A Series Of Unfortunate Events Review
Starring: Jim Carrey, Emily Browning, Liam Aiken
Director: Brad Silberling
Year: 2004
The first time I saw this movie was in my sixth grade class, and I didn't remember much. The second time I watched it is when I was about halfway through the book series, and I bought it at Wal-Mart for five bucks. I think a little after I finished the books I listened through the commentary while I wrote, but I just watched it again now, and I think this time is when I realized how much I liked the movie. The movie is based off the first three books from Lemony Snicket's novels. Why three? Most likely because the books are short, and if they wanted to cover the whole series in movie form, then they'd couldn't make thirteen movies. I thought that was a good decision, and helped the movie as a whole. As far as the movie does to be an adaptation, I would have to say it does a really good job. First off, I thought it got the theme correct, and that's possibly the most important thing. Second, it covered everything important. Third, the characters, for the most part, came to life. Sure the Orphans somewhat changed from book to movie form, but I can easily see why. The kids are good actors, so why should I hate them for trying? They could have gotten a different kid for Klaus though, just saying that kid looks nothing like I imagined him. But you know who was brought to life through movie form? COUNT OLAF! I don't know how or why Jim Carrey somehow became Count Olaf, all I know is he did the character justice. Count Olaf is probably my favorite character in the books, and is definitely my favorite character for the movie. The movie actually had good writing, writing that did the characters and the books justice once again. Count Olaf I felt was represented perfectly, and I have to say Jim Carrey actually did a really good job. I think in the future if more actors/actresses played book roles, they should at least get common ground with the character. I have no idea if Jim read the books, but I know he caught the character. But is the movie as good if you did not read the books? I remember liking the movie when I watched before reading the books, but then again I was in sixth grade and it is easy to make a sixth grader like a movie. I would say anybody would find this movie to at least be average, but I think readers who don't mind small changes like me will like it the best. I understand some changes need to be made, but I care about three things in book to movie adaptations. One, I feel the book came to life, which in this movie the books I certainly did feel coming full circle, and some scenes seemed just like in the books. Second, everyone tries, such as the writers and actors to match the book while also appealing to movie audiences, which this movie also did. Hell, I feel like everyone was trying in this. And third, major things like theme, character traits, and plot are covered. In this it's a little scrambled to fit three books, but it got it down. I haven't heard many opinions of those who read the books, but from what I have heard is actually negative. I recommend those people watching the movie again like I did, because only now do I realize how much I like this movie. Also, get over tiny things! I heard someone complain that Violet's inventions weren't the same, and that ruined the movie for them. Are you kidding me? She made different inventions, and you felt she was inventor completely. If she ties her hair in a ribbon, then trust me, you have little to complain about. Some things when I watched, I have to admit, there was like no reason for not to change to book form. Like the henchmen of Count Olaf aren't much like their book counterparts. And sure they're actors and actresses, but with what little screen time they have, would have hurt to make them look more like they're book counterparts? I'm not going to complain to much over that, but a few tiny little annoyances pop up like that. But enough about the book, I would like to talk more about the movie as it is. The movie doesn't seem as depressing as the books, maybe because the movie doesn't have Lemony Snicket stop it every moment. Sure a narrator steps in every couple of times, but I felt the narration part of this movie was actually really good, and helped the movie. The movie actually is really funny at parts, due to it's clever writing. I actually laughed at a couple parts, and with how little jokes there are, I have to say it's funny. Also, this movie is rated PG. But with how complicated the story and characters get I couldn't recommended it to children. This is one of many movies on my shelf I really wish would have gotten a sequel. Maybe if the fans gave better feedback, and they were more prepared to make a sequel, maybe it could have gotten one, maybe even a whole movie series. That's not likely now, but a reboot or sequel with new kids to play the orphans would totally be welcome to me. Before watching this movie again, I was about to give it a seven or six, but watching just now showed me a lot of good I hadn't noticed before, and I think I'll look back on it more fondly from now on.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events gets a 4/5
Spoiler Info: This section will go into spoilers of the movie, and the book, so if you haven't experienced both, then skip this section.
Spoilers: First off, I want to talk about what the movie did with the climax. In the book, the orphans are first under the care of Count Olaf, then Uncle Monty, then Aunt Josephine. In this, they are under the care of each guardian, but at the end it goes back to Olaf's for a climax. At first I found that puzzling because I thought that was the most average of the book's climaxes, but they actually changed it. In the original version, the marriage contract Violet and Olaf had became invalid, as Violet wrote it with the wrong hand. In this Olaf catches her, and the contract burns by an act Klaus did. I think that might have upset those who hate every little detail changed in a book to a movie, but I thought that was a good idea. It made the movie audience actually entertained, and I have to admit made the movie a lot better. Also the movie seemed to add scenes not in the book, like the train, and the sanctuary. I like these scenes, as they added character relationship and added to the movie. But if they were adding extra scenes, couldn't they have covered character building scenes from the book like when they went to the movie? That was a bad example, and I definitely would rather have the train scene, but I think it was worth mentioning. Also, the movie used these spyglass things to tell about V.F.D. That was the one loose end of the movie, and wasn't really explained. That was probably for the sequels, but I guess those will probably never come. Nevertheless the movie still did it's job, and I wish more movies like The Lightning Thief had this job done to them.
Badges
A Series of Unfortunate Events gets THE CHARACTER BADGE
A Series of Unfortunate Events gets THE "CREATIVITY" BADGE
