The Spiderwick Chronicles [Blu-ray]

The Spiderwick Chronicles [Blu-ray]
by Mark Waters (VIII)

The Spiderwick Chronicles [Blu-ray]

List Price: ~~$39.99~~
Our Price: $16.99
You Save: $23.00 (58%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $12.95 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details

Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD details

Actor: Freddie Highmore, Joan Plowright, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Sarah Bolger
Director: Mark Waters (VIII)
Brand: PARAMOUNT PICTURES
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); French (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 101 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-06-24
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount

DVD Reviews of The Spiderwick Chronicles [Blu-ray]

DVD Review: Movie: 3.75/5 Picture Quality: 4~5/5 Sound Quality: 4/5 Extras: 4/5
Summary: 4 Stars

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)

DVD Review: Entertaining and quick moving.
Summary: 4 Stars

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.

DVD Review: Entertaining!
Summary: 4 Stars

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!

DVD Review: Good for My Kids.
Summary: 4 Stars

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.

DVD Review: One of the Better Recent Juvenile Fantasy adaptations
Summary: 4 Stars

The Spiderwick Chronicles is based on a series of popular children's fantasy novels written by Holly Black and Tony Di Terlizzi. The first book premiered in 2003 with four more following in the next two years. The film essentially encompasses the major plot of the five novels although a number of sub-plots and characters are left out and several significant changes were made to streamline the production, such moving the climactic battle from Mulgarath's castle to the Spiderwick estate.

The story centers on the Grace family, twins Jared and Simon, older sister Mallory, and mom Helen, who move into the country estate they inherited from their Aunt Lucinda(Joan Plowright) who is now living in a psychiatric facility. Freddie Highmore plays the roles of Jared and Simon Grace in a remarkable performance. I was convinced that they really were twins as Highmore gives each character a distinct personality and mannerisms. Jared is the agitator and angry with his parents for splitting up and forcing the move to the country. Simon is a thoughtful pacifist and animal lover. Highmore's performance as the twins, as well as the technical aspect of having them onscreen together is flawless.

Jared discovers an old key that opens a truck in the study of Arthur Spiderwick, Lucinda's father. Inside he finds a book, Spiderwick's Field Guide and a note warning not to open the book. Well of course Jared opens the book, unleashing evil forces. Jared meets a Brownie named Thimbletack (voiced by Martin Short) who scolds him for opening the book. He warns him that Mulgarath (Nick Nolte), a shape-shifting ogre, wants the book to unlock its magical secrets and gain dominion over the world. He has a legion of goblins, trolls, and other beasties to aid him. A magical circle protects the house, but Mulgarath has found a way to dispel the enchantment, putting the family in peril. The grace family has to find a way to defeat Mulgarath before he can get his hands on the book.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is an enjoyable film for the whole family and vastly superior to other recent films based on children's/teen fantasy novels, The Golden Compass and Seeker: The Dark is Rising. The Spiderwick Chronicles is geared to kids but could be too intense for young children as some of the monsters, Mulgarath most notably, are quite terrifying. Martin Short is amusing as Thimbletack, the jittery-tempered brownie who can only be calmed by guzzling fresh honey. Seth Rogen provides the voice for Hogsqueal, a Hobgoblin who aids the children.

There is a lot of CGI in Spiderwick that threatens to overwhelm the story when there are dozens of goblins scurrying about and the massive Mulgarath smashing down walls. Still, it has its subtle moments as well with the gentle Sylphs who kidnap Arthur Spiderwick to keep him safe. The tiny fairies look like dandelion fluffs blowing in the wind. The simplicity of the plot also makes it very watchable for kids and probably the reason why so many of the book's subplots were dropped.

Description of The Spiderwick Chronicles [Blu-ray]

From the beloved best-selling series of books comes an extraordinary fantasy adventure revealing the unseen world that exists all around us. From the moment the Grace family moves into a secluded old house peculiar things start to happen. Unable to explain the accidents and strange disappearances the Grace children Jared Simon and Mallory start to investigate and find the unbelievable truth of the Spiderwick Estate and the amazing creatures that inhabit it.System Requirements:Running Time: 101 minutesFormat: BLU-RAY DISC Genre:?SCI-FI/FANTASY/FANTASY Rating:?PG UPC:?097361326146 Manufacturer No:?132614

