The Spiderwick Chronicles
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Kent Turner -- School Library Journal, 2/13/2008 11:25:00 AM
In SLJ’s review of the first installment of Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” The Field Guide (S & S, 2003), our reviewer forecasted that, “While the characters' lack of depth detracts from the quality of these titles, the fast, movielike pace will grab young readers.” But the review went on to say that the main characters “stand out only for surface characteristics.” And the same is almost true in the film adaptation of the series: nine-year-old Jared can’t control his temper; his twin brother, Simon, loves all animals; and their sporty older sister, Mallory, has a way with a fencing sword. But believe it or not, the film provides slightly more depth to the Grace family—although we’re not talking Bridge to Terabithia here.
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Strange sounds coming from within the kitchen walls lead to the children’s discovery of some sort of scavenger living within the house. Riding up the dumbwaiter to a secret library, Jared finds Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, everything you'd want to know about the faerie world, charms and all, written by his great-great-uncle. Adults can predict the fantasy formula–an elf-like creature pops out of the woodwork, toad-like goblins lurk in the woods, and the guide has to be guarded at all costs against the shape-shifting and power-hungry ogre Mulgarath (Nick Nolte), who wants world domination.
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Although the books’ evil dwarfs and dragons didn’t make the cut, the computer-generated creatures are faithful to the Arthur Rackham-inspired black-and-white drawings of the books. Even actor David Strathairn, as Arthur Spiderwick, looks like he jumped from the illustrations.
Fans of the books will be pleased with the film version, which is equally as action packed and fast paced. It’s doubtful they will begrudge the story changes, like the film’s climactic food fight–where tomato sauce obliterates goblins. And compared to the books, which range from $10.99 a pop to $49.99 for the boxed set, the movie is a bargain.
Directed Mark Waters
97 min.
Rated PG
