The Spiderwick Chronicles (Widescreen Edition)

The books were wonderful, but the movie was so hard to watch I could barely finish it. The director said he wanted a specifically "American" movie. His idea seems to be screaming bratty kids who can't say a nice word to each other or their mother. A mother who is rude and hateful. The screeching got an my nerves that I was extremely irritated when it was over. I would not recommend this for any kids to watch. An extreme disappointment.

Version: U.S.A / Region Free
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50
Running time: 1:35:46
Movie size: 28,352,348,160 bytes
Disc size: 40,970,339,905 bytes
Average video bit rate: 31.03 Mbps
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz/24-bit) English
DD AC3 5.1 640Kbps French / Spanish

Subtitles: English / English SDH / French / Spanish / Portuguese

#Featurette: "It's All True!" (HD, 7 minutes)
#Featurette: "Meet the Clan!" (HD, 14 minutes)
#Featurette: "Making 'Spiderwick'" (HD, 21 minutes)
#Featurette: "Magic of 'Spiderwick'" (HD, 14 minutes)
#Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guild
#Field Guild: In Movie Mode
#Deleted Scenes (HD, 8 minutes)
#Theatrical Trailers (HD)
#TV Spots (SD)

I'd give it 3 1/2 stars, but after reading other reviews I'm not sure I want to read the books. The film could've been a bit longer if for no other reason than to provide explanation for some of the odd happenings. And at first, due to the sibling attitudes, I almost turned it off. I'm glad I didn't though as once things started to go "bump" I was hooked. Good story line, nice acting, graphics, and a solid ending. Before I knew it it was finished and I was left wanting more - perhaps I will read the books.

Although this movie felt like a knockoff of Harry Potter, I enojyed it!

Freddie Highmore (August Rush) plays twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace who, along with their sister and mother, move to the country to start anew after some major family drama.

When they arrive, Jared is sullen and angry at his mother who he blames for his father bailing on them. But the family drama suddenly takes a backseat when Jared discovers something decidedly "other" is living in the house they inherited from an eccentric old Aunt of their mother's.

When part of the kitchen wall falls down the kids discover a nest in an old dumbwaiter, and when Jared later investigates, he is led to a hidden study of his Aunt's father who died years ago. In it he finds a tome full of gathered information on magical creatures written by his departed great Uncle and, against the dire warnings placed on the outside of the book, he breaks the seal and opens it. A spell is unleashed that leads Jared to discover a magical world full of fairies, goblins and monsters.

One particular monster, THE Ogre of evil Ogres (played by a decidedly ogreish Nick Nolte), is desperate to get his hands on the book, for with the knowledge contained within it, he can destroy the world. Jared, of course, is one smart cookie, and as he and his siblings battle the evil around them, along with the help of a few hapless magical creatures, he not only finds the courage to confront the monsters once thought make believe, but also the ones within himself and within his family.

This movie artfully blends the family drama with magical world crisis without giving up one iota of emotion in either world. I'm really digging Highmore as a child actor and hope to see more from him!

My kids love this movie and I must say that I enjoyed it as well. It can get a bit scary at times, so I would reccommend it for older children over the age of 8.