Release Date: February 14, 2008 (conventional theaters and IMAX)
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Mark Waters
Screenwriter: John Sayles, Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen, Martin Short
Genre: Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG (for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements)

Plot Summary: From the beloved best-selling series of books comes “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon and Mallory investigate what’s really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.

Our Thoughts: We a drawn to wonder why a bigger budget fantasy flick would get dumped off in February, but it may just be trying to cherry pick some box office receipts from lesser films. The book upon which this based had a solid fanbase, but without good marketing this one may end up as this year’s Golden Compass — just without the atheism.

Reviews

“…this is an early contender for the most overrated film of the early year. Apparently it was okay, for once, for critics to check their brains in at the door. I guess I didn’t get the memo.” — Nathan Deen (Grade: D+)

Video Clips / Other Media

- The Spiderwick Chronicles Drinking Game — by Kevin Carr
- Humor: Nick Nolte Drunk at the ‘Spiderwick’ Junket
- Video Clips: “We Have to Protect the House,” “Piano,” and “Placing My Trust in You”
- Three Clips: “Aunt Lucinda”, “Break the Seal” and “Dumbwaiter”

News / Preview

- 2008 Movie Preview: The Spiderwick Chronicles
- Comic Con ’07 Report: Paramount Pictures

Official Websites:

- SpiderwickChronicles.com
- MySpace.com/SpiderwickChronicles