Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Language: English
Runtime: 108 mins
Release Date: 17/12/2004
Dir: Brad Silberling
Certification:

I was really quite disappointed by this film, but then again, the book also disappointed me. Here I would like to point out that I tried to read the first 3 books in the series (on which the film is based) but because year 7s can�t read quickly, I didn�t get to before the film came out, I only read the first one. I only mention this as I therefore can�t really say how much they deviate from the books, though I know they�ve changed a fair amount from the first at least. Enough of that and onto the film. Following the fortunes of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire as they lead very sad lives, from their parents� deaths at the beginning to the death of random guardians and the �evilness� of Count Olaf.

And that�s where I have the problem. Jim Carrey�s Count Olaf. He�s meant to be pure evil in the book, an exceedingly nasty piece of work, and here I just found him really annoying. They�ve also made the role comical (they cast Jim Carrey) giving the character an endearing quality. It�s just wrong. Main problem over, but there are others. Just as the narrator is quite derogatory (I think) in the books, the same thing happens in the film. Okay for five year olds maybe, but I don�t like being patronised. I found the children wooden frequently, apart from Sunny, who was played by an adorable 2 year old and is the films saving grace. She is truly hysterical. Rant over. I wouldn�t pay money to see it (hey, I didn�t) but maybe worth seeing when it comes round on TV.

- Imogen

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