Review of Five Children and It (2004) by Chas A — 15 Jan 2010

As a book and movie fan, I've learned that when I approach a movie adaptation of a book or novel I like, that I shouldn't expect the book verbatim. After all movies are a completely different genre of entertainment that have their own mechanics compared to books and novels.

Some things work in movies, but not in books, and vice versa. However, when I had the chance to see this adaptation of E. Nesbit's book, I left wondering what had happened to the previous 89 minutes I had spent watching the thing.

While I will admit that the movie does have a decent family film quality, it relies too much on family film stereotypes to keep it going, and it relied too much on Freddie Izzard to keep the audience interested.

Personally I found the intense attention on Freddie and his character simply annoying as he doesn't impress me as an actor. Also, while I can understand some alteration of the plot, completely reworking it to suit a later time period than was intended (1914 instead of 1902), and altering a few of the characters' ages (making Cyril older than he was supposed to be--to aggravate older-younger sibling conflict) was simply bad taste and did nothing to improve the plot.

In my honest opinion I would venture that most of the changes were done to try and ride the coat tails of the Narnia movies--in an attempt to attract the same audience. Some good points in the movie I'd include would be the creative rendering of the Psyammead as well as the voice actor who portrayed him.

Also Kenneth Bragnaugh & Zoe were a delight as always. One of the changes I did like was the inclusion of the car sequence--that felt like an equivalent wish to what E. Nesbit already had. I did miss seeing the Lamb become a grown up for a day, as I thought the comic potential for this would be too good to pass up.

Overall, the movie has its good points and its bad ones as well. Watch with an open mind and you won't be disappointed.