The Spiderwick Chronicles (DVD, 2008, Widescreen)

By itself, this is an excellent movie. Our children really enjoyed it. It was realistically portrayed and fast paced, so it grabbed their attention from start to finish in wide-eyed wonder. However, it is VERY different from the book series and my sons noticed it immediately. They started discussing the discrepancies within minutes of the movie's onset (as soon as Jared started up the dumbwaiter), so I had to pause it and ask them to please withhold commentary until the movie was over and we could then discus what they noticed was omitted, altered and added. Once we got that out of the way though, they were enthralled by the imagery and the story swept them away. One of my kids even liked the movie BETTER than the books!

In this first installment of what will doubtless become a kids' fantasy franchise, a divorced mom (Mary-Louise Parker) moves with her three kids into the family's abandoned country manse, only to discover that it's sprite-infested. Great-great-uncle Arthur (David Strathairn) had been writing a faerie-world guidebook, y'see — Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You — when he disappeared some six decades earlier, and a neighboring colony of faerie-loathing ogres would love to get their gooey hands on the secrets in it.

Happily, Arthur's now-elderly daughter Lucinda (Joan Plowright) left a pantry well-stocked with honey, tomato sauce and oatmeal before being carted off to the loony bin at the age of 9. And once the kids discover what each of those foodstuffs is good for — placating certain creatures, dissolving others — they prove resourceful in the art of goblin-repelling.

Sarah Bolger (as teenaged Mallory) and Freddie Highmore (doubling as both of her brothers, defiant Jared and gentle Simon) fight the digital baddies persuasively enough that you're not thinking about how they're probably surrounded by green screens. And though director Mark Waters allows the ending to get overwhelmed a bit by special effects, all he's really doing is hewing to genre requirements.

I enjoyed this movie! This maybe a kid movie but, being an adult it's still awsome!! I wanted to watch this movie over and over.

Awesome movie. Good movie for adults and kids. I like that there wasn't the cursing and swearing found in a lot of newer movies. I have young children so I try to screen what they're exposed to. My five-year-old has watched it numerous times. I was weary of the goblins and ogre causing nightmares but he loved it. This movie opens your imagination to endless possibilities. It's on my top list with such movies as Narnia and The Brige to Tarabithia. I've bought a few copies for myself, my nieces and my Mother-in-Law all of whom loved it as well. I can't wait for another one to come out. Ther really wasn't anything about it that I didn't like to be honest. Great job to the young boy playing dual roles as Simon and Jared very difficult task for an actor not to mention one so young.

This is definitely a good movie. Not a great movie, but a good one nevertheless. The special effects are average. I was expecting something like "Lord of the Rings", so naturally, I was a little disappointed. The theme of "good conquers evil" is evident, and therefore, it sets a good moral example. I loved Freddie Highmore's performance in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and his dual performance (as twins) in "Spiderwick" was pretty good as well. The kids will like this one!

This movie just dives into the story. No semi-boring intro of the characters at all, and the special effects and the creatures were fantastic! I bought it for my son who wasn't interested at first, but I let it play anyway. His eyes never left the screen! This was just plain cool!

Unlike some reviews I will be reviewing the film not ebay or the seller and unlike still some other reviewers I had not seen previews or read the books..for me the dvd cover looked interesting..so when we found it on sale for $10 we bought it and guess what?? we LOVE it..the storyline was fun and adventerous with a little Harry Potter and a little Lord Of The Rings thrown in for good measure..a set of twins, their older Sister and their recently seperated Mother move into a falling down old creepy, but gorgeous old Mansion type house a family estate she is allowed to move into owned by her great Aunt Lucinda..Lucy who is in a sanitorium..Great Aunt Lucinda stayed in the old house her entire life never marrying awaiting her Fathers return after his abduction by a group of Sprites..this story and others got her put away..her Family thinking she's a little loony moves in and soon finds out Lucinda isn't crazy after all and now it's up to them to keep evil from taking over..Watch as the Kids get into adventure after adventure while their Mom is clueless to everything until the last minute..the ending is heartwarming and sweet the way a film of any sorts shoudl end! A fun film for everyone of all ages..If you loved the Harry Potter and LOTR films then you will treasure this one as well...We sure do!!

This movie was great and the whole family enjoyed it. We have watch it at least 2 times now and I am sure the kids will watch it many more to come. It was very well done.

THE SPECIAL AFFECTS ARE GREAT AND IT IS NOT ONLY FOR KIDS BUT I AM 54 AND I LOVE IT AND HAVE NO KIDS

This is a GREAT movie! Keeps your attention, is suspenseful, yet not nightmare causing! I liked it as much as my children! And best yet, as if my children weren't already nature lovers - this movie has tuned them into the world/wildlife and nature around them - EVEN MORE! Love It!
* A SUPERB movie your family will enjoy for many, many years to come - I'm sure will become one of your favorites as it has ours! We rented it = before we even returned to the movie store - I had already ordered a 'replacement' on eBay! lol

I just finished this movie, and let me tell you, I want more. This movie has captivated me the way the first two Potter movies did, but went a step beyond that and grasped my full attention and didn't let go. If you want a interesting and compelling story, a good bit of action and a fantasy tell, that doesn't play to a younger crowd necessarily, this is for you. The effects were done in good taste(not overdone), the voice acting for the CG characters was great, and for the first time nickelodeon has made a prodoct oustide of their tv franchises that will stand the test of time. I can not recommend this movie enough, I am just suprised that it didn't catch on in the movies even more so than it did.

This was a heart-thumping A+ adventure. My eight and ten year old daughters were mystified throughout the entire film, as was I. I highly reccomend this film.There were some scary parts but in all just a great 100 minutes!!

Nothing catches the viewer's attention better than a movie with a family struggling with a move to a new place, siblings that argue, a hard working mother, and fantasy creatures forcing the family to unite to overcome evil. How cool is that, huh?

Entertaining and magical for kids. Lots of action and adventure and funny monsters keep kids interested in this tale.

I really went into this movie wanting action action fighting bad trolls and such. This movie started slow and kinda stayed that way most of the movie. I have to say the book did come to life but not in the way Narnia or Harry Potter did. When ready Spiderwick the pictures I had did not match what I saw on the tv like when reading HP. 3.9 outta 5

It's a captivating movie with a lot of wierd creatures and quite exciting in places.It could be a bit spooky for younger children, if they are a little timid, but a good movie all in all.

This move was great A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I bought it for a Christmas gift - I will not be viewing the movie. However, I bought the dvd because it had high rating reviews.So I rated it good.

The movie works great, just wish I was told it was from blockbuster, as the case. But overall, happy!!

Everything Was Fine No Gliches In The Movie. The Case Was Like new. The Movie Was Exciting, The Movie Its self Had One Scrach. The Mailing Was ok Timing too. I Would Say A little Faster But Thats Mail For You. Thanks You Did Great!!!

Great movie!! Mystical yet reality based. Highley recommended.My grandaughter is 2 and she loves it!

Fun little movie. Interesting conceptual interplay between the Fairy world and the human world. The special effects were fun.

Great movie. Fun to watch with the family. My 4 year old was a little scared the first time he watched it tho because of the 'trolls' but he loves it now.

Very cute movie. Totally engrosses children without frightening them. Puts you in a fantasy world with goblins and monsters. Very entertaining for the six and up age group.