Recently Reviewed

The Spiderwick Chronicles

($39.99; Release date: 6/24/08)

By DAVID LEWIS

Paramount Home Video

 
Cast: Sarah Bolger, Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Andrew McCarthy, Izabella Miko, David Strathairn
 

Everything about "Spiderwick Chronicles" wants to be in the same leagues as "Lord of the Rings," "Harry Potter" or even "Chronicles of Narnia." But instead of the elaborate behind-the-scenes material and packaging afforded to those other film series, "Spiderwick's" two-disc DVD release settles for a faux fancy container and a smattering of overly familiar featurettes.

This "Field Guide Edition" (named after Professor Spiderwick's handy reference book of invisible monsters and fantastical creatures) comes in a plain two-tray DVD box with no liner notes and a flimsy slipcase with a shoddy Velcro fastener. It's meant to appear like the sturdy, almost literary packaging that accompanied the massive four-disc sets for "LOTR" films and the similarly packaged "Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Don't be deceived, kiddies.

Likewise, the extras are run-of-the-mill behind-the-scenes docus, mostly headed up by director Mark Waters (who's affable, excited and obviously interested in the film and the book series upon which it was based). But Waters' enthusiasm isn't enough to keep things interesting. There is, however, a nice look at the work that went into turning pint-sized thespian Freddie Highmore into twin brothers (probably the most convincing twin role since Jeremy Irons in "Dead Ringers").

Some deleted scenes add just a little to the offerings, but Nickelodeon's TV spots (featuring characters speaking to the camera) are fun.

AC-3, Color, Dolby, Widescreen. Running time: 101 minutes