Spiderwick Chronicles
 

Not that we'll ever see the movie, as we never get the chance to see any movie, and reportedly The Spiderwick Chronicles may be a bit too scary for the kids to go and see (we only go to kids flicks as we then don't need a babysitter for the tribe), and so...Anyway, thought that those that have seen it may want to discuss the comparison between it and LotR. To start off, this review reads:
"...excessive backstory and insider-only minutiae?" Just what is the reviewer saying? :eek:

I suppose he wouldn't be too impressed by any possible allusions to Shelob or Ungoliant?

Obviously a rich backstory is just a recipe for disaster when it comes to movies.

I've only recently heard of the Spiderwick Chronicles, but it does not sound like it can be compared to the LOTR movies or books. Fantasy though it may be, it sounds closer to A Series of Unfortunate Events, if anything.

Possibly. Is that why Peter Jackson made the changes that he did - too much back story and minutia spoils the soup? Killed Dune, it did.

Surely it'll be another Book of the Century just like LotR...;)

Trailer looks cool.

Took my six year old grandson to see SPIDERWICK and he loved it greatly. I thought it was pretty good for what it was. I usually despise tales where a bunch of misfit kids save the world but this one was actually believable and tolerable. The world they save is pretty much their house and grounds and the fairy inhabitants of it. Much more acceptable than NARNIA in that regard. The effects were fairly good, the monsters not too scary for kids, and there were even some tear jerking moments at the conclusion. All in all it was worth the six bucks admission.

We finally got the Spiderwick Chronicles on DVD, and as the kids have watched it already multiple times, I've been able to watch the entire movie.

What I really liked in comparison to LotR was the scene in SwC where the kids find Arthur Spiderwick. He's kinda held frozen in time by these little white fluffy things that, like sirens, hold him and those who listen to them, captive. The glade in which this takes place is more Lothlorien-like than the 5-watt incandescent bulb-lit world of Peter Jackson. The lighting is very bright, the colours vivid, and you really get that 'fantasy-world' feel.

All said, the movie was cute, not too scary (for the kids) and maybe an interesting read.

Glad you enjoyed it Alatar. My grandson has watched it at least a half dozen times. Have you heard if they are going to do a sequel?

Not sure about the sequel. Note that I am so LotR-jaded that when I heard the bad guy's name, "Mulgarath," I heard "Morgorath," thinking the name more in line with Morgoth.