I first heard about The Spiderwick Chronicles a couple of years ago through my sister, who has all the books. Then I found out a movie was being made but it was gone too soon from the theaters. Two years later, on DVD, I finally watched it.
Jared Grace moves into run-down Spiderwick Estate with his mom, sister, Mallory and twin brother, Simon. Strange disappearances and accidents start to happen and they all blame it on Jared, who didn’t want to move there. When the three siblings investigate, they find out about an alternate world of goblins and hobgoblins around their home.
Starring Freddie Highmore as twin brothers, Jared and Simon, Mary-Louise Parker as Helen, the mom, Sarah Bolger as Mallory and David Strathairn as Arthur Spiderwick, the Spiderwick Chronicles could have been a real fun movie. But its overdependence on special effects muted any goals of wonderment and fantasy. Freddie Highmore is a good actor but was not really experienced in this movie.
The movie wasn’t all bad. It was still a fun, captivating movie exploring a child’s imagination. And we don’t have to wait for the action and fantasy to start. It starts five to ten minutes into the movie and doesn’t let up until right before the end. And it’s admirable how they were able to condense the five books into one satisfying movie.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is still a enjoyable movie for the whole family but don’t expect to be too captivated by it special effects.
