The Thief Lord
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Movie Reviews of The Thief Lord
Movie Review: An Unsung Gem
Summary: 5 Stars
Most films released with such little promotion are horrible, but "The Thief Lord" is actually quite good. One of its finest selling points is that it contains none of the gross adult humor that is so popular in modern children's movies. "The Thief Lord" is based on the German children's book with the same name by Cornelia Funke. Although the same complaint about adaptations applies: The movie is almost never as good as the book, this should not keep anyone from enjoying the film.
There are a few minor changes to the story mostly to make it better suited to the screen, but the movie follows the book fairly closely, and the plot moves a lot quicker than its literary counterpart. Orphans Prosper and his younger brother Bo run away to Venice, the city from their mother's fairy tales, because their aunt wants to separate them. Upon arriving in Venice, the boys come under the protection of an older boy known as the Thief Lord who shelters a group of homeless street kids. However, their aunt isn't about to give up that easily, and a detective is soon on hot Prosper's and Bo's trail. When the Thief Lord agrees to perform a special theft for a mysterious count, the children, the detective, a photographer, and a crooked antiques dealer are all drawn into something much larger than any of them could have guessed.
The children are well cast. The boys playing Prosper and Bo are the cutest kids since the boys picked to play Ron Weasley in the first Harry Potter movie and Colin Creevey in the second, and Riccio looks like a young Johnny Rotten right down to the teeth. The film itself is well shot. It is obvious that this was a low budget film when it comes to the special effects, but things don't always have to look like they cost millions of dollars. The makeup and effects could have been better for Scipio's transformation though. That's the only real disappointment.
Overall, this movie is better than much of what is out there.
Movie Review: A Fun Romp in Venice
Summary: 5 Stars
We rented this movie because of the location - Venice. We enjoyed viewing it as a family.
The plot has been summarized already: Brothers Prop & Bo lost their mother three months earlier. Six year old Bo (for Boniface) is living with his unpleasant aunt and uncle and Prop ("Prosper") is an orphanage. They escape together to Venice, the place they would have moved with their mother if not for her untimely death. They meet up with a team of orphans who live in an abandoned theater and support themselves with petty crime.
Prop is tempted to steal some cough medicine to help Bo but then replaces the bottle. He is reticent to take part in any sort of thievery. Little Bo reasons that if these other children have helped him, he'll help them in return regardless of whether the activity is objectionable.
The adults are cariacatures, as one typically finds in movies made for kids. Vanessa Redgrave shines as an empathetic adult who becomes involved in their adventure. The children are appealing characters, unlike your standard Disney brats.
I was concerned that this movie may glorify crime but I don't think that it did. The scene toward the end with a magical merry-go-round may spook younger children a little. I'd definitely sit with them through it.
For me, the beautiful scenes in Venice took center stage with an enjoyable story tagging along.
Movie Review: Thief lord 4 eva!
Summary: 5 Stars
The thief lord is a realy good adventure/family movie. i read the book and since then i'd been begging my mum to get the Thief Lord on DVD. then when i saw it in the library i thought. well now this is cool i can take it out whenever i want. so i took it out todays ago and since then ive watched it twice. I really enjoyed it and i have to say that Aaron Johnson and Rollo Weeks are well hot and i'd really like to meet them and ask them some questions about the movie. the way Prosper and Bo seemed to hav a connection that was really special and the way scipio was actually a very rich boy but hung out with the orphans and thieves. I really enjoyed it and if i could actually just meet Aaron Johnson or Rollo Weeks i'd be really excited. im just about 12 and i wont be able to write here much longer so kids listen here. the theif lords a good 'un and u better watch it!Movie Review: Surprisingly Great
Summary: 5 Stars
My friend and I were at a movie rental place when my friend's dad found this movie among many popular ones. My friend and I were utterly surprised. Having read the book and loved it, i was apprehensive to get it since it never came out in the theaters. But we decided, since the book was so amazing, to try it out.
I am glad i did. The movie followed the plot precisly and i found myself laughing and sitting at the edge of my seat. The characters were exactly how i pictured them although at times they were dry. The movie theater they lived in was better then i imagined it and i was blown away by the scenery of venice.
Overall, i found it very refreshing, having followed the book and bringing my favorite story to life.
Movie Review: Different, but Enjoyable
Summary: 5 Stars
If you've read the book, you'll probably be skeptical about the movie, but it's a great family movie, as long as your kids aren't too critical.
It's not an Academy Winner, but I really liked it. I originally looked this movie up from Rollo Weeks (Scipio) because I saw him in the Little Vampire, but I found a better actor in this: Aaron Johnson (Prosper). He really deserves recognition for this film. He was better than I had expected because I'd only seen him in a cameo role in Shanghai Nights (Charlie Chapmin) a few years before, but I was very impressed with his talent.
The movie in general is a good one and is enjoyable for the family and for all ages.
Grade: B+