The Spiderwick Chronicles Critic Reviews

Instead of the kind of inspired imaginative synergy that distinguished the “Lord of the Rings” and later “Harry Potter” pictures, this movie, directed by Mark Waters (“Mean Girls”), feels more like a sloppy, secondhand pander.Read the full review

For the uninitiated? Man, it's a bummer.Read the full review

Suffers slightly from that not-so-fresh feeling.Read the full review

We're supposed to be agog at the fantastical creatures and dazzling special effects. But the more wrenching story of disillusioned children nags in the background, distracting from any enchantment.Read the full review

A mostly superb cast, superior special effects, a sparkling musical score and a fantasy-filled plot .Read the full review

Not great fantasy, but it's on more solid ground than "The Golden Compass" and will seem less baffling to some. 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."Read the full review

The children's real world, or what passes for real in a fantasy, could hardly be more inviting, for reasons that are hardly mysterious: the strong performances, under Mark Waters's accomplished direction; the smart, bright language, much of it taken from the books; the stylish cinematography, by Caleb Deschanel.Read the full review

A work of both modest enchantment and enchanting modesty, grounded in a classically Spielbergian realm where childlike wonderment crosses paths with the tough realities of young adulthood.Read the full review

Anyone looking for handsomely presented, kid-friendly thrills need look no further.Read the full review