Spiderwick
Chronicles
Directed By: Mark Waters
Screenplay by: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles
Produced By: Mark Canton, , Larry Franco, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Karey Kirkpatrick
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker, Martin Short, Nick Nolte, Seth Rogen,
Joan Plowright, David Strathairn
Edited By: Michael Kahn
Music By: James Horner
Production Company: Nickelodeon Movies, The Kennedy/Marshall Company, Atmosphere Pictures Release dates January 31, 2008 (Hollywood), February 14, 2008 (United States)
Release Date: 3 April 2008Plot: In 1928, Arthur Spiderwick writes a field guide about the many fairies he has encountered. After finishing the Book, he hides it away for fear of Mulgarath, a shapeshifting ogre who plans to use the Book's secrets for evil.
Eighty years later, recently divorced Helen Grace inherits and moves into the abandoned Spiderwick estate with her children, daughter Mallory and twin sons Jared and Simon. Jared is angry about the move and would rather live with his father, Richard Grace. After uncovering a hidden dumbwaiter, Jared discovers Arthur's study where he finds the Field Guide. When Jared explains his discovery of the Book and the existence of magical creatures, his family doesn't believe him.
The next morning, Jared meets a brownie named Thimbletack, who is initially angry with Jared for having opened the book that Thimbletack was supposed to be protecting from the shape-shifting ogre Mulgarath. Jared placates him with crackers and honey, and Thimbletack gives Jared a holed stone that allows Jared to see the normally invisible faeries by looking through it. Thimbletack tells him about the protective mushroom circle surrounding the house.
Jared then witnesses Simon's abduction by goblins, led by Redcap. Simon is taken to the goblins' campsite where he is confronted by Mulgarath who is disguised as an old man. Jared sneaks into the campsite to save him where he meets Hogsqueal, a hobgoblin, who gives Jared the ability to see faeries without the stone by spitting in his eyes so that he can help him get revenge on Mulgarath for killing his family. Mulgarath releases Simon so he can fetch the Book for him. Jared finds Simon and both fight over the Book before they are chased by the goblins. The twins flee back to the house, and Mallory, upon almost being ambushed by the goblins, which cause her to realize Jared was right, fights them off with her fencing sabre.
Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles is a 2008 American fantasy film based on the book series of the same name by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. Spiderwick is set in the Spiderwick Estate in New England.
Moving into the run down Spiderwick Estate with their mother Helen, twin brothers Jared andSimon and their sister Mallory they find themselves slowly pulled into an alternate world full of all sort of curious things. The children soon discover a field guide to fairies while encountering various magical creatures such as goblins, ogres, brownies, boggarts, hobgoblins, trolls and many others. It's when Simon and Mallory investigate what's going on around them that theyuncover the funtastic truth of the Spiderwick estate. As they also discover all the creatures that inhabot it.
The movie is based on the complete five books that make up the Spiderwick Chronicals. It's a really fun story and is captivating from begining to end. The characters are real and tangible. While the plot of solid and sure to please. I have read some reviews that bring up several questions. Such as whewre does Mallory's interest in fencing come from. Perhaps they should have read the books. As bot every little detail derived from a book can make it into a movie.
One fun film for the whole famliy to enjoy.
M J Flack
