Movie Review: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

You must be advised dear reader that I am writing this review through the perspective of an individual who has read Ransom Rigg's New York Time's Best Selling "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" with that being said I can already state that: 

1) In my opinion, the movie was better than the book.

2) There are A LOT of changes in the movie. 

-And we are simply not talking about interchanging the "skills" of Olive and Emma but a lot of earth-shattering changed that are not at all found in the first book. Mind you, I haven't read any of the succeeding books, so perhaps they borrowed material from those. 

Other critics may say that the film may be a little a cliched Young Adult book to movie adaptation but I think it had it's own feel and look. For one thing, it's not a heroine who leads the film but a reluctant, socially awkward and possibly depressed teenager in Asa Butterfield's "Jake".

Asa Butterfield as Jake and the lovely Ella Purnell as Emma. 

Now I already mentioned this before but unfortunately I wasn't too happy about Butterfield's performance. He looks the part-yes, his light blue eyes against his dark hair makes him captivating to watch on screen. Yet, I felt that his performance lacked strength. One of my favorite parts about the book is his strong and close relationship with his grandfather, which I felt was not captured on screen. That scene with the telephone call could have crushed hearts and left viewers crying but alasm it didn't. 

I think getting Tim Burton to direct was a wise and crucial choice as he was able to bring his unique brand of the dark and macabre to the story. That scene with Enoch's "toys" were fighting in classic stop-motion animation is just signature Burton. 

The visionary director was also able to add a dark twist to the mythology of the "peculiar children" -hallowgast a and ymbrines included and I thought that it was actually better than it was in the book. 

The intentions and drive of the villain "Barron" as portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson (I can tell he had fun in the role) was more belie all and frankly a lot creepier in the movie.

Eva Green as Miss Peregrine. 

Burton also made the decision to shoot in an actual location (the house) as opposed to using a green screen and CGI and I think that this also helped "ground" the film and make it more real for both actors and viewers. 

Before wrapping up this review, I must recommend Eva Green as the titular Miss Peregrine, I think the whole "dark Mary Poppins" feel, which Burton envisioned was. It's effective and simply a delight to see on the screen. Eva's transformation, complete with eyeliner and long nails to emulate bird talons was just impressive. Of course her "badass" persona as evidenced by her cross bow skills and the way she shushed Jackson completed the package. 

Way to go Miss P.! 

8 out of 10, delightfully dark and a refreshing take on Young Adult themes, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" is a thrilling adventure that makes us reflect and appreciate family, whether by blood or by being "peculiar" together. As well as embracing each of our own quirks and celebrating the peculiar in all of us. 

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" is NOW SHOWING! 

*Wrote this review in the jeep (Hey! When inspiration strikes right?) from Eastwood and even finished writing it even before reaching IPI, yes traffic was  that bad. 

Took out my "handy dandy" notebook and pen and just wrote away. #IcaWrites