THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES

"They can't find the book"

Having to move into their Aunt Lucinda's (Plowright) rundown Spiderwick Estate, twins Jared and Simon (Highmore) and their sister Mallory (Bolger) are finding it to cope with moving out of the city and, especially for Jared, away from their father. While Simon and Mallory try their best for their mother Helen (Parker), Jared's anger issues start to show again but when one of his temper tantrums leads to a wall coming down to reveal a collections of treasures and trinkets. Amongst them is a key that opens a chest in his Great Uncle's room. Inside this chest is a book that could enable evil to take over the world but Jared doesn't realise what he has found until it is too late

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The fantasy film is well and truly back but for every 'Harry Potter' or 'Lord of the Rings' there is an 'Eragon' or 'The Dark is Rising' but which movie would 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' be associated with?

The resurgence of the fantasy film has seen many a classic of modern cinema become firm favourites with viewers and receive critically and financial success, so movie studios have been quick to try cash in on this newly rejuvenated genre. Successful franchises like 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Harry Potter' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia' have become box office gold but there have also been some huge failures like 'Eragon', 'The Last Legion' and 'The Dark is Rising' but the good news is that 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' is a superb addition to the genre.

Based on the collection of books, novels and field guides by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' is the story of a book that could cause the end of the world, if it fell into the hands of the evil ogre Mulgarath. This is no ordinary book however, it is a field guide that revels everything about the creatures and people who inhabit the world that we humans cannot see, the fairy world filled with magical beings and creatures from myths and legend. With these secrets Mulgarath could destroy every race in the realm and then have enough power to take over the human world. The book is in the hands of Jared Grace, who discovered it in the lab of his missing uncle, Arthur Spiderwick, the author of the field guide and he, his identical twin brother Simon and his sister Mallory are about to discover how much Mulgarath wants to get his hands on it.

Unlike many of the big blockbusters that rely on visual effects to sell the story, the effects in 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' complement the story and push the narrative along. Instead using them to sell the big action sequences of the movie, the CGI creates characters and situations that draw out the peril of that Jared, Simon and Mallory have to face. The CG characters themselves are also exquisitely designed and jump out from the field guides, which Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black designed.

The performances also complement the story. Freddie Highmore continues to be the male child actor of choice for Hollywood at the moment and you can see why. Playing the very angry and the more curious Jared and the bookworm Simon, Highmore makes the brothers very different. Sarah Bolger is also a star on the rise as the adventurous fencer Mallory, who takes the fight to Mulgarath and his minions. There is also good support from the always excellent Mary-Louise Parker, Britain's own Joan Plowright, Nick Nolte as Mulgarath's human form and the brilliant David Strathairn as Arthur Spiderwick. Add to this some fine vocal performances from Seth Rogen and Martin Short and you have an excellent cast.

'The Spiderwick Chronicles' is an excellent piece of family entertainment. With a exciting and sometimes scary story, great characters and a charm that draws you in from the off, this is film destined to become a firm family favourite for many years to come.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Spiderwick: It's all True (7.06 mins)
Director Mark Water introduces you to the creatures that you cannot see including 'Brownies', 'Hobgoblins', 'Ogres', 'Goblins', 'Troll', 'Sprites' and the 'Griffin'

It's a Spiderwick World (8.46 mins)
Co-creators/Authors/Executive Producers Holly Black and Tony Di Terlizzi, producer Katherine Kennedy, screenwriter David Berenbaum and producer Mark Canton talk about how 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' came about and the truth behind the story.

Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide
An interactive version of the Field Guide with sections on Boggarts, Brownies, Sprites, Goblin, Hobgoblins, Orges, Griffins, Trolls, Seeing Stones and protection from magical creatures.

Field Guide in Movie Mode
As you watch the movie, press enter every time you see the field guide and see and read information about which creature you are watching.

OVERALL

The DVD treatment of 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' is one that fans of the film will enjoy. The interactive field guide is very good and the featurettes are enjoyable. The lack of a commentary is a little disappointing but fans should be happy with this disc.

DVD

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

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2008