The Spiderwick Chronicles (DVD)

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES follows the adventures of the Grace family, newly transplanted from New York City to an inherited home in the remote New England woods. Angry with his mother (Mary-Louise Parker) about the move, the sulky Jared (Freddie Highmore) begin to explore the strange old house, and discovers a magical tome written by his great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn). Soon Jared and his twin brother, Simon (also played by Highmore with the aid of seamless special effects), are drawn into a realm of goblins, boggarts, and ogres--a reality that coexists with the human world. By the time the boys' older sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger), is in on their secret, the siblings are steeped in a conflict with the evil shape-shifting ogre Mulgarath (Nick Nolte), who will stop at nothing to get Spiderwick's book. Directed by Mark Waters (THE HOUSE OF YES, MEAN GIRLS) and scripted in part by lauded filmmaker John Sayles (THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH), SPIDERWICK succeeds as an engaging kid-oriented movie that also offers up genuine thrills and chills for adults. Highmore and Bolger impressively mask their British and Irish accents, respectively, and display a convincing brother/sister bond, while Martin Short and Seth Rogen provide comic relief as the voices of unlikely CGI allies. Intentionally smaller in scope than other like-minded literary adaptations such as THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and THE GOLDEN COMPASS, SPIDERWICK is rooted in a beautifully earthy, antique aesthetic that provides the perfect setting for its likable protagonists and bizarre-yet-naturalistic creatures.

"Its characters are modern American kids with contemporary problems, and it offers a whimsical world, from its opening, James Horner's spot-on score and some great production design on the SPIDERWICK house will put even adults right where it want you -- part E.T., part LABYRINTH, with a dash of THE GOONIES."

Category Family: Action/Adventure, Children/Family, Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
Genre: Feature Film
Sub Genre: Family
Release date: 14 July 2008
Format: DVD

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Nick Nolte, Mary-Louise Parker, David Strathairn, Joan Plowright
Director: Mark Waters
Composer: James Horner
Director of Photography: Caleb Deschanel
Executive Producer: Julia Pistor, Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi
Producer: Larry J. Franco, Mark Canton, Karey Kirkpatrick, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein
Screenwriter: John Sayles, Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum
Source Writer: Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi
Voice: Martin Short, Seth Rogen

Great family adventure! A bit scary for the very young or nervous though. I would say for about age 7 and up. Good viewing for girls and boys with lots of goblins, fairies etc....

Been after this for ages (dvd) and not read the books yet but im going to after seeing this. I liked the story line,and the intrigue all the way threw the film.It held me spellbound and on the edge of my seat.The fights and scares were riviting,(bit to scary for young children as the creatures just jump right out at you).Great entertainment for the older children and older people with like minds to these sort of things.Throughly enjoyable and lots of humer.
I bought it after seeing the clips of it on TV and i was'nt disapointed.Wonder if ther'll be any follow-up films of these story's.It would be brilliant if there are.

My Grandson is autistic and when he decides that he likes something, we all sit up and listen. He played his TV recording, stopping at an especially good bit, replaying that bit over and over again, roaring with laughter before carrying on to the next good bit. In the end, I decided that this film was far too good for children and bought my own copy.

Well, it's a sorry thing when we grow too old for fairies and magic and fortunately that sad state of affairs hasn't happened to me. I loved the film to bits. Great for children to watch a film in which adults show themselves in their true colours, badness looks like winning but goodness triumphs over everything and everyone lives happily and wiser ever after. (Except the baddies who come to very satisfyingly sticky ends - literally).

When the film ended, I was still smiling and wishing I had a gryphon because they make jolly good pets and would be great for shopping.

I thought this might be a bit scary for my 8 year old when we went to see it at the cinema, but she loved it, as did I! She was old enough to follow the plot and characters and young enough to enjiy all the goblins and monsters etc. Great entertainment, and using ebay is a great way to keep an up to date movie collection at a great price