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Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
2004
After losing their parents to a fire, the three Baudelaire children are sent to a distant relative, who, they soon find out, is plotting to kill them and seize their fortune. Read more
| Starring | Jim Carrey, Emily Browning, Liam Aiken, Kara Hoffman |
|---|---|
| Director | Brad Silberling |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi/Fantasy |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Harry Potter's literary rival Lemony Snicket hits the big screen with this visually inspired adaptation that combines the first three titles in the bestselling series. A darkly humorous gothic fantasy, it unfolds like a Grimm fairy tale as imagined by Tim Burton. In another of his wildly over-the-top performances, Jim Carrey is the evil Count Olaf, an actor and master of disguise who's on a murderous mission to swindle three orphaned siblings out of their family fortune. Although Carrey disappoints, coming across as more silly than sinister, the children are fabulous. As they encounter everything from man-eating leeches to falling fridges, they demonstrate real talent and charm, with the toddler twins playing the youngest Baudelaire offspring a particular delight. Ultimately the flawed feature lacks the depth and thrills of the Potter franchise, but, thanks to its quirkiness and whimsical Victorian styling, the film's still an enjoyable affair.
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A dark fantasy that is often scary and frequently amusing; it teeters on the edge of being a classic family movie of an eccentric kind, but a disjointed rhythm and Carrey's pantomine villain count against it.
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One of the most inventive family films ever.
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
45 out of 57 people found this review helpful
superb adaptation
As a father who has read the books out loud to my children, I was relieved and delighted with this adaptation. Occasionaly Hollywood throws a lot of talent and imagination at a film and gives them time and space to flex their muscles. This is one such example, 'Holes' is another. The film is better appreciated if you have read the books, a bit like the Potter movies: but it really doesn't matter. Jim Carey could have been a gurning nightmare of overacting, but he is spot on as the Count. The children are good, but best is the boy,( great acting as he just stands next to a fridge at one point and turns to look at the camera; understated but full of meaning). And the end title sequence was superb, although I was the only one left in the cinema to see it. A detailed carefully made adaptation, which most important of all is great entertainment.
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38 out of 42 people found this review helpful
WORST FILM EVER
I SAT DOWN WITH AN OPEN MIND TO WATCH THIS FILM AS JIM CARREY IS NOT ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTORS.WHAT A MISTAKE,THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN.BORING,BORING,BORING.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS. -
21 out of 26 people found this review helpful
Ok, but not great
Its a really interesting story, but not like jim careys usual films. I think the best part of the film is the kids. they play their parts really well. It just gets all a bit samey by the end and too silly.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
45 out of 57 people found this review helpful
superb adaptation
As a father who has read the books out loud to my children, I was relieved and delighted with this adaptation. Occasionaly Hollywood throws a lot of talent and imagination at a film and gives them time and space to flex their muscles. This is one such example, 'Holes' is another. The film is better appreciated if you have read the books, a bit like the Potter movies: but it really doesn't matter. Jim Carey could have been a gurning nightmare of overacting, but he is spot on as the Count. The children are good, but best is the boy,( great acting as he just stands next to a fridge at one point and turns to look at the camera; understated but full of meaning). And the end title sequence was superb, although I was the only one left in the cinema to see it. A detailed carefully made adaptation, which most important of all is great entertainment.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Bizzare, Twisted Kids Tale
Could easily come from the pen of Roald Dahl, loved it wondeful film. Very weird.
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45 out of 57 people found this review helpful
superb adaptation
As a father who has read the books out loud to my children, I was relieved and delighted with this adaptation. Occasionaly Hollywood throws a lot of talent and imagination at a film and gives them time and space to flex their muscles. This is one such example, 'Holes' is another. The film is better appreciated if you have read the books, a bit like the Potter movies: but it really doesn't matter. Jim Carey could have been a gurning nightmare of overacting, but he is spot on as the Count. The children are good, but best is the boy,( great acting as he just stands next to a fridge at one point and turns to look at the camera; understated but full of meaning). And the end title sequence was superb, although I was the only one left in the cinema to see it. A detailed carefully made adaptation, which most important of all is great entertainment.
-
38 out of 42 people found this review helpful
WORST FILM EVER
I SAT DOWN WITH AN OPEN MIND TO WATCH THIS FILM AS JIM CARREY IS NOT ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTORS.WHAT A MISTAKE,THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN.BORING,BORING,BORING.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS. -
21 out of 26 people found this review helpful
Ok, but not great
Its a really interesting story, but not like jim careys usual films. I think the best part of the film is the kids. they play their parts really well. It just gets all a bit samey by the end and too silly.
