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(1 - 33) of 33 OFCS Rating: 72% Fresh Page   1   "It's always a pleasure to watch Highmore, one of the best child actors working today, and this time that pleasure is doubled because he plays a dual role."   ReelTalk Movie Reviews   Betty Jo Tucker 2.5/5 "a Ghoulies for the post-millennial crowd, complete with lots of short attention span flash"   Filmcritic.com   Bill Gibron B+ "Brevity works in the film's favor, turning a potential franchise headache into a delightful winter diversion brimming with revolting creatures, magical spells, and entertaining acts of mass goblin death."   eFilmCritic.com   Brian Orndorf "As Spiderwick keeps time with the notion that kids' fantasies must feature bad, absent, or otherwise troubling parents, it also offers precious little in the way of clued-in adults."   PopMatters   Cynthia Fuchs 4/5 "At its heart is a sly imagination that fascinates and thrills."   eFilmCritic.com   David Cornelius 2.5/4 "OK of its type, even if its type is starting to exude that slightly disagreeable scent of 'been there, done that.'"   rec.arts.movies.reviews   David N. Butterworth 2.5/4 "...followers of Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's series of books will find themselves scratching their heads at the omission of several key plot points and characters."   Reel Film Reviews   David Nusair 2/4 "Its simplistic and occasionally juvenile plot is at odds with its more mature subject matter. The Spiderwick Chronicles is flashy and diverting, but also ultimately insubstantial."   TheMovieBoy.com   Dustin Putman B "It's a movie I can imagine kids actually liking, as opposed to one that clueless studio executives merely want them to like."   EricDSnider.com   Eric D. Snider C+ "After lovingly setting up the intricate relationships among its characters Spiderwick loses itself in the action and pretty special effects, only recovering in time to do a rushed, pat wrap-up."   Film Blather   Eugene Novikov B "After so many failed attempts to fashion new Harry Potter-like franchises from children's books...it's nice to encounter one that actually works."   One Guy's Opinion   Frank Swietek 2/5 "A fantasy adventure with the questionable uplifting message that revenge tastes sweet."   Spirituality and Practice   Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat 3/4 "There's enough here to keep adults engaged, which is an important component of any motion picture that wants to be known as 'family entertainment.' I would place The Spiderwick Chronicles comfortably in that category."   ReelViews   James Berardinelli 1.5/5 "soy troei miamisi ora gia na se taksidepsei sto asfales symperasma poy eihe psiliastei sto pentalepto, oti i pasifismos san haraktiristiko toy floroy, einai epilogi mi biosimi, kai to kalo gia na epikratisei, prepei na brei kako na polemisei kai na katats"   Movies for the Masses   Joseph Proimakis 2.75/5 "Fans of the books will be pleased with the film version, which is equally as action packed and fast paced. It's doubtful they will begrudge the story changes."   Film-Forward.com   Kent Turner B "After conquering the teenage girl market with Lindsay Lohan's Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, director Mark Waters turns to teenage boy fantasy (and potential franchise)...and proves quite adept at handling large scale special effects without"   Reeling Reviews   Laura Clifford 2/4 "The story, frankly, is dull. It's essentially a siege tale, watered down for youngsters and interrupted by side trips."   TV Guide's Movie Guide   Maitland McDonagh 7/10 "Characters with such real-world problems lend the film some real-world credibility"   rec.arts.movies.reviews   Mark R. Leeper "[C]harming... lots of humorous and thrilling fantasy action..."   Flick Filosopher   MaryAnn Johanson 3/5 "The movie reveals these creatures with some well-ingrained CGI that makes the visuals appealing for young and adult viewers."   Film Threat   Matthew Sorrento 3.5/5 "An exciting and refreshing adventure that's shorter (and less melodramatic) than another Harry Potter film."   Bronsonfive   Michael Ferraro 3/4 "The Spiderwick Chronicles is fast, funny, and clever, with memorable creatures to sweeten the deal."   Aisle Seat   Mike McGranaghan B "Gorgeous cinematography from Caleb Deschanel (The Black Stallion) and wonderfully intricate production design from James D. Bissell create a believably magical world of dusty tomes and toothy goblins."   Beliefnet   Nell Minow 2/4 "Fatherless children are the order of the day, but the film develops this theme no more than the absolute minimum, instead content to stage swordfights and races-against-time between its plucky child protagonists and their monstrous enemies."   Slant Magazine   Nick Schager 4/5 ""The Spiderwick Chronicles" is a modest and reasonably charming example of a genre that isn't exactly renowned for modesty or charm."   eFilmCritic.com   Peter Sobczynski 3.5/5 " A jolt of personality and above-average effects make this kids' fantasy adventure entertaining enough to overcome the cliches in its premise."   Shadows on the Wall   Rich Cline B "The mood never wavers, allowing The Spiderwick Chronicles to develop into an exciting and largely watertight adventure."   Flipside Movie Emporium   Rob Vaux B "The story is very condensed and straightforward. It gets right to the action and stays there."   Laramie Movie Scope   Robert Roten B+ "Be warned, parents, that younger children, under age seven, may have a problem with the often scary creatures that inhabit the Spiderwick world. Older kids, teens and adults, though, will have a good and entertaining time."   Reeling Reviews   Robin Clifford 4/5 "It's fast-paced and funny, strangely warm and suddenly creepy, disarmingly charming and admirably icky, all at the same time."   FEARnet   Scott Weinberg C+ "Maybe it's fantasy fatigue, but for all the pretty effects and breathless chases and goblin war battles, the sense of wonder and magic is lost in the shuffle."   Seattle Post-Intelligencer   Sean Axmaker 7/10 "The people who made this film cared enough about it to give their all."   Antagony & Ecstasy   Tim Brayton Read review   Sci-Fi Movie Page   James O'Ehley  (1 - 33) of 33 OFCS Rating: 72% Fresh Page   1