 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Spiderwick Chronicles
- Review Date: February 12, 2008
- PG
- Genre: Fantasy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Book-based family fantasy is magical fun but also scary.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this fantasy adventure has been aggressively promoted on Nickelodeon (which helped produce the movie). But even without the heavy rotation of commercials and cereal tie-ins, fans of the best-selling book series will want to see this big-screen adaptation; expect kids as young as 5 to express interest. But the under-7 crowd might be scared by a couple of intense sequences involving the goblins, head ogre Mulgarath, and the Grace children, who do get hurt (with bloody scratches) in the action. Although the movie is connected to merchandising deals with a few products, there isn't that much product placement in the actual film besides Quaker Oats and honey in plastic-bear containers. There's also no age-inappropriate language or sexuality.
What's the story?
When recently separated mom Helen Grace (Mary-Louise Parker) inherits a "creepy old mansion in the middle of nowhere," her three kids have different reactions: Mallory (Sarah Bolger) is understanding, Simon (Freddie Highmore) is cautiously optimistic, and Jared (also played by Highmore) is furious. They soon discover that their great-great-uncle Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn) had unlocked the secrets to the magical realm that exists unseen around humans. When Jared disobeys a "beware" note and opens Spiderwick's 80-year-old field guide, he attracts the dangerous attention of goblins and their dark ogre leader Mulgarath (voiced by Nick Nolte) to the Grace family.
Is it any good?
Highmore -- an expressive, gentle-faced young actor in the mold of Haley Joel Osment -- does a fine job handling the twin brothers' disparate personalities. Likewise, Bolger, who co-starred in In America, is great as a big sister who knows her way around swords (she's an award-winning fencer). Both actors propel the film forward as kids caught up in a sometimes frightening fantasy world. The goblins and head ogre are scary without being terrifying like the orcs in The Lord of the Rings, and there are two memorably silly sidekicks: tiny, honey-loving house goblin Thimbletack (voiced by Martin Short) and gross-out, bird-hunting goblin Hogsqueal (Seth Rogen). Both lighten the dark mood considerably and will be beloved by younger viewers.
Those expecting a sophisticated CGI spectacle a la Peter Jackson or Robert Zemeckis may leave the theater disappointed. But director Mark Waters isn't aiming for a George Lucas-style epic employing revolutionary technology. His vivid adaptation of author Holly Black and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi's award-winning book series conveys magic with shots of swirling, flying dandelions carrying Mr. Spiderwick or colorful flowers turning into sprites. With an engaging script co-written by John Sayles, Waters has managed to ably adapt a kids-as-heroes story that parents will be happy to sit through without snoozing. And when it comes to family films, that counts for a lot.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the movie's themes. How do they compare to other fantasy movies and books? Which specific books or movies does this one remind you of? Why? If kids have read the Spiderwick books, ask them what changes they noticed. Was the film better than you expected? Families can also why Jared was accountable for figuring out how to defend his family from the ogre's wrath. Why are kids rarely believed by adults in fantasy movies? Who does believe the kids?
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Teen, 13 years old
February 27, 2011
AGE
Check my page for other great recommendations.
I'm not here to give a review because if it shows up on my page its a 5 star movie and so therefore you know what i think about it.
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Parent
February 7, 2010
AGE
Teenage mild horror, full of plot contrivances
This is a bit more than fantasy, there are quite a few bits that would qualify as mild horror, and some action scenes had me on the edge of my seat, which may be what teens are after, but would be too intense for smaller children.
The story itself has some good elements, but the plot is contrived in many aspects. The hobgoblin is probably the biggest contrivance in this movie, solving "annoying" problems for the film-makers, such as giving "sight" to all the kids so they don't have to find more seer stones, and eventually killing the big baddy in one gulp.
Another contrived part is the splitting up of the twins from each other, which occurs during the majority of the film. The parts where they are together are brilliantly done, but it is fairly obvious that it is technically very demanding, and was kept to a minimal.
The movie is quite full of such convenient twists that do not add to the story but merely seem to be there to avoid major inconsistencies or technical problems.
Otherwise, quite entertaining, although very predictable :)
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Parent of 8 year old
September 29, 2009
AGE
Scary and exciting (spoiler)
Wow, we all liked this movie, but I was really glad that I was able to prepare my daughter for the part when the monster makes itself look like the boy's father. When watching the movie, it appears that the boy kills his own father. Super scary moment. It's also pretty scary in general when the monster is chasing them around the house. All in all, it was a movie we liked, but it was almost too intense for my 8 year old.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 3, 2011
AGE
I really enjoyed it
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Parent of 3 year old
May 13, 2010
AGE
WAY too scary for non-teen kids!
I cannot believe this movie was okay-ed for kids as young as 8. Are you serious? It definitely should have gotten a pg-13 rating with a strong warning for younger children. This is way too scary for kids younger than 13! Even I thought it was frightening!
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Kid, 9 years old
June 5, 2011
AGE
awsome very good
very good movie I had just got it ive been wachting it over and over again
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Kid, 11 years old
April 8, 2011
AGE
Really good replica of the books
My teacher read us this series back in the 3rd grade, I was pretty little so I barely remember it, but this movie is a super good replica. I'm really happy that Freddie Highmore is in this movie, he's one of my favorite actors ever! I love "Arthur and the Invisibles" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"! There are a few parts in it that are a little scary like the end when they have that huge battle but nothing to to serious. There's one use of the H word "really Freddie?" but that's it. The most sex is that their Dad is living with another woman. It's an A+ in my view!
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Teen, 14 years old
April 18, 2010
AGE
Scarier than most kid's movies nowadays; iffy for tweens, fine for teens
The Spiderwick Chronicles is yet another book turned movie that doesn't quite satisfy. It's about the same old stuff: A kid discovers magical creatures. Nothing new, in other words. The Spiderwick Chronicles has very little to complain about, but it's just not new. Content issues abound, especially in the violence. Intense sequences include a a boy stabbing a monster pretending to be his father, a swordfight against monsters with limbs cut off, and a domestic tussle. The end scene is jarring too. Potty humor shows up, as does misuses of God's and Jesus's name. Once again, Spiderwick Chronicles is a decent fantasy for the tween-based audience that features some great effects but doesn't bring enough to completely satisfy. Kids searching for some fantasy fun should look into the Narnia movies.
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Kid, 9 years old
June 17, 2011
AGE
great for six
I saw this movie when i was in KINDERGARTEN!
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Kid, 12 years old
July 7, 2010
AGE
A scary but magical story
The movie was enchanting, beautiful and magical, in I loved the pretty flower fairies and I admired Thimbletack for his loyalty, kindness and bravery especially he attacked the troll (in serpent form) to buy Jared some time, even when it nearly costed his life. But I must admit the Spider wick movie is overall intense and should have a PG-13 rate though nearly causing my eight year old sister to go into hysterics and I was near to screaming when Thimbletack was violently and savagely knocked out from the serpent-orge. But the animation is fantasic and it is wonderful to know that Lucile and Arthur Spiderwick was reunited with each other, but I strongly recommend that unless your child or your younger siblings are mature, are not frightened easily and have read the books, kids under 12 should not watch this film.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, book characters, monsters, ghosts, and vampires |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Mark Waters |
| Cast: | David Strathairn, Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Run time: | 97 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 14, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | June 23, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements. |
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