The Spiderwick Chronicles by Mark Waters (2008)
24 July 2008A fairly enjoyable kids fantasy adventure, that at the very least makes me want to read the books, so I say that makes it pretty successful. The effects are decent enough, and so is the story, though I am not sure about having Freddie Highmore play two roles here, but they keep him apart as much as they can. I enjoyed it enough that I will see the next, at least on DVD.
A recently divorced mother named Helen Grace (Mary-Louise Parker) is moving from New York city to the country, to a family estate called the Spiderwick Estate, left to her from her crazy old aunt Lucinda (Joan Plowright). She has 3 children, the older sister who fences named Mallory (Sarah Bolger) and the very different twins, the troublemaker Jared (Freddie Highmore) who thinks his father still wants him, and the more studious Simon (Also Freddie Highmore). Jared sees things and starts poking wholes in the house, and finds a dumbwaiter that leads to the secret office of the late owner of the estate Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn). Jared opens a chest and finds Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, with a note on it saying not to read it, but of course he does, and his whole world quickly is turned upside down.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…
Jared soon meats a brownie named Thimbletack (Martin Short) who turns into a boggle when he gets angry, and can only be calmed by honey. Thimbletack was charged with protecting the book, and he explains that magical creatures can allow regular people to see them, as well as the protective toadstool circle that is around the house, and keeps it safe from Goblins, also giving jared a stone ring which which he can see goblins and fairies.
It seems there is a shapeshifting Ogre named Milgarath (Nick Nolte) who will do anything to get the field guide, which collects all the magic in the world, and can make one all powerful. He sends his goblins to get the book, but they accidently get Simon instead of Jared. Jared goes to save him, and meets a hobgoblin named Hogsaquel (Seth Rogin) who loves to eat birds, and spits in Jared’s eyes, letting him see the mythical creatures all the time. Mulgarath lets Simon go, but promising to bring the book, and they are chased back to the house, only being saved by their sister Mallory and her sword skills.
They decide to go visit their aunt, who was put away for saying her father was taken by demons. Simon distracts the demons, and because he is hurt stays back and makes anti-goblin potions with Thimbletack. And Jared and Mallory head to a secret tunnel. Lucinda is surrounded by fairies, and tells them they must find her father to destroy the book, and arthur is being held captive by some fairies called the Sylphs who find his knowledge too dangerous. Meanwhile the goblin’s attack, and get a few pages of the book, including one that will soon let them get past the protective circle around the house when the moon rises.
The kids use a spell in the book to summon Arthur’s pet a Griffin, which picks them up and takes them to the world of the Sylph, where they meet Arthur, who thinks it has only been a day since he has gotten there, not 80 years, because they can sing and change your perception of time. He tells them he can’t leave, and they realize that Thimbletack has the book, so they have to go back and fight the goblins and orc for the book for the book, or the world is doomed. Aurthur, helps them escape the Sylphs and they fly back, and prepare to defend the book, and have to save their mom when she returns home.
Their father Richard (Andrew McCarthy) arrives, but Jared realizes it is the Orc, and stabs him, and runs with the book, but Milgarath follows as a python onto the roof. Jared throws the book, and Milgarath turns into a bird to get it, but is eated by Hogsqueal.
Having won they bring Lucinda back to the house, and the Sylph’s bring her father, who can never return without them, or he will die, and his daughter is made young again and allowed to go with him.
••••
A fun kids fantasy. I really do want to read the books.
Feedback
You must be logged in to post a comment.