Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Critic Extraordinare

My friend Marisa works for the University newspaper and she was asked to write a review of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. She really wanted to make it funny so she ever so humbly asked me to colaborate with her on the matter. So I, ever so humbly accepted. As we were writing she encouraged me to apply for a writing position at her beloved paper. I think I might. But enough of this crap. I present to you my little bastard...I mean, "love child."


Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events
Starring: Jim Carey, Billy Connolly, Meryl Streep, and Jude law
Rated PG
Director: Brad Siberling
5 stars

No matter how many times Lemony Snicket cautions you that his Series of Unfortunate Events is not a story about a happy little elf, you can’t help but feel compelled to stick around to see what the silver screen holds for you. What appears to be a light-hearted children’s story at first glance, quickly reveals itself to be a rather twisted and diabolical tale reminiscent of the Brothers Grim. The story is based upon a series of books written by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) about three young children known as the Baudelaire orphans. Although orphaned at young ages by a fire, these three protagonists show remarkable resilience throughout the various tribulations caused by the talentless arsonist Count Olaf.
Olaf is played by the brilliant yet harebrained, Jim Carey. Carey, it would seem, was birthed with the notion that one day he would be destined to become a comedic mastermind and a man from the moon thus ensuring his role for the part of Count Olaf. Whereas Carey is the villain, one cannot help but love his hysterical over-the-top antics. For someone not to overdo the part of Count Olaf, would in fact be under-doing it. Jude Law’s well executed narration at the beginning and throughout this movie is careful to present the movie as a story on film rather than a film about a story. Each Baudelaire is endowed with their own unique skills that prove to be more like super powers when executed. Violet, the eldest Baudelaire, is a fourteen year old female MacGyver while her brother Klaus is a bookworm with amazing retention and the youngest, Sunny, can do little more than recite Shakespeare in baby babble and bite things. These modern day Dorothy’s voyage over seemingly insurmountable obstacles only to discover that there truly is no place like home.
On their journey through the plethora of Tim Burtonesque scenery, the Baudelaires engage life in lavishly constructed and conceptual environments. Overall, the technical aspects of this film were terrific from the outlandish makeup to the wild and crazy costumes. Even the credits deserve mounds of credit and the props are certainly worthy of “mad props.”

2 comments:

Spark of Life said...

Ty and Kirsten saw it with Grandma and Pauppa. They said it blew donkey turds. I was disappointed, but since you sing its praises, I shall reconsider my decision to view it.

A-funk said...

Excellent. (said in a sly, whispery voice accompanied by rhythmic finger tapping)