The Spiderwick Chronicles

[HMC8404]

I recommend this to EVERYONE, not just those with kids.
Adults of any age will be very entertained going to this movie.

http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/X/i/Q/spiderwickchroniclestpost2.jpg

Last night I took my daughter out for Valentine's day.
Because it was Valentine's day I went ahead and splurged.
Instead of paying for the regular theater screen, I bought
tickets for the IMAX screen instead. Wow! I'm glad I did!
It was GREAT on that screen with all the fantastic imaginative
creatures that came alive in this movie.

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-02/35597364.jpg

Prior to this movie and it's trailors, I had never read the books nor knew of
the storyline. I had no idea what to expect. What I got was a very nice
surprise. This is both a very entertaining and imaginative movie done with
really good special effects.

http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/14/review.spiderwick/art.spiderwick.jpg

The main actor (who played Charlie in the newer "Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory"), plays a double role in this film as his twin
brother. He does it quite well.

On the drive home from the movie both my daughter and I agreed,
this movie was so face paced with it's storyline (not that it distracted
you in the least), it gave speculation of just how detailed the books
have to be. Much like the Harry Potter books, once translated into
movies, a lot of the details, events and creatures had to be left out
and condensed. These books must be the same. The movie was such
fun that we're now interested in reading the books to see what all they
couldn't quite fit into this movie.

http://www.corpsman.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif Again, I recommend this movie to anyone over the age of 6
(smaller children who can't handle the dark may have nightmares).

[Doc_Konkle]

It's funny,
I already have tickets today to take my daughters to see it..
;-)

D/C

[HMC8404]

You'll enjoy yourself. There were a few times I jumped in the movie from a few surprises ... so hold that popcorn tightly.

[Da-Chief]

Yeah know.. I accidently signed on as Karen.. My Computer is in the shop and I am using her laptop.. Yeesh..
Have a good weekend all. Saw the movie and it was excellent.

D/C

[HMC8404]

Mmmm hmmmm Darrell ... now we really know! :swn:

You live a dual life! Were you also wearing her frilly undies and bras as well? :bunny2:

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

I just saw this last night (Wed). I did not like the delinquent kid and the weak mother so it detracted from the movie for me.

It seems he continually lies and breaks promises for the first 2/3's of the movie and keeps getting in bigger and bigger trouble. However they tend to blame everything on the bad guy. The kid lucks his way out of the situation with a lot of help from others but he never seems to learn his lesson.

I agree it was a good movie but I think it would have been much better without all the failed family funk and back talking spoiled brat.

That contractor should did a fast job with great results on those home repairs though... ;-)

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

On a related note: Can you believe the prices for a movie and snacks?

I got in free through a screening service but the theatre's General Admission ticket is $10.50 and they were advertising their special "deal" on snacks for $15 - 2 sodas & a bucket of popcorn.

Are you kidding me? $36 to go to a movie!?! No wonder ticket sales are down....

Thanks, I'll stick to Netflix and the free screening services. There are 3 DVD's of my choice for the weekend and I've already got two free ticket for 10,000 BC next week.

[8404]

Mmmm hmmmm Darrell ... now we really know! :swn:

You live a dual life! Were you also wearing her frilly undies and bras as well? :bunny2:

Errr, rut row 8404 getting visuals!

[HMC8404]

I just saw this last night (Wed). I did not like the delinquent kid and the weak mother so it detracted from the movie for me.

It seems he continually lies and breaks promises for the first 2/3's of the movie and keeps getting in bigger and bigger trouble. However they tend to blame everything on the bad guy. The kid lucks his way out of the situation with a lot of help from others but he never seems to learn his lesson.

I agree it was a good movie but I think it would have been much better without all the failed family funk and back talking spoiled brat.
That's just the kid's character: A spoiled brat who blames his mother for his father's inadequacies, and a mother trying to build up her self-esteem after being dumped for another woman. Not to go off "psycological" in nature with you, but that is very common in teenage boys who's parents are splitting and whose father's leave and don't keep in touch. They blame the mother and most women internalize and lack self-esteem for a while. (I read up on a lot of pyschology and have taken courses, just so you know, and I volunteer on crisis lines here and take all sorts of calls and hear it all the time)

For whatever reasons the author wanted to reflect that kind of a boy to be exposed to this. I know what you mean though, there are those movies that I cannot warm up to because I can't stand a character in them for one reason or another. Obviously this one rubbed you the wrong way.

