RATING:
PG for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements.
GENRE:
Kids/Family, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation
RELEASE:
Feb. 14, 2007
STARRING:
Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn
DIRECTOR:
Mark Waters
DISTRIBUTOR:
Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies
Please Note
In providing movie reviews on our site, CBN.com is not endorsing or recommending films we review. Our goal is to provide Christians with information about the latest movies, both the good and the bad, so that our readers may make an informed decision as to whether or not films are appropriate for them and their families.
MOVIE
REVIEW
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Movieguide Magazine
CBN.com
-The Spiderwick Chronicles follows Christian author J.R.R. Tolkein into the land of faerie in a family movie filled with lots of action. Though the movie’s worldview is somewhat mixed, it ultimately seems to take a Christian attitude to fairyland creatures such as goblins, hobgoblins, fairies, and sprites.
In the story, which is based on the first five little Spiderwick books written by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, Helen Grace moves her three children, Jared, Simon and Mallory, into the former home of their great aunt Lucinda. Jared begins to notice unusual happenings in the old house and discovers a strange book written by Lucinda’s long-missing father, Arthur Spiderwick. Ignoring the warnings of Thimbletack, a small enchanted creature ordered to protect the book, Jared begins reading it. This unleashes a magical world surrounding the house, including a group of evil goblins led by the wicked ogre Mulgarath. Mulgarath can transform himself into a man or a snake. He wants the knowledge contained in Arthur Spiderwick’s book to rule the world through evil magic. Jared must convince his family to help him stop Mulgarath from getting the book, but that’s only the first of the obstacles facing him.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is exciting family fun for children over age 10. The story moves along at a brisk pace with plenty of thrills for younger moviegoers. Though the magical worldview is somewhat mixed, the basic attitude turns out to be morally uplifting and biblical. The movie ends up affirming family and warning people about the dangers of opening themselves up to occult forces. Thus, when Jared carelessly looks into the occult secrets of the Spiderwick book, it makes his family vulnerable to deadly consequences from the unseen occult world. By sticking together, Jared and his family ward off the evil magical forces. There is also a family reunion at the end, with, however, some bittersweet lessons about the consequences of becoming obsessed with discovering secret occult knowledge. That said, Movieguide® advises caution for older pre-teens because of the movie’s magical elements, some scary violence, and brief foul language.
Address Comments To:
Sumner Redstone, Chairman/CEO
Viacom
Brad Grey, Chairman/CEO
Paramount Pictures
5555 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197
Phone: (323) 956-5000
Website: www.paramount.com
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NOTE from Dr. Ted Baehr, publisher of Movieguide Magazine. For more information from a Christian perspective, order the latest Movieguide Magazine by calling 1-800-899-6684(MOVI) or visit our website at www.movieguide.org. Movieguide is dedicated to redeeming the values of Hollywood by informing parents about today's movies and entertainment and by showing media executives and artists that family-friendly and even Christian-friendly movies do best at the box office year in and year out. Movieguide now offers an online subscription to its magazine version, at www.movieguide.org. The magazine, which comes out 25 times a year, contains many informative articles and reviews that help parents train their children to be media-wise consumers.
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