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The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

Director: Mark Waters

2

Time Out rating

Average user rating
69 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Another middling, thrill-neutral salvo of ‘Potter’-lite CG goblins and fairies in which three tenacious teens are forced to shield their secluded pastoral mansion from an attack by the evil ogre Mulgarath (Nick Nolte, who else?).

To achieve this, they must follow the lunatic scribblings of their late,  great uncle Arthur Spiderwick, a reclusive naturalist who dedicated his life to chronicling all of the fantastical gubbins that arose from the forest surrounding his estate. Angel-faced Brit Freddie Highmore puts on a passable yank accent for a dual central role as the angular Jared and his dorky twin Simon, with the pair dashing from one situation of mild peril to the next.

If they’d bothered to read the book from cover to cover in the beginning, they would have been able to extricate themselves from their predicament with relative ease. Instead, their hurried, intermittent dipping-in of the text means that the baddies are constantly allowed to gather their bearings and develop a new way of attacking them. Pesky kids.

Author: David Jenkins 2008-03-18 12:25:12

Time Out London Issue 1961 March 20-26 2008


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User reviews of this film

  • Muna said...
    Posted on Mar 23 2008 19:46 This Film Was Olriye,, wentt 2 see ir with ma familyy but I fink it Sounded Betta Than Ir Was..Defoo Good Thou!x<3
    Report as inappropriate
  • CAZ said...
    Posted on Mar 23 2008 15:49 The film was excellent, enjoyed by all, go see it
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  • DAVE said...
    Posted on Mar 23 2008 11:38 This film wasnt vey captivating. I took my three children and they couldnt sit still. I would not recommend this film to anyone.
    Report as inappropriate
  • haydn said...
    Posted on Mar 23 2008 00:40 what a film what more can i say
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  • deb said...
    Posted on Mar 23 2008 00:39 absolutely as good as they said it was fantastic
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  • richard said...
    Posted on Mar 21 2008 16:23 just took kids to see this and it was good they sat and watched it all
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  • jack said...
    Posted on Mar 21 2008 15:47 6/6 too good
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  • 35252534 said...
    Posted on Mar 21 2008 15:45 omg its soooo good@!@!@! you have to watch it`!
    Report as inappropriate
  • alex said...
    Posted on Mar 21 2008 10:45 a exelent show by the whole cast 6/6
    Report as inappropriate
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Cast & crew

Director: Mark Waters

Cast: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker, David Strathairn full cast

Rated: PG

Duration: 97 mins

UK Release: Mar 21 2008
US Release: Feb 14 2008




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