Hogsqueal to explode. Now THAT would have been an ending!
Old 02-25-08, 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by redskull
I was shocked at the end when I saw that the twin boys were both played by Freddy Highmore.
Wow. I did not know that.
Old 02-27-08, 11:32 PM
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I found it jevenile and too simplistic for me. I recommend it for kids only.
Old 02-28-08, 10:07 AM
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Took my 6 year old son to see it last night. he liked it very much. I thought it was OK. Not great, not bad. If this was 5 books condensed into one movie, then they could probably have stretched it out a little bit longer I guess. But I guess for a kid movie they had to keep it short.

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