A Little Carrey Goes a Long Way
Added 12/13/2009
In "Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events" (2004), narrated by Jude Law, Jim Carey not only plays a hammy would-be actor, Count Olaf, but he mugs up his multiple parts so much that the movie gets overwhelmed by him. One can't tell it's Jim Carrey because of his weird make-up, but he's still an annoying presence. How do you shut him down or off without foregoing the movie altogether?
The movie, a dark comedy, is based upon Daniel Handler's popular books which have been labeled "subversive children's books" because they are unconventional. Three children have been made orphans when their parents perished in a fire. They are the Baudelaire family (same name as a famous French poet). The three children are very resourceful: Violet is a clever inventor, Klaus is an avid reader who remembers everything he's ever read, and the youngest, Sunny, speaks in subtitles.
Lawyer Poe, like a mannered character from a book rather than a real person, places them with Count Olaf, a crook who wants the wealthy orphans' inheritance. In a series of Perils of Pauline cliffhangers (cars planted on tracks in front of oncoming trains, leeches swarming and attacking, and a Charles Addams house teetering on the edge of a cliff), Olaf tries to kill off the kids.
Meryl Streep acts like she's from another movie (a not very good one), and it's one of her poorest performances, ineffective and cloying. Keep an eye out for a pointless cameo appearance by Dustin Hoffman.
Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly), a good guy, has a collection of snakes that may scare or delight the kiddos.
At times the flick is overly cute. I find the story to be clunky and labored. I'm not sure that little kids are going to figure out what's going on, and Jim Carrey's over-the-top posturing may not register.
The closing credits are very cleverly done, reminiscent of illustrator Gorey. Carrey plays a menacing presence, but he does a much better job playing Scrooge in 2009's "Christmas Carol." This is a quirky movie with great sets, and an adaptation that will probably thrill the readers of the book series.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Enjoyable
Added 12/8/2009
My son and I are reading the Unfortunate Events series and purchasing the movie just made it more enjoyable. Also for the price we paid, you can't go wrong. Hopefully, they make part 2.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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I'm an adult who loved this movie
Added 12/2/2009
I usually cannot stand Jim Carey and his antics, but he wasn't so bad in this movie although I would not have cast him in the role of Count Olaf. I have never read the Lemony Snicket books, but I thought all the other casting was great. the thing that I love most about this movie is that its a visual feast for the senses, I love the muted colors and the whimsical world that these characters live in, its is both tangible and familer but at the same time strangely and uniquely diffrent. Its defintely a world I would love to see if such a thing were possible. This is an entertaining movie for children and those who are still young at heart. I had no idea that Jude law was the narrator of this film for some strange reason I always thought it was Ben Chaplin.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Great DVD
Added 11/7/2009
My son loved Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Event dvd. Seller delivered dvds on time and in excellent condition.Great sound and picture quality, too. Happy customer results in happy buyers.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Prompt delivery
Added 9/11/2009
Wonderful seller! Very quick delivery and the product was in gret shape, just as described.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A Little Carrey Goes a Long Way
Added 12/13/2009
In "Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events" (2004), narrated by Jude Law, Jim Carey not only plays a hammy would-be actor, Count Olaf, but he mugs up his multiple parts so much that the movie gets overwhelmed by him. One can't tell it's Jim Carrey because of his weird make-up, but he's still an annoying presence. How do you shut him down or off without foregoing the movie altogether?
The movie, a dark comedy, is based upon Daniel Handler's popular books which have been labeled "subversive children's books" because they are unconventional. Three children have been made orphans when their parents perished in a fire. They are the Baudelaire family (same name as a famous French poet). The three children are very resourceful: Violet is a clever inventor, Klaus is an avid reader who remembers everything he's ever read, and the youngest, Sunny, speaks in subtitles.
Lawyer Poe, like a mannered character from a book rather than a real person, places them with Count Olaf, a crook who wants the wealthy orphans' inheritance. In a series of Perils of Pauline cliffhangers (cars planted on tracks in front of oncoming trains, leeches swarming and attacking, and a Charles Addams house teetering on the edge of a cliff), Olaf tries to kill off the kids.
Meryl Streep acts like she's from another movie (a not very good one), and it's one of her poorest performances, ineffective and cloying. Keep an eye out for a pointless cameo appearance by Dustin Hoffman.
Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly), a good guy, has a collection of snakes that may scare or delight the kiddos.
At times the flick is overly cute. I find the story to be clunky and labored. I'm not sure that little kids are going to figure out what's going on, and Jim Carrey's over-the-top posturing may not register.
The closing credits are very cleverly done, reminiscent of illustrator Gorey. Carrey plays a menacing presence, but he does a much better job playing Scrooge in 2009's "Christmas Carol." This is a quirky movie with great sets, and an adaptation that will probably thrill the readers of the book series.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Enjoyable
Added 12/8/2009
My son and I are reading the Unfortunate Events series and purchasing the movie just made it more enjoyable. Also for the price we paid, you can't go wrong. Hopefully, they make part 2.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
I'm an adult who loved this movie
Added 12/2/2009
I usually cannot stand Jim Carey and his antics, but he wasn't so bad in this movie although I would not have cast him in the role of Count Olaf. I have never read the Lemony Snicket books, but I thought all the other casting was great. the thing that I love most about this movie is that its a visual feast for the senses, I love the muted colors and the whimsical world that these characters live in, its is both tangible and familer but at the same time strangely and uniquely diffrent. Its defintely a world I would love to see if such a thing were possible. This is an entertaining movie for children and those who are still young at heart. I had no idea that Jude law was the narrator of this film for some strange reason I always thought it was Ben Chaplin.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
