Spiderwick Chronicles.... (Possible Spoilers)

[TheAuldGrump]

I saw Spiderwick Chronicles with my Steampunk/Spycraft players tonight....

In my opinion not a great movie if you have read the books - they add a happier ending, and some of the bad stuff that happens gets left out. Heck, some of the main characters get left out! (The queen of the elves is sorely missed.)

Not entirely unexpected, given that they crammed five (short) books into ninety minutes, but it just seemed overly simplified.

Mind you, it is a pretty movie, but I really wanted to see more of the books in the film. It might have been a better experience for me had I not read the books.

The Auld Grump

 

[Aeolius]

We went to see the movie on Friday; the obligatory $100 movie night ($50 for tickets, $50 for popcorn). The movie was visually stunning, even if there were fewer of the "pretty" fairies than I would have liked.

At one point, I heard a familiar piano piece in the soundtrack and told my wife "They used that bit in 'Casper'". I looked it up when we got home and I was correct, the same composer did both movies.

My kids are doubly impressed that I have been carrying a hagstone for years, now.

The movie leaves one with the desire to walk through the woods building houses for fairies.

 

[frankthedm]

Mind you, it is a pretty movie, but I really wanted to see more of the books in the film. It might have been a better experience for me had I not read the books.

Yeah, having not read the books probably made the movie more enjoyable for me.

Enjoyed the movie fine. Too short though.

 

[bento]

My ten year old daughter is a big fan of Spiderwick, so we went out to see it Sunday morning ($20 for the four of us)!

I prepped her a little by talking about the issues in squeezing down five books (and 500 pages) into a 2 hour movie. Somethings will get left out, and other things will be moved around. Rather than compare the two critically while you're watching the movie, just try and enjoy it.

Overall she ended up enjoying it, as did we all. She noticed that they completely dropped book 4, and the action took place in roughly 24 hours, rather than a year.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

My wife and daughter went to see it. They both enjoyed it, but both felt it was definitely lacking compared with the books.

Still, nice to see stories written and illustrated by two people who met playing D&D making it onto the big screen.

 

[Ilium]

I took my 10-year-old daughter and two of her friends to see it at the local IMAX. This was an experience in terror, but that had nothing to do with the movie.

We haven't read the books (but will now) and we both really liked it. "Visually stunning" is the phrase the critics always use and I think it applies here. I would have liked it to be longer, though, since I could tell they were giving the characters short shrift.

Good stuff. We'll own it when it comes out on DVD.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

I've only read the first 2 books, but I really liked the moved. Great visuals, decent storyline, mostly good acting, and lots of action. My only (minor) gripe was it felt a bit rushed.