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Certificate: 
Director: Kerry Conran
Release Date: 01 October 2004
Tagline: Join the Resistance.
Main Cast:
Gwyneth Paltrow … Polly Perkins
Jude Law … Sky Captain
I’m not sure how to rate this film. Visually, it’s very stunning, and I found myself enjoying it up until about half way through, when I lost interest.
It’s an odd mix between the 1940s and the future. I’m not sure that the children of today will understand the blend of the past and the future, however, that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be done. On the contrary, I hope that it will make today’s kids want to learn more about the past.
The film starts with a Zeppelin called Hindenburg III docking at New York City. Now, I don’t wish to be pedantic, but there never was a Hindenburg III, and no Zeppelin ever docked in this area. I only mention this really as it, along with a cinema screening of The Wizard of Oz (released in 1939) dates the film in the late 1930s / early 1940s. The original Hindenburg crashed in 1937, so one would assume that the film is indeed set around 1939. Of course, no children will care about this in the slightest, and it does at least open their eyes to the fact that Zeppelins existed, and how far removed they are from today’s technology.
Anyway, like I said, it’s not really a criticism as such, more of a quibble. I like things to be factually correct in films.
Overall, I think that this is a good all round family film and should keep most older children entertained. It’s not one for younger children as there will be nothing here that they would be interested in.
Oh, and the end of the film is very good!
Rating: 
Certificate:
Director: Brad Silberling
Release Date: 17 December 2004
Main Cast:
Jim Carrey … Count Olaf
Liam Aiken … Klaus Bordelaire
Emily Browning … Violet Bordelaire
Jude Law … Lemony Snicket (voice)
First of all, I know I said that I’d rather gouge out my own eyeballs than watch a Jim Carrey film, but I chose to watch this as it not a typical Jim Carrey vehicle (in fact, I’d go so far as to say that he should have third billing behind the two child leads), and also because Meryl Streep is in it.
I found this a disappointing film on several levels. Firstly, Count Olaf is an evil, murderous character, but Carrey hams it up so much that he comes across as more silly than sinister. At the start of the film, much is also made of how Violet is a brilliant inventor, and Klaus a voracious reader who can remember everything he’s ever read. These elements of the characters are sorely underused (although I have to confess that I have never read the books, so it may be that this is, in fact, as it should be).
Sadly, my attention was lost about a third of the way through, and I kept checking how much longer it had left to go, so that I could move on to something better.
A plus point though, are the children. Both Liam Aiken and Emily Browning are very good, and carry the film well.
As an adult who enjoys many chidren’s films, I found this strangely dull and tedious when it should have held my attention. I’m not even sure that the target audience will be enthralled by it.
Rating: