MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN = B- 

I enjoyed this film of fantasy and imagination, although I feel it could have been a lot better. It had all of the visuals and spectacles that you would expect from a Tim Burton film, yet it lacked the heart and soul that make some of his other films special. 

The mystical and mystique of the film, with the vibrant and colorful characters the child in me appreciated. Had I been seven years old watching this film for the first time, I think I may have been a bit more forgiving of what the film lacked in substance. On a story level I felt I never got to know the characters as intimately or as deeply as I would have liked to have. It felt like nothing more than an acquaintanceship. I would have liked for more development. When I watched BIG FISH or EDWARD SCISSORHANDS for example I felt rooted to the characters. As if I knew them. I was wanting that here, but I didn't receive that.

The film's strength was in it's characters, which is what also painfully points out the film's weaknesses. The character's were more about what they could do, than who they were. Samuel L Jackson's character, while threatening and scary, felt more like an average every day run of the mill villain than he did an arch nemesis. I wanted a Shredder Vs Splinter show down. Not just this week's bad guy, with the weird name, no one will remember by the next episode.

Which leads me to another weakness of the film. It felt like it was going to go down a rather dark road for a while. A strong PG-13 tone, similar to the cartoon version of Tales From the Crypt or some of the darker episodes of Are you Afraid of the Dark. Then suddenly the film transitions into something G friendly.

As for performances, they were great. I haven't seen much with Terence Stamp other than SUPERMAN II and that weird transvestite movie he was in a long time ago. I think he still looks like that famous painting of Jesus, even without the beard. I could have used more of him in the film and was sad that his part was so menial.

And does Rupert Everett age in reverse? I swear he looks younger in this 2016 film than he did 20 years ago. Could have used more of him in the film too.

This certainly isn't Burton's best work, but it's far from his worst too. I wouldn't be adding this to your collection of great works, but it is definitely worth a viewing.

If I had to sum it up in a few short words, I'll say this....

It feels like an uncompleted project that was turned in so that it wouldn't be docked points for being late.