Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles

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Overall Rating: 9

The Spiderwick Chronicles was a pleasant surprise. When it was first released to the theaters we had concerns over the look and story behind the movie.  Mainly we had the impression that The Spiderwick Chronicles was going to be more kidsy than fantasy or high fantasy.  Thankfully it was none of those things.  The Spiderwick Chronicles is a good film and an enjoyable experience that I would watch again.

I love how the setting plays off of the imagination that tends to flare up when in a country setting and in an old house.  It's hard not to wonder what wonderful things might be out in the forests hiding just out of view.  The Spiderwick Chronicles celebrates the joy of discovery yet tempers that with the ominous of not letting that become more important than ones life and loved ones.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is about the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) who move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick.  Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family investigate what's really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.  Based on a series of books The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath.

Likes

1. Fun story

2. good pacing

3. Enjoyable characters

4. The celebration of the joy of discovery

5. The warning and message of being mindful of ones priorities and how family and loved ones are more important then having a legacy

6. Their use of supernatural horror to create tension and suspense by not showing everything right away.  They are very good at playing off of the audiences imagination.

7. The mystery sub plot of what happened to Mr Spiderwick

8. How all of the fey folk are there but obfuscated from view

Get you copy here:

• The Spiderwick Chronicles Movie

• The Spiderwick Chronicles Book (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath

  

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