The Spiderwick Chronicles

2008 • 95 minutes
4.4
1.31K reviews
81%
Tomatometer
PG
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

From the beloved, best-selling series of books comes an extraordinary fantasy adventure, revealing the unseen world that exists all around us. From the moment the Grace family moves into a secluded old house peculiar things start to happen. Unable to explain the accidents and strange disappearances, the Grace children, Jared, Simon and Mallory start to investigate and find the unbelievable truth of the Spiderwick Estate and the amazing creatures that inhabit it.
Rating
PG

Ratings and reviews

4.4
1.31K reviews
Kyle Vansteelandt
December 4, 2021
I was mesmerized from the beginning to the end, starting off with a chilling opening scene, I knew I was in for some frightening fun. Spiderwick Chronicles is a family-friendly fantasy adventure that has not been painted by anything contemporary or modern, this epic adventure is pure old-fashioned fantasy that is filled with action-packed thrills, sprightly characters, and engaging imagination that will probably inspire the whole family to recreate the scenes in this kind of fantastical world in their own backyard that is closer to a forest. Spiderwick Chronicles contains impressive craftsmanship and powerhouse execution that offers dramatic yet superlative entertainment for the whole family, and it's truly delightful. Mark Waters directed this film, and he did an amazing job; His direction has the power to create some unsettling suspense that is gripping. But that's not all, there are moments that causes attractive confusion, because I didn't know that the next element is going to be comforting or catastrophic, There are also some clever plot twists, all thanks to how Mark Waters manipulated these moments. James Horner has created a strange and rousing score that is fitting and appropriate for this dark and fun fantasy adventure. His score strongly supports each and every element of the storytelling and has grabbed my ears attention entirely. The effects are fantastic; it is amazing that someone changes into something different, There are some dazzling backgrounds, and the fantastical creatures have delivered dynamic entertainment; There are some cute flower fairies, fun scenes involving the majestic griffin, a hideous mole troll, and vicious goblins. These are the kinds of influences that we imagined that they could've came straight out of our imaginations and into the movies. The exquisite cast has given some strong characterizations; Freddie Highmore has a dual performance on the Grace twin brothers, both Jared and Simon. The main protagonist is Jared, he may have some anger problems, but he cares about his family by taking on the dangers that threatens their lives, and he stays focused dealing with the threat and feels motivated by the benefits. He also has some quick intelligent wits which makes him knowledgeable. Simon is a pacifistic animal lover that has the same personality as his brother, but he does not have any anger issues like his twin brother, because he does not like conflicts. Mallory Grace nailed her role as Sarah Bolger; she is a big sister with a big attitude, which makes her performance strong, and she has some great fencing choreography when she fights with her sword. The thing that makes the human characters so strong is that the whole movie reflects the dark side of individuals and traumatizing situations involving tormented families like divorce, new changes, sibling rivalry, and loss which makes the human family aspect of the film feel seriously grounded. The voice-acting contributes to the entertainment, and their voice work is a whole lot of fun to listen to; Martin Short voices Thimbletack, a loyal brownie spirit with a short temper, turning into an aggressive barking boggart, but he also has some quirky comedy without even trying to be funny. Seth Rogan voices Hogsqueal, an eccentric and amusing hobgoblin who loves to eat birds and wants revenge on the main villain of the film who killed his family, a monstrous shapeshifting ogre named Mulgarath who is a barbaric tyrant, and Nick Nolte's daunting voice performance really makes Mulgarath a ferocious force of extreme fear. This film is suitable for ages ten and up due to the frantic creature action, scary suspense, and some mild language. Highly Recommended!
Sam Rothermel
April 2, 2014
It seems to only lift the bare minimum of necessities from the book. It tries at times to introduce some higher level themes but in the end just kind of glosses over them instead. It's an enjoyable little romp that may or may not be OK for kids not in the double digit years. I'm sure those that have read the book will enjoy it as the story brought to life, but as a standalone film it is kind of hit or miss. Still, Freddie Highmore shows us again why he is one of the best up and coming young actors as he portrays both twins in this film as two completely separate characters (although most screen time and development goes to the main twin and the other is often left out, unfortunately).
33 people found this review helpful
peggy “Millman” cooper
September 16, 2016
I really enjoyed the movie and so did my 9 yr old. We watched it 8 times! She can't get enough of it! We recommended it to everyone we know. The creatures were different then any we've seen before. Funny, not scary at all. Watch it you won't be disappointed!