Having loved the books since I was in middle school, I was very eager to see the movie. I first heard they would make the movie in 2003. Six years later, the movie was *finally* out in theaters (I didn't actually see it until last week). Much to my dismay, the film was dismissed with derision by the reviewers and ignored by audiences, which truly saddened me in this world of "Twilight" and Anne Rice. I wanted to see it for myself to find out how bad it was. Not as bad as all that, it turned out. The film had many bad or weak points-- a few examples: Michael Cerveris' dreadfully over-the-top turn as Mr. Tiny (although he did seem to be enjoying himself); the generic schoolyard performances by Chris Massoglia and Josh Hutcherson; and that dialogue. Some of it is clever, some cringe-inducing. But much also stood out: Patrick Fugit, who was incredible in "Almost Famous," is surprisingly good as Evra, the snake boy; the story is capably rendered; the lighting is fantastic. Also, I applaud the filmmakers for forcing the audience to sit through an actual opening credits sequence in this day and age-- gone are the delightful and innovative days of "Superman," with its visually stunning laser text, and other movies like "Gigi" and "Flower Drum Song," the credits of which unfold against stunning artwork. My bias in Hollywood is more toward older films, but-- especially considering the level of harpooning this movie has taken-- this is a perfectly tolerable entertainment for the 21st century, and maybe a bit more.