That contractor should did a fast job with great results on those home repairs though... ;-)
LOL ... I mentioned that to my daughter when we were sitting there.
On a related note: Can you believe the prices for a movie and snacks?
Nope. I have a little theater in my town where the movie costs are kept to a minimal. It's a restored old theater and we'll tend to see the movies there. When I do go out to the other theaters? I always, ALWAYS, see matinees. Valentine's Day was the exception this time and I paid for IMAX. That was $10 per ticket.

As far as snacks? I always bring my own. I don't care for popcorn (and theirs is stale anyway), so we'll bring other things and pack bottled water or even a can of soda. Purses are a nice thing, better yet, one of those lite-weight backpacks slung on your back and they don't even notice it. I never waste my money on buying snacks at the the theaters anymore.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

I understand the argument but I am not convinced and do not agree with it. She is the mom and she should have a bigger pair than the children.

As an example, the mom seemed to coware at the boy's silent treatment and sheepishly lets him get away with it. Meanwhile the sister knocks some reality into the brat and put an immediate hault to it. The brat also has an apparently well established reputation with the entire family for lying, stealing, and outright destruction of other people's property. He certainly thought nothing of punching holes in the kitchen wall with the broom when he heard the pitter patter of little feet. Meanwhile the mom's reaction was to freak and it was the daughter that appeared to step up to take charge. In fact the mom seemed to freak or break down at every bump in the road so I viewed the disorders all long term problems that existed long before the recent infidelity & separation.

Yhea the dysfunctional family rubbed me the wrong way. The weak mom. Unreliable cheating dad. Snobby sister. Violent "non-confrontational pacifist" brother. The great uncle who refuses to destroy "his research" (the book) for the benefit and safety of everyone else in the movie. Even the rather self centered piglet character set on vengeance but distracted by gluttony (he even threatening to eat the pet Griffin that helped the kids)

At least the brother read enough of the book to figure out a few defense techniques and build an arsenal.

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

No problem with the bad guys though. They are suppose to be evil so it is "okay" that they possess undesirable characteristics.

I thought the "crazy" aunt's character was okay too.

I just had a problem that all the "good guys" were so messed up in so many ways. Not a good role model for kids to look up to or try to emulate. It is fine for the hero to have a character flaw or personal challenge to overcome but the kid never seemed to learn his lesson. He read just enough of the book to get himself in trouble and then took the book to others hoping they could give him a solution to the mess he created. All the answers he needed were all in the book but he never found the time to read that far but always elected to lie & steal in search of a short cut solution. I tend to view the story more as an idiot gets lucky rather than a hero overcome adversity.

Where is my Never Ending Story and Dark Crystal DVD's? I think I left them with Princess Bride... ;-)

[HMC8404]

I understand the argument but I am not convinced and do not agree with it. She is the mom and she should have a bigger pair than the children.

As an example, the mom seemed to coware at the boy's silent treatment and sheepishly lets him get away with it. Meanwhile the sister knocks some reality into the brat and put an immediate hault to it. The brat also has an apparently well established reputation with the entire family for lying, stealing, and outright destruction of other people's property. He certainly thought nothing of punching holes in the kitchen wall with the broom when he heard the pitter patter of little feet. Meanwhile the mom's reaction was to freak and it was the daughter that appeared to step up to take charge. In fact the mom seemed to freak or break down at every bump in the road so I viewed the disorders all long term problems that existed long before the recent infidelity & separation.

Yhea the dysfunctional family rubbed me the wrong way. The weak mom. Unreliable cheating dad. Snobby sister. Violent "non-confrontational pacifist" brother. The great uncle who refuses to destroy "his research" (the book) for the benefit and safety of everyone else in the movie. Even the rather self centered piglet character set on vengeance but distracted by gluttony (he even threatening to eat the pet Griffin that helped the kids)

At least the brother read enough of the book to figure out a few defense techniques and build an arsenal.

