Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2004) * Top Pick *

Neo-Victorian I call it...

Genre: Family Adventure Comedy Fantasy (USA, Germany)

Starring: Jim Carrey (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind; The Mask), Emily Browning (Ghost Ship)

Directed By: Brad Silberling (Moonlight Mile; City Of Angels)

Overview: Three children become orphans and are sent to live with Count Olaf, whose interests lie more in the fortune of their parents than the care of the children.

Performance:

The acting is impeccable throughout, Jim Carrey is awesome as always and the kids are great. Even Dustin Hoffman makes an appearance to raise the bar that much more.
Rating: 9

Cinematography:

The vast detail that went into the sets makes this a big-screen must see. Don't wait to rent it! The fantastical settings makes everything fall perfectly into place. A true visual spectacle.
Rating: 9

Script:

"He tried to kill us with a train!"
"How could he get a train?"

The script is one of the best I've heard. The delivery and the writing is quirky enough to keep the words fresh, witty and interesting, and the obvious interruptions meant to twist the plot along add that nervous feel to the situations. The little monologues are ever poetic. This is a masterpiece of words.
Rating: 10

Plot:

Based on three of the children's books, the plot carries us on a children's adventure of discovery and escape only to become re-entwined within the machinations of the villainous but wise Count Olaf. The best part about this plot is that it takes you around from strange to even odder character and even involves the youngest orphan, a one-year-old, in the escapes the orphans take part in.
Rating: 9

Mood:

When you go Goth, you're great in my books, so it's bumped up automatically for that, but the mood doesn't stay somber. Some scenes are vivid and happy, until juxtaposed with the darkness of the theme. I love the way this is a kid's movie, while still being frightening and entertaining. From start to finish, literally from the opening credits to the ending ones, we are immersed in the feel. No one left the theater until the credits were almost finished, the animation sequences were too interesting. Honestly, this will shake the foundations of children's entertainment. Better mood than that too commercial Harry Potter, by a LONG shot.
Rating: 10

"Give me that child before she eats the living room table!"

Overall Rating: 94% (Holy Jumpin' Un-Unfortunate. See this.)

Aftertaste:

Best family movie I've seen in years. Better than Shrek or any other Pixar film I can think of, sorry Antz, even you. This is up there with Snow White: a Tale of Terror in it's feel and visuals, which is a gothic and horrific retelling of the story, far more sinister than you could imagine. I recommend this (and Snow White) to any single person, ever...
Anywhere.