Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I am unabashedly looking forward to this one. I think the books are damn smart, and I have my fingers crossed that this one works. Getting an e-mail like this only amps my expectations:
Hi everybody!
Today I was lucky enough to attend a sneak preview of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. All I have got to say is, wow. In a sea of bland “family” movies that are nothing more than generic, PC morals strung together with fart gags, this film stands apart as a dark, hilarious, and heartfelt piece of work.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD, SO BEWARE!
Despite the fact that I have not read any of the books, I found the movie immeasurably entertaining. From the get-go, I could tell this was going to be a memorable movie. Before the announcer could finish saying the word “Lemony” the crowd had erupted in a shrieking frenzy. The finished piece was more than enough to live up to the fanfare. It boasted memorable performances, exciting sequences, and comedy that had people of all ages rolling in the aisles.
I suppose I have to begin by saying that Jim Carrey has reclaimed his throne as a comic mastermind. His portrayal of Count Olaf is both hysterical and chilling (As he is stalking the hallways with a huge Bowie knife, a child steps into the hallway. “Do you have a hall pass?”). From start to finish, every second he's on screen is a second well spent. Also worth mentioning are surprisingly positive performances by Liam Aiken and Emily Browning as Klaus and Violet Baudelaire, the ill-fated young orphans finding themselves in the middle of the murder plot. This movie also boasts a staggering supporting cast, from a wonderfully paranoid Meryl Streep to a fatherly Billy Connoly to a mysterious Jude Law, all people you expect to find at the top of the billing on your average film.
One of the best things about A Series of Unfortunate Events is the fact that, for a family film, it is very, very dark. This is not Harry Potter, and it certainly is not Disney fodder. Death is not depicted in silhouette and vague reference; people die, their corpses litter the floor, and their graves are shown. They don't “pass on” or “complete the circle of life”, they die. Also, the production/costume design weaves a dreary tapestry of greys and blacks; this is not a friendly world for these kids, and you really feel for them. Although the effects were not yet completed, they still succeeded in being mesmerizing and frightening all at once.
To be honest, it is hard to describe in words how this film succeeds as it really needs to be seen to be appreciated. All I can say is that I’m incredibly lucky to have been able to see this movie, and I encourage you all to see this the second you can get yoiur grubby little mitts on tickets.
If you use this, call me the Double Deuce.
Thanks, man. I hope to see it soon enough.
"Moriarty" out.