No problem with the bad guys though. They are suppose to be evil so it is "okay" that they possess undesirable characteristics.

I thought the "crazy" aunt's character was okay too.

I just had a problem that all the "good guys" were so messed up in so many ways. Not a good role model for kids to look up to or try to emulate. It is fine for the hero to have a character flaw or personal challenge to overcome but the kid never seemed to learn his lesson. He read just enough of the book to get himself in trouble and then took the book to others hoping they could give him a solution to the mess he created. All the answers he needed were all in the book but he never found the time to read that far but always elected to lie & steal in search of a short cut solution. I tend to view the story more as an idiot gets lucky rather than a hero overcome adversity.

Where is my Never Ending Story and Dark Crystal DVD's? I think I left them with Princess Bride... ;-)

Very true!!! On both counts. I personally am sick of Hollywood for the most part. I just loved the "fantasy" parts of the movie. As it is, my daughter has a hard time getting me out the door to see a movie. I hate all the negative stuff in movies today.

Do you think Hollywood likes to promote the controversial stuff over good values and morals?

http://www.parseerror.com/images/moments/inconceivable/vizzini.jpg
"INCONCEIVABLE!

lol -- Princess Bride is one of my favorite all-time movies! Too many great lines come from that movie! I love it!

Also, my daughter has the Dark Crystal and the Never-ending Story. Both two good ones.

Oh well, I agree, they could be stronger characters, but they may reflect more of the author than we know. Still it's an entertaining movie nonetheless.

[Furios]

I remember watching the never ending story as a kid, but I don't think i've ever heard of Dark Crystal or Princess Bride : (

[HMC-FMF-PJ]

You're life is incomplete... lol

Dark Crytal is a fantasy flick for kids and Princess Bride is a comic romantic (a romantic comedy with more comedy than romance) with quite a cult following. Check 'em out on Netflix or do a quick web search for complete info.

[HMC8404]

I remember when the Dark Crystal came out I worked with this HM2 in Lejeune who looked like a skeksis ...
http://rebootilicious.rbcorner.com/Muppets/Rufus/Rufus.jpg
... he walked humped over like that and his face was shaped like that with a nose/beak to match. When he'd walk by we'd yell, "Gelfling" after him like they always did. Don't worry, he'd laugh and play along as well.

[HMC8404]

Furious ... if you could just rent one, I recommend the Princess Bride!

http://bhorner3.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/princessbride.jpg

It has a very well rounded cast including Billy Crystal, Andre the Giant, Peter Falk (Columbo), Fred Savage (Wonder Years) just to name a few.

It is hilarious fun to watch with the kids, or without them.

It's hard to believe the movie is over 20 years old now. I found a website that celebrated the anniversary with the "now and then" pictures. Thought I'd share them here with you all:

"Farmboy" Wesley aka: the "Dread Pirate Roberts"

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/wi_elwes_070712_ssh.jpg

"Buttercup" aka: The Princess Bride

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/ap_wright_070712_ssh.jpg

Inigo Montoya ("... you killed my father, prepare to die!")

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/wi_patinkin_070712_ssh.jpg

[HMC8404]

Prince Humperdink.........

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/wi_sarandon_070712_ssh.jpg

Vizzini..........

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/ap_shawn_070712_ssh.jpg

Fezzik ("Stop Rhyming, and I mean it!" "Anyone want a peanut?")

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/nm_andre_070712_ssv.jpg (died in 1993)

The "six" fingered man

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/wi_guest_070712_ssh.jpg

[HMC8404]

The grandson

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/nm_savage_070712_ssh.jpg

The Narrator (Grandfather)

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/nm_falk_070712_ssh.jpg

[Doc_Stevens]

I liked Spiderwick. The local theater is now running it in IMAX and am considering going back to watch it in that format.

[HMC8404]

I saw it in IMAX ... it was worth it. Enjoy.