Director Tim Burton is no stranger to dark fantasy
films. ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘Dark Shadows’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ are amidst
his quirky output. Infusing humour amidst the fantastical blackness his
characters inhabit, Burton’s continued success shows he is on the right
path. Based on a novel by Ransom Riggs, ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for
Peculiar Children’ appears a perfect fit. As weird and colourful as his
previous movies, it finds him in his element in conjuring a work of strange
disposition.
After a bizarre tragedy strikes his family, teenager Jake
(Asa Butterfield) travels to a mysterious island searching for the truth.
Hearing tales from his grandfather Abraham (Terence Stamp), he is further
astonished when meeting Miss Peregrine (Evan Green). Owner of a home for
peculiar children, Miss Peregrine seems to be the answer Jake is looking
for. Events take a sudden turn when a seemingly idyllic island existence
is threatened by a dangerous group led by Mr Barron (Samuel L Jackson).
Forced to protect those he loves, Jake stands firm against the onslaught of
infinitively bizarre creatures.
On the surface ‘Miss Peregrine’ has a lot going for it -
great scenery, amazing CGI and an intriguing source story. These should
add to enjoyable viewing although eventually the cracks start showing.
The main problem is Tim Burton. He has directed so many of these types of
films that he is in danger of parodying himself. From the look to the
style of acting, there’s a sense of having seen it before. Whilst it’s
far better than most bland cinematic product, there’s a feeling of diluted
energy in his latest work.
Butterfield makes for a fair hero although upstaged by
Green’s showy role. She does what she can with a script often mirroring
the ‘X-Men’ series in structure. There’s not much originality seen but the
spectacular CGI is continually pleasing on the eye. This visual flair
goes some way in papering over plot holes with the sluggish pacing also an
issue. Burton’s love of horror seeps through on a few occasions, managing
some effective scares amongst the family fare for which he aims.
‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ is an average
Tim Burton effort. Despite not being among his best, it isn’t his
worst. Perhaps he needs to re-invent his style to provide fresh
energy. In doing so, he could re-discover his passion for crafting more
original material to dazzle future audiences.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 6
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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