First, the Recap:
It’s hard enough being a kid, much less a teenager, when life already seems mundane enough. But for one young boy, Jake (Asa Butterfield), existence becomes anything but uneventful when the stories his grandfather, Abe (Terrance Stamp), regaled him with as a child are revealed to be true. Discovering a world beyond normal time where a group of child “peculiars”, endowed with special powers, all under the guidance of their headmistress, Miss Peregrine (Eva Green). Hiding via a “loop” in time created by Miss Peregrine, Jake takes to his newfound friends well, especially drawn to the beautiful Emma (Ella Purnell). But, sinister forces, monsters known as Hollows, lead by the maniacal Barron (Samuel L. Jackson) aim to destroy them all for their own dark purposes. Soon, Jake realizes only he can save them all.
Worth Seeing: Yes (with some hesitations)
Based on the best-selling novel from Ransom Riggs, director Tim Burton, master of the weird and outlandish, tackles yet another tale of the strange in a decidedly non-kid friendly adventure certainly more suited for early teens and up, as the film’s apropos rating suggests. Filled with admittedly amazing visual presence and fast-paced narrative flow, the dark and honestly macabre turns illustrated here could be the stuff of nightmares, with monsters whose need to regain humanity involves, yes it’s true, eating eyeballs!
Butterfield is suitably good as Jake, Purnell is undeniably cute as Emma, Green excels as Miss Peregrine, and Jackson goes over-the-top again as only he can–by doing it entertainingly well. But, the ominous overall tone, as expected from Burton, and fiendish creatures might turn some people off despite an ultimately positive finale.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
