The Spiderwick Chronicles

Cast:
Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn, Nick Nolte, Martin Short, Seth Rogen
Director: Mark Waters (Mean Girls, Just like Heaven)

From the beloved best-selling series of books comes "The Spiderwick Chronicles," a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick.
Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what's really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.

Drama, Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy, 1 hr. 37 min, PG

ATKBO Review

After splitting with her husband, Helen Grace (Mary Louise Parker) is moving her three kids into her great aunt Lucinda’s mansion, known as the Spiderwick mansion. She has twin boys Jared and Simon (both Freddie Highmore) and a daughter Mallory her eldest child. Jared is the only one not giving their current situation a decent go as he is still very fond of his father unlike the others and wants to go back to New York. On the first night in their new home, the family notice certain things missing that all lead to Jared.
After hearing some noises in their kitchen Jared investigates and ends up making holes in the wall and eventually with help from his siblings they find their missing belongings amongst other valuables including a key with an S on it.
Jared is able to use the key on a chest up in the attic of the house, which he finds a book inside it labelled The Field Guide to the Fairy World which he starts to read. Jared now enters a new world where he meets Thimbletack (Martin Short) and later Hogsqueal (Seth Rogan) two allies he will need help from to defeat the evil ogre Mulgrarth (Nick Nolte) and his minions who are after the Field Guide.

Although the film feels very similar to certain other films and does go off the track from the books it did have some very good acting performances and nice special effects. Highmore definitely captivates the audience in what would have been a demanding role however Seth Rogan who also offered his voice in Horton stole the show with his very funny performance making the film that bit more memorable.
All in all it was well done, with some exciting scenes and creatures. Maybe a bit too scary for young ones.

ATKBO Ratings

• = A Bloody Classic!!!
• = Pretty Bloody Good!
• = Fair
• = Dumb
• = Bloody Awful