Unexpectedly gripping.
Comment
03/25/08
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
79
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:138
Fresh:109
Rotten:29
Average Rating:6.7/10
Consensus: The Spiderwick Chronicles is an entertaining children's adventure, with heart and imagination to spare.
Theatrical Release:21-03-2008
Synopsis: Based on the bestselling series of children's fantasy novels of the same name by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES follows the adventures of the Grace family, newly... [More]
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright
Director: Mark Waters
Reviews for The Spiderwick Chronicles
Top CriticA run-of-the-mill fantasy adventure.
10/18/08
Top CriticA jolt of personality and above-average effects make this kids' fantasy adventure entertaining enough to overcome the cliches in its premise.
02/28/08
A late entry in a crowded field, Spiderwick works hard to set itself apart from the competition, and almost entirely succeeds - no mean feat these days.
03/20/08
Top CriticEnjoyable, well made children's fantasy adventure with likeable characters, impressive special effects and a decent script.
10/18/08
Waters does ground his film in the real world, and more importantly he creates a real sense of the family dynamics before Jared opens the door to the world of goblins and woodland creatures.
02/17/08
See what happens when you drink yage.
02/17/08
The overall supernatural conflict amounts to nothing more than a jumble of noisy, fast-moving CGI beasties.
02/29/08
Book-based family fantasy is magical and fun.
02/14/08
Maybe it's fantasy fatigue, but for all the pretty effects and breathless chases and goblin war battles, the sense of wonder and magic is lost in the shuffle.
02/14/08
The monsters seem to be psychological projections as well as special-effects creations, with the scary lead ogre emerging to fill the void left by the absence of the resentful children's neglectful father.
02/22/08
Seen through the eyes of a child, this adaptation my lack originality but is fast paced, contains enough fantasy to balance the family drama and is, at times, very scary.
07/19/08
There's enough here to keep adults engaged, which is an important component of any motion picture that wants to be known as 'family entertainment.' I would place The Spiderwick Chronicles comfortably in that category.
02/13/08
It has plentiful whimsy, a big enough heart and Joan Plowright in one fine scene, burbling magnificently. It treats its archetypes with all due seriousness: Good must engage evil in a final stand. And fatherless children must try to save the world.
02/14/08
The Spiderwick Chronicles hands us a new fantastical adventure to capture our imagination--and make us grab the edge of our seats. It’s definitely not for the youngest faint of heart.
02/15/08
The people who made this film cared enough about it to give their all.
02/17/08
Displays a lighter touch than other fantasy films of this nature, meaning that its thrills are all the more unexpected -- and effective.
03/16/08
A fantasy adventure with the questionable uplifting message that revenge tastes sweet.
02/14/08
The result is effective, if too intense for younger children.
10/18/08
Oh, great -- another kiddie fantasy film. How exciting!
02/27/09
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