A website dedicated to reviewing both new and older films, from fan favorites to the latest summer stinker. We do it all here, and suggestions are always welcome.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (2016)
Director Tim Burton has a slight comeback with 'Miss Peregrine'. His usual 'style over substance' does not apply here, as I believe both work together beautifully. Burton's last few years of filmography are not what one would call epic or even memorable. 'Big Eyes' was the for sure stand out, but even that kind of falls by the wayside when one thinks that he can do so much better. With this film, he is able to restrain himself and bring a good fantasy film, with elements for both young and old.
The cast is one of the best I've seen in a Burton film yet, with Eva Green and Samuel Jackson doing great as always. The standout is young Asa Butterfield, whom some may remember from the Martin Scorcese film 'HUGO'. He has really shown in both this and other films that though he is young, he can carry a film almost entirely on his own, and in general he is always wonderful to see on screen. He is that young actor that many other people his age can fully relate to and that's a rarity.
One thing I'd like to point out is the film's special effects work. It has become an unfortunate truth that I simply do not find joy in most special effects work in 2016 since you already know that it was done exclusively in a computer. However here, though I doubt there was little to any practical work the computer effects are well done for a modern film. Some effects, such as the Hollow monsters are a little too cartoony, but some other effects bring me back to the days of Ray Harryhousen and stop-motion effects. I won't spoil them, but they did stand out for me.
I have heard other critics say that the film's storyline does not gel, but I'm not quite sure what they are talking about. Some threads are left behind, but this is minor at best. I have also heard problems with connections to its novel source and to this I say: what were you expecting from a film adaptation? Tim Burton likes to do his own thing, even with other people's source material and on top of that film adaptations will never fully get the book 100% right or else you'd be sitting through five hours of film and I doubt anyone can handle that.
Do I have any personal issues with 'Miss Peregrine'? Sure. The film takes a while to get going and by the time it gets really good and I'm invested the film has ended and set up for the next film. I also love all of the variations of Peculiar children and would have loved to see them do more. This is more due to time constraints, but I would like to learn some more about them if another film is to come out. I also think that for a film that deals with time, it has a hard time juggling it around. I said the film is slow to start, however once it gets going you begin going from scene to scene a little too fast.
Tim Burton has made a very entertaining movie with 'Miss Peregrine' but it's also one with many pacing flaws and a rushed ending to set up a sequel. I recommend it highly, however I wouldn't expect the best from the director here. Entertaining, but forgotten until you rent it.
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