Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Widescreen Edition)
by Brad Silberling
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Emily Browning, Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Liam Aiken, Meryl StreepDirector: Brad Silberling
Brand: PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Producer: Albie Hecht
Producer: Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer: Damon Ross
Producer: Jim Van Wyck
Producer: Julia Pistor
Writer: Daniel Handler
Writer: Robert Gordon
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 108 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-04-26
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Widescreen Edition)
Movie Review: 4 Years Later, I Still Love This Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Almost 4 and a half years ago, we saw this film on opening day while on vacation in Phoenix. We loved this film from the opening sequence until the very last person was thanked in the end credits. The transfer to DVD was absolutely stunning, true to the theater experience visually and audibly.
After all this time, this film stands up beautifully as a film I dearly treasure. A recent rewatching came up because City of Ember had a few homages to this film. Although Lemony is a much better film, there's still some parallels in that more recent movie.
There was a lot of debate over accuracy to the books, and how many books were used. In hind sight, this is just so not important. The books are great for what they are. This film is wonderful for what it is. We've just enjoyed this film as a fantastic wonderful story.
The story is about three children that lose their parents in a sad house fire. The orphans are haunted by money grubbing Count Olaf who tries to kill them over and over again. The things that happen to these children is amazing.
From my perspective, this film has very few missteps. The soundtrack is simply outstanding, it is almost another character that amplifies critical moments. The film has this fabulous retro-tech other world look, muted colors, dark scenery, and sparse landscapes. Audio is just great, surround sound is used to perfection. The pacing is virtually perfect, timing of each scene is spot on.
The actors, oh so much to enjoy. Judd Law is so perfect as the narrator, he has a wonderful voice. The children are just so cool, the little girl is precious. My favorite line from her, "She is the mayor of crazy town." I'm not a fan of Meryl Streep at all, and I really like her in this film. Top to bottom, excellent cast. Jim Carrey, maybe a bit over the top, but it's the character. He doesn't necessarily steal this show.
The biggest regret of this film, no more will be made. It didn't do nearly well enough in box offic or DVD sales. So nobody will finance another installment. Harry Potter is good, those films are a fantastic series. Lemony Snicket deserves to be up there right beside them in popularity.
Summary of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Widescreen Edition)
In LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, after Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire's parents perish in a terrible fire, they are placed in the care of their uncle, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), an evil fiend who is plotting to kill them and seize their fortune. The orphans travel from guardian to guardian, including herpetologist Montgomery Montgomery (Billy Connolly) and grammar-wise Aunt Josephine Anwhistle (Streep), but the worst guardian of all is Count Olaf. Plotting to steal the children's fortune, Olaf disguises himself as his assistant Stephano and ship captain Julio Sham and keeps popping up in the strangest places. Just when the Baudelaires think things are getting better, something unfortunate happens!If you spliced Charles Addams, Dr. Seuss, Charles Dickens, Edward Gorey, and Roald Dahl into a Tim Burtonesque landscape, you'd surely come up with something like Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Many critics (in mostly mixed reviews) wondered why Burton didn't direct this comically morbid adaptation of the first three books in the popular series by Daniel Handler (a.k.a. "Lemony Snicket," played here by Jude Law and seen only in silhouette) instead of TV and Casper veteran Brad Silberling, but there's still plenty to recommend the playfully bleak scenario, in which three resourceful orphans thwart their wicked, maliciously greedy relative Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), who subjects them to... well, a series of unfortunate events. Along the way they encounter a herpetologist uncle (Billy Connolly), an anxious aunt (Meryl Streep) who's afraid of everything, and a variety of fantastical hazards and mysterious clues, some of which remain unresolved. Given endless wonders of art direction, costume design, and cinematography, Silberling's direction is surprisingly uninspired (in other words, the books are better), but when you add a throwaway cameo by Dustin Hoffman, Law's amusing narration, and Carrey's over-the-top antics, the first Lemony movie suggests a promising franchise in the making. --Jeff Shannon
A Message from Count Olaf
Dear Adoring Fan of Count Olaf,
Perhaps once every thousand years, a talent emerges that completely changes the way movies are made, orphans are orphaned, and heartthrobs throb. Often this talent has only one eyebrow, as is the case with one of the most cherished and admired actors scheming today. Surely you can you guess of whom I think.
No, you fool! I am referring to the One...the Only...the Unbelievably Handsome Count Olaf!
Or, as I like to call him, Me.
If you've already seen my performance in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, you must still be speechless. But if you haven't, you are in serious danger. Just teasing. But you could be after I send one of my gifted henchpersons to your home!
So why not get my movie on DVD? This major motion spectacle has everything. Me, acting! Leeches, attacking! Orphans, almost falling off a cliff! Of course, if you are familiar with books by Lemony Snicket, you know that they include all of these things too, but most of what he says is lies, and the rest is completely boring.
There's never been a film that demands repeated viewing in quite the same way, with a diabolical genius writing you a letter that says, "I DEMAND REPEATED VIEWING!!!" Plus with DVD extras, you'll get at least 20% more Olaf for your money. And... just for you, for an unlimited time only, I'll throw in Aunt Josephine free with purchase.*
So, noble Amazonians, put down your hunting spears and exotic headdresses, and prepare to bask in True Greatness. Or, as I like to call it, Me.
Of course you may have my autograph!
Count Olaf
*Count Olaf will not be held liable or accept blame in any way for any and all liability, loss, damage, or personal injury (including death), without limit and without regard once Aunt Josephine is thrown in, due to the unpredictable behavior of hungry leeches.
Stills from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Click to Enlarge)
 Violet, Count Olaf, and Klaus |  Aunt Josephine |  Count Olaf and Aunt Josephine |  Directing Jim Carrey |
 Klaus, Mr. Poe, Sunny, and Violet |  Count Olaf |  Olaf Ascending |  The Baudelaire Orphans |
All Things Snicket
 A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ominous Omnibus, Books 1-3 |  The Situation Worsens: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 4-6 |  The Dilemma Deepens: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 7-9 |
 The Slippery Slope: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 10 |  The Grim Grotto: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 11 |  A Library of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-10 |
 Behind the Scenes with Count Olaf: A Series of Unfortunate Events Movie Book |  Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography |  The Puzzling Puzzles Activity Book |
More from the Movie
 Original Movie Poster |  Soundtrack |  Wall Poster |
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Computer & Video Games
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