A very good adaptation of the popular series of books by Tony DiTerllizi and Holly Black, The Spiderwick Chronicles is one of the few family films in recent years to seamlessly integrate magical elements with a potent drama that will strike a chord with many kids. An exceptionally talented Freddie Highmore (August Rush) plays twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, caught up in a sad shock from their parents' divorce and coping with a decision by their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) to uproot the boys and their sister, Mallory (Sarah Bolger), from New York City to a small town. There, the broken family moves into a spooky old mansion passed on to them by the kids' great-aunt, Lucinda (Joan Plowright), who is spending her twilight years in managed care and whose scientist father, Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn), disappeared some 80 years ago. Jared, angry, defiant, and determined to live with the father who seems to have abandoned him, investigates strange happenings and discovers Arthur's secret notations on fairies, ogres, and other mythical creatures that live both in and outside the house. Having no idea where his curiosity is leading, Jared soon finds that he and his family are under siege from goblins and a powerful ogre (Nick Nolte) who wants Arthur's notebook. Suddenly, the boy who is a lightning rod for a troubled family becomes a resourceful warrior intent on saving his loved ones from powerful forces. The Spiderwick Chronicles benefits enormously from a script (partially written by John Sayles) that treats, quite seriously, the emotional pain of its human characters and makes Jared's will to survive the very real engine of an otherwise fantastic story. It helps, too, that director Mark Waters, who brings a warm and knowing touch to outlandish material (Freaky Friday), has a way of making the spectacular elements of The Spiderwick Chronicles genuine enough to stir real excitement and suspense. This is one of the better film adaptations of best-selling fiction for kids in some years. --Tom Keogh

Genres DVDs

DVD Video

Bestsellers in Genres DVDs

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Single Disc)
INDIANA JONES & KINGDOM OF CRYSTAL SKULL (DVD; Release date: 2008-10-14; DVD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops: ~~$34.99~~

Iron Man (Two-Disc Special Collectors' Edition)
IRON MAN-ULTIMATE EDITION (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-09-30; DVD
Best price: $18.10
Price in other shops: ~~$39.99~~

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull [Blu-ray]
INDIANA JONES & KINGDOM OF CRYSTAL SKULL (BLU; Release date: 2008-10-14; DVD
Best price: $20.60
Price in other shops: ~~$39.99~~

The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) Image

The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)
Release date: 2008-12-09; DVD
Best price: $22.99
Price in other shops: ~~$34.98~~

Iron Man (Single-Disc Edition)
IRON MAN (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-09-30; DVD
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops: ~~$34.99~~

Sex and the City - The Movie (Special Edition)
Release date: 2008-09-23; DVD
Best price: $19.84
Price in other shops: ~~$34.98~~

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Two-Disc Special Edition)
INDIANA JONES & KINGDOM OF CRYSTAL SKULL (DVD; Release date: 2008-10-14; DVD
Best price: $19.58
Price in other shops: ~~$39.99~~

Iron Man (Ultimate Two-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray]
Release date: 2008-09-30; DVD
Best price: $24.75
Price in other shops: ~~$39.99~~

Sleeping Beauty (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2008-10-07; DVD
Best price: $11.98
Price in other shops: ~~$29.99~~

The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray] Image

The Dark Knight (+ Digital Copy and BD Live) [Blu-ray]
Release date: 2008-12-09; DVD
Best price: $24.95
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~

Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs

Definitely, Maybe
Release date: 2008-09-02; Video On Demand; Movie
Best price: $3.99

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium [Blu-ray]
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2008-03-04; DVD
Best price: $11.97
Price in other shops: ~~$39.98~~

The Bucket List [Blu-ray]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-06-10; DVD
Best price: $13.45
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~

Vantage Point [Blu-ray]
Sony; Release date: 2008-07-01; DVD
Best price: $19.58
Price in other shops: ~~$38.96~~

Fool's Gold [Blu-ray]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-06-17; DVD
Best price: $13.99
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~

Nim's Island [Blu-ray]
Release date: 2008-08-05; DVD
Best price: $13.99
Price in other shops: ~~$39.98~~

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep [Blu-ray]
Sony; Release date: 2008-04-08; DVD
Best price: $12.98
Price in other shops: ~~$38.96~~

Jumper [Blu-ray]
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2008-06-10; DVD
Best price: $18.90
Price in other shops: ~~$39.98~~

The Golden Compass [Blu-ray]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-04-29; DVD
Best price: $13.56
Price in other shops: ~~$39.98~~

10,000 B.C. [Blu-ray]
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-06-24; DVD
Best price: $16.99
Price in other shops: ~~$35.99~~