Just came back from this film and I must say I am really pleasantly surprised and emotionally devastated at the same time. I am a huge fan of the books and think that they run many MANY circles around the lesser Harry Potter series, not to say that J.K. Rowling does not write decent children stories but she does not do so with the refreshing wit and brilliance of Lemon---err Daniel Handler. So I like what this film is being adapted from but does this adaptation live up to it's source. Yes!--yes, it does, but not without it's few glaring flaws. First and most prominent of which is in the casting of the remarkably un-funny Jim Carrey. As Count Olaf, Carrey becomes a main offender in the crime of overacting and "hamming it up". This would be true to the spirit of Olaf if this breed of ham was funny or even gleefully amusing, but most unfortunately it is neither. When Carrey portrays Olaf as either Stefan or Cap'n Sham his improvisational skills begin to shine and the result is madcap glee reminiscent of, I dont want to say Peter Sellers but, Peter Sellers (Blasphemous I know, but all I can say is "lack of a better example"). Anyways, as soon as it dawns on Jim Carrey to tone down the rubberface schtick and ratch up the actual "funny" the movie is saved from being just another Myers/Suess retread. That's problem number one, but when problem number one is headlining the film and plays three roles then it turns into a VERY BIG problem number one. So Carrey isnt exactly funny. This isnt what I'd call the surprise of the century, but what WAS surprising was the sheer quality of the rest of the film. Jude Law turns out to be an absolutely PERFECT Lemony Snicket even if you only see his profile typing and hear a small amount of his voice. This is the right decision and the sparse narration which was mostly quoted straight from the text is the driving force behind the film. The three youngster that play the Baudelaire orphans are decent and act only slightly better than most child actors though the little girl(s) that play(s) the baby orphan Sunny is probably what Id consider Problem Number Two. She's too cloyingly cute and is played too often for cheap laughs (many involving her subtitled baby language) which is completely opposite her true-to-the-book persona, but this is turning into a laundry list of nitpicky complaints. The film is respectable and takes some artistic liberties in the way of plot structure and character personalities that might slightly annoy fans of the book. I took my grandfather who had never even heard of "Lemony Snicket" and scoffed at the idea of writing an "Unauthorized Autobiography" to see the movie and he really enjoyed it. So if you're an avid fan of the series or are intrigued by the trailer or if you're staring at the poster and wondering "What IS That!!??" then see this movie but dont forget to bring the kids who will probably have an encyclopedic knowledge of the series. And you know what I've written this entire post without once mentioning the "better get nominated for an Academy Award" art design.
quote:Originally posted by burning man: I'm just trying to catch a feather in the wind.
What!!??! Burning Man, this is irrelevant to anything and everything! I can sense from the reactions of most of the Metacritic members that your random babbling is getting on many people's nerves including mine!!
quote:Originally posted by burning man: Sorry. I'll be gone soon.
i do not believe that you should leave Burning Man just tone down the irrelevance. Like Mike said you do show many a degree of intelligence and wit, but your constant random comments cover your underlying sense of "smartness". We're not asking you to leave only to abolish the nonsense.
quote:Originally posted by burning man: "......Snicket" is only a so-so movie, with a completely mis-read performance by Carrey.
Read the book instead.
Bruce almighty was a huge disappointment.
You gotta appreciate Carrey's reimagination of the three characters! That DID take clout to totally transform "beloved children's characters" into new creations. I know the results were mixed, but it's one small (large) blemish in a excellently crafted children's flick....no?
quote:Originally posted by E.M.: Wait, does this movie combine like three of the books? I know that may be confusing for the plot change ect.
This is how it breaks down:
:This is how the movie is structured if you wish to see the movie and HAVE NOT read the books then i'd advise not to read this:
Movie starts out with the Baudelaire's parents dying and them having to take board at the Olaf residence. Olaf does something nasty and the Baudelaires are taken away from him to Uncle Monty's reptile room. Olaf shows up as Stephano and kills Uncle Monty. The Baudelaires are taken to Aunt Josephine's house and all the happenings of the third book occur. Now, after that is done with Brad Silberling decides to have the wedding which is actually an event in "The Bad Beginning: Book 1".
This is all done pretty seamlessly. The introduction of the characters is paced nicely but the contents of the first book are rushed severely...