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18 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Too scary for very young kids
Liked Timothy Spall & Billy Connolly's characters. Meryl Streep was Brilliant. Loved the kids, baby made me smile. But what was it all about?
Disapointing Film! -
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Might give some kids a fright!
Jim Carrey pulls off the sinister role of Count Olaf quite well, and still remains quirky and humourous. The kids are pretty good in it too, some movies the child actors let it down but the elder two were easy to view and believe (the baby not included as she wasn't so much acting as just being a baby that was filmed!)
It was nice to see Billy Connelly had a brief role in this and a couple of other familiar faces were in the film too.
Might scare younger children who have overactive imaginations though! -
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful
An absolute delight!
This is by far the best childrens film I have seen since Dannys Devitos version of "Matilda".
Everything about this film is superb, I cannot find any faults. The acting from all is top notch, especially Carrey and Emily Browning. The sets are stunning and very gothic, with losts of special effects thrown is as well.
There are lots of cameos as well, including Dustin Hoffman who turns up at the end for a very small part. Billy Connolly, Timothy Spall and Meryl Streep ...plus Jude Law as the Narrator.
According to IMDB the twins who play the little biting child, have the surname Hoffman ....possible relation maybe :)
Take your kids to this cus I would be very surprised if you did not like this yourself...unless of course you're a bit strange. -
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Dark, dark and dark
What a great film.
I have to admit, there are no kids in my house, and I got this out with my fiancee because we both fancied the look of it.
Very dark in tone, and a lot of really good cameo parts from actors that also clearly enjoyed the film.
Completely enjoyable, whether you are an adult or not!
My fiancee tells me it was a bit scary, so be warned! -
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Dark
I have 3 words to describe this film; dark, dark and dark! I've never seen a film like it before, and I'm quite sure I never will again. It's very obscure but some of the acting is brilliant, especially from the 3 children and from the actors of the smaller roles, eg Jude Law and Billy Connolly.
I also love the biter! What a great idea! Jim Carey does his usual overacting but it works for this film and adds to the OTT theme throughout. See it once and add it to your DVD collection, but it may be a while before you're ready to handle it again! -
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Brilliant
Took my 2 boys (4 and 6) to see it. I thought it was very good but the boys really enjoyed it and much prefered it to the Harry Potter films.
Maybe a little drawn out in parts, but none the less the acting was of a very high standard.
We really hope they make more films. -
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
A rather strange intriguing film ...........
A rather strange intriguing film about 3 orphaned children that go to stay with different relations after their parents are killed in a house fire. You find yourself hoping the children will be moving on sometime soon to a relation who is a normal person. The aunt who lives over the edge of a cliff, is neurotically obsessed with accidents. The uncle with the snakes is intriguing but felt the baby being cuddled and licked by the massive snake was wrong and highly inappropriate. I was intrigued by such an unusual sight and the sound of the gurgling baby temporarily distracted you but trying to imagine this in real life was rather disturbing. Children could think that snakes are not that harmful after all!
Jim Carey plays an excellent part and shines through radiantly. Overall he's great but felt some parts of the film were stretched and needed tweaking a little.
I did enjoy it. See what you think!
Critics' reviews (3)
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Harry Potter's literary rival Lemony Snicket hits the big screen with this visually inspired adaptation that combines the first three titles in the bestselling series. A darkly humorous gothic fantasy, it unfolds like a Grimm fairy tale as imagined by Tim Burton. In another of his wildly over-the-top performances, Jim Carrey is the evil Count Olaf, an actor and master of disguise who's on a murderous mission to swindle three orphaned siblings out of their family fortune. Although Carrey disappoints, coming across as more silly than sinister, the children are fabulous. As they encounter everything from man-eating leeches to falling fridges, they demonstrate real talent and charm, with the toddler twins playing the youngest Baudelaire offspring a particular delight. Ultimately the flawed feature lacks the depth and thrills of the Potter franchise, but, thanks to its quirkiness and whimsical Victorian styling, the film's still an enjoyable affair.
-
A dark fantasy that is often scary and frequently amusing; it teeters on the edge of being a classic family movie of an eccentric kind, but a disjointed rhythm and Carrey's pantomine villain count against it.
-
One of the most inventive family films ever.
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
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Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
After losing their parents to a fire, the three Baudelaire children are sent to a distant relative, who, they soon find out, is plotting to kill them and seize their fortune....
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