Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events English Movie
One would be tempted to view this intriguing adaptation of Lemony Snicket's children's fables for at least the interesting get-ups of the stars.
Dark, brooding and sometimes susceptible to be labelled abusive to children, "Lemony Snicket's..." chronicles the rather bizarre and often painfully sadistic adventures of three bright orphans tossed from one eccentric household to another for a home away from home.
Perhaps, what Siberling hoped to achieve through this acutely dark journey into the underage psyche is best represented in the boy Klaus (Liam Akin), who mumbles angrily about the unfairness of their situation, to his sister Violet (Emily Browning).
Violet wonders if Klaus means the wicked uncle who has taken them in.
"No. I mean our parents for leaving us like this," replies Klaus.
Despite the dire straits, the three children remain remarkably hopeful - almost upbeat - to the end.
In "Lemony Snicket's...", we see the kids being tossed through a tumult of fairytale dangers - not quite life threatening, but still nail-biting in its suspense.
All the three children are delightful performers. The film's visual profile is impeccable.
With "Lemony Snicket's..." director Siberling appears to have come a full circle, after his rather disappointing screen version of comic book spook-hero Casper.
The frames are unreal, in an authentic way. The characters seem to be at once fantasy figures and reality prototypes. And Gothic colours merge with seamless splendour into the more contemporary framework.
The violence perpetrated against the children and their adventures are partly comic and partly sinister.
Departing from both the fable-like scenario and the horror genre, the director creates a world that's done up in elaborate shades suggesting swash-buckling intrigue.
The performances, especially Jim Carrey's with his amusing and alarming masquerade of villainy, seems to echo the mood of reckless adventure.
Billy Connolly as an animal-loving benevolent guardian and Meryl Streep as a squeamish aunt, all get into the thick of things without appearing hammy - a tendency that looms large over a film that redefines the spirit of magic and adventure for both children's and adult cinema.
