Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

If I hadn't read the book, I probably would not be so critical, but this way I have to say that I was severely underwhelmed. I didn't understand why the screenwriter switched Olive and Emma's abilities, why no one realized that a torpedoed ship usually has a hole in the side through which water usually leaks in, and I certainly don't understand why a decent mystery horror film had to be rehashed into a mediocre comedy/mystery. Oh well. (08/24/2017)

It was seemingly inevitable for the idea of Ransom Riggs to merge with Tim Burton's imagination. The series dedicated to Miss Peregrine is based on a collection of specific photographs that evoke many associations in people, and that's why Riggs' publisher suggested that he complement these photographs with a specific story. At that time, Burton was slowly reevaluating his permanent team and retained only Eva Green from Dark Shadows. The result is a rejuvenated Burton in a fantasy style, less authorial, and more responsive to the changing tastes of contemporary youth. Yes, some elements wink at the once-famous "Burton-touch," but this time it's more Burton in the service of Riggs, although we briefly encounter the classic California suburb and shrubs shaped like dinosaurs reminiscent of the clumsy Edward Scissorhands. It's not a loss, but it's a compromise. I preferred Big Eyes more because it was truly a step forward, not to the side. (05/21/2024)

The premise is interesting, but this time Burton didn't figure out very well what age group he wanted the final product to appeal to. There are some shots that twelve-year-olds would struggle to breathe through, but most of the narrative feels like a more civil version of the overwrought Alice. The first two acts cannot be denied a magical atmosphere and loving craftsmanship, but the ending falls into a generic and stale sterile phase, where everything is readable in advance and therefore uninteresting in relation to the fate of the characters. Eva Green gets a punishingly short leash, and Jackson as the villain is a lot of fun (which is also the result of an unnecessary attempt at modern insight). The biggest impression, apart from the traditionally beautiful visuals, will be left by the eye-catching Ella Purnell, this girl is definitely worth watching in the future... 65% (01/29/2017)

It's such a grim symptom of the times when a once idiosyncratic author adapts a book about the beauty of being different and distinctive storytelling and comes out with a completely pure, first-rate, contemporary blockbuster with all its diagnoses. Once again it has an implausible cast of characters that dilute any interest, once again we go two-thirds of the way through the film before picking up some kind of plot, once again the whole thing feels like a walk through a freakshow where we pause for a moment at each specimen only to continue unmoved to the next. The best moments here are pulled out of the sleeve of the subject matter (though it's again Harry Potter like crazy) with some cute ideas, the film itself on the other hand lacks any kind of handwriting altogether. The main problem is that the whole imaginary world doesn't work on its own, but only for the viewer. There is no second layer, each aspect of the alternate reality must be given its own few shots and duly commented on, presumably so that they can be used in the final climax. This, however, suffers from a Marvel-esque overstuffing, where basically thirty people are doing stuff, leaving the viewer in the role of the spoiled child of divorced parents, showered with so many toys that he has lost all inclination to play with them. The only thing that ultimately clashes with the whole concept are the gruesome horror scenes of slendermen devouring children's eyes, which admittedly feel a little out of place in all the superficial exuberance, but anything that feels out of place in these calculated films is simply welcome by default. (04/17/2023)

It's with a heavy heart that I rate as I do, because Danny Elfman's score is about the last thing Tim Burton's new film lacks. It's nice to look at, I was very pleased to see Eva Green finally playing something a little different, and the kids are also pleasantly weird, but it's SO boring, confusing towards the end, and the action is there just because, and so the special effects guys can make money... I haven't read the book, but I still want to read it – right now because I just believe it will be better. (11/14/2016)