This fairy fantasy movie was released in 2008 but set in the early 1900’s, it starred
Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Mary-Louise Parker, Martin Short, Nick Nolte, Ron Perlman, Seth Rogen, Joan Plowright & David Strathairn. To my knowledge this did not spurn a new series of movies it simply stood alone and I like that for a change, rather than lets see if we can drag this out for years to come and get as much cash as possible. On the subject of cash it was produced on a budget of $90m and then went on to make $164.2m which looks like a profit but I am sure the production budgets do not include the marketing budget as this may of tipped profit into a loss. This may better explain the lack of sequel. This movie will not trouble the Tri-critic sync challenge scorer as there is a bit of a split of opinion of the usual three as IMDb gave it 6.5/10 which is lowly compared to Rotten Tomatoes gave it a complimentary 80%. This is a good point to move onto the plot.
Set in 1936 the story follows a family who after a recent divorce moves to their relatives abandoned estate, called the Spiderwick Estate. A massive house that has been clearly left alone to grow old by itself. The family consists of Helen Grace who eldest a daughter called Mallory and twin boys Simon and Jared. The estate was owned by Arthur Spiderwick who had written a field guide for Faeries before vanishing, he had hidden the guide for fear that Mulgarath gets his hands on the book. Mulgarath is a shapeshifting ogre who plans to use the secrets of the book for evil. Jared finds a holed stone and holding it up to his eye sees Thimbletack as broonie (fairy) who is first angry to be spotted but then explains that he was there to protect the book and then shows Jared the ring of mushrooms surrounding the house which the goblins cannot cross meaning the book has to stay in the house to stay safe. The Goblins are led by Redcap who takes direction from Mulgarath, they kidnap Simon and Jared witnesses it with the use of the stone. Simon strikes a deal to be freed for bringing Mulgarath the book. Fighting Jared for the book the Goblins arrive to grab it and the boys escape into the house as Mallory fights off the Goblins trying to get the book. They seek help from Arthur’s daughter and find a way to sneak out of the house to visit her she tells them to keep the book safe and find her father. Who apparently is still alive with Mulgarath stepping up the aggression in getting the book what is going to happen when the Fairy world and human one collide.
I enjoyed this movie and did not think I would. Knowing little about it when the kids decided to put it on one day. My daughter who is into her fairies wanted to see it and it is a good take on a fantasy story. Very adventurous for a kids movie this action packed movie continues at a pace and is good enough to keep invested adults and kids hooked for the hour and thirty five minute duration. I would give this a recommendation to watch as its good and you don’t need the kids around to watch and enjoy it.
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