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Movies / On DVD / The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Spiderwick Chronicles

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The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

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Reviews Counted:138

Fresh:109

Rotten:29

Average Rating:6.7/10

Consensus: The Spiderwick Chronicles is an entertaining children's adventure, with heart and imagination to spare.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements.

Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Theatrical Release:Feb 14, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $71,148,699

Synopsis: Based on the bestselling series of children's fantasy novels of the same name by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES follows the adventures of the Grace family, newly... Based on the bestselling series of children's fantasy novels of the same name by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, 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. [More]

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen, Martin Short

Director: Mark Waters

Director: Mark Waters
Screenwriter: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles
Producer: Mark Canton, Larry Franco, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Karey Kirkpatrick
Composer: James Horner
Studio: Paramount Pictures

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Release:

May 5, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • NTSC
  • Keep Case - Sensormatic
  • Widescreen

Audio:

  • (unspecified) - English
 
 
 
 

Reviews for The Spiderwick Chronicles

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21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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soy troei miamisi ora gia na se taksidepsei sto asfales symperasma poy eihe psiliastei sto pentalepto, oti i pasifismos san haraktiristiko toy floroy, einai epilogi mi biosimi, kai to kalo gia na epikratisei, prepei na brei kako na polemisei kai na katats

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
05/06/08
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

Spiderwick Chronicles provides lots of thrills and chills -- so much so that it may be too scary for younger viewers -- but it works best when it implies instead of showing.

Full Review Source: MSNBC | comment Comment
05/01/08
Alonso Duralde
Alonso Duralde
MSNBC

The screen can't get enough of 16-year-old Freddie Highmore.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
04/04/08
Sandra Hall
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald

Fast-paced and filled with neat special effects, it's a sure kid-pleaser, albeit one that suffers from the very elements that make it go down so easily.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
04/02/08
Keith Phipps
Keith Phipps
AV Club

Unexpectedly gripping.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
03/25/08
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC

It's inevitable with such fantasies, the storylines begin to have a familiar ring. Rry as they might, the filmmakers here are never totally successful in narrowing the gap between reality and fantasy as live action and fantastical special effects converge

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
03/23/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

As Spiderwick keeps time with the notion that kids' fantasies must feature bad, absent, or otherwise troubling parents, it also offers precious little in the way of clued-in adults.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
03/21/08
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

A late entry in a crowded field, Spiderwick works hard to set itself apart from the competition, and almost entirely succeeds - no mean feat these days.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
03/20/08
Sam Toy
Sam Toy
Empire Magazine

Displays a lighter touch than other fantasy films of this nature, meaning that its thrills are all the more unexpected -- and effective.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
03/16/08
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

If you're going to compete in an arena already owned by the "Harry Potter" and "Narnia" franchises, you'd better enter that fray determined to show you can compete favorably with them. And that's where "Spiderwick" runs into trouble.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment 1 Comment
03/09/08
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

The overall supernatural conflict amounts to nothing more than a jumble of noisy, fast-moving CGI beasties.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
02/29/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

The Spiderwick Chronicles is great family fun. Its edge-of-your-seat action, charming cast, clever script and direction, and excellent special effects is something is everyone can enjoy.

Full Review Source: TheDivaReview.com | comment Comment
02/28/08
Diva Velez
Diva Velez
TheDivaReview.com

At its heart is a sly imagination that fascinates and thrills.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/28/08
David Cornelius
David Cornelius
eFilmCritic.com

A jolt of personality and above-average effects make this kids' fantasy adventure entertaining enough to overcome the cliches in its premise.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
02/28/08
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Like "Terabithia," willfully darker than most children's fare.

Full Review Source: Film Snobs | comment Comment
02/26/08
Stephen Himes
Stephen Himes
Film Snobs

The Spiderwick Chronicles is a terrific ride for children who crave genuine excitement, not that tepid Scooby Doo stuff.

Full Review Source: Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | comment Comment
02/25/08
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Here's the recipe for a delightful family film.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment 1 Comment
02/24/08
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

It's always a pleasure to watch Highmore, one of the best child actors working today, and this time that pleasure is doubled because he plays a dual role.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
02/24/08
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

...a lively children's adventure...

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
02/23/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

The monsters seem to be psychological projections as well as special-effects creations, with the scary lead ogre emerging to fill the void left by the absence of the resentful children's neglectful father.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
02/22/08
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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