Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: Movie Review

Part X-Men, part Looper, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" is more than we expected it to be and is Burton's best in years. It has great characters, even greater visuals, and the most peculiar thing is how it was able to mold clashing elements into a highly-enjoyable package.

Ever since he was a kid, Jake (Asa Butterfield) has always heard his grandfather tell stories of him being with peculiar kids. Everyone, including Jake, has already concluded that these tales of kids with special powers are just figments of an old man's mind. But when tragedy strikes, Jake is guided to go to a secluded island in Wales where he finds out that these fantastical stories are more than make believe as he uncovers the secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. He learns about the residents and their unusual abilities but also a dangerous reality in the form of powerful, hidden enemies out to get peculiars. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" will suck you in the second it starts. The first few minutes was pure terror.. But something peculiar also happens. With all the dark undertones, we get to see glimpses of comedy and even some bright vibe mixed in. This to and fro battle (or more like balance) between clashing elements (dark and light, grim and funny) is what gives the film much character and depth that we didn't anticipate. The outstanding cast also makes sure that audiences get a more rounded experience. From Eva Green's quirky and stoic performance to Samuel L. Jackson as a thieving villain, you will find yourself more than entertained with most of them. Another thing that the film can boast about is its terrific visuals. While we don't recommend seeing the film on 3D because of the darker tone, everything else well-made. The only downside for the film is its screenplay. While it was better than the book's original story, it felt like it was all over the place especially in its climactic battle. We loved the time loop aspect of the film that's more akin to a scifi film but we were never sold with some of the plot's conflicts like how seemingly cruel Jake's parents is towards him. Overall, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" is highly-recommended. While it's a jack of all trades and seemingly a mix of films and stories we are all familiar with, its totality turns out to be uniquely entertaining.

Rating: 4 reels





Why you should watch it:
- the visuals are terrific
- the cast had fantastic performances

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the story was the biggest letdown for the film