Written by Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a story about a teenage boy named Jacob Portman who witnesses his grandfather’s death. Obviously traumatized and grieving, Jacob goes through all the things his grandfather has given him including the strange photographs. Ever since he was young, Jacob’s grandfather told him bedtime stories about an orphanage containing “peculiar” children. Peculiar meaning a little girl with extreme strength who can lift a bus or a boy with bees living inside of him. Jacob travels to Wales where the home full of peculiar children is supposedly located. He then meets Emma, a peculiar child, and he has to save her and the rest of her friends from the evil that threatens their home and lives.
The movie adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s, directed by Tim Burton, was recently released in theaters and has received very controversial reviews. However, this was a hyped up movie and I can personally say I was very excited to see it. Ever since Tim Burton directed Sweeney Todd, his movies have been… mediocre. But after seeing this film I was pleasantly surprised.
Eva Green starred as Miss Peregrine, and pretty much killed it. Her special power is having the ability to change into a bird and even in her human form, she plays a twitchy but wise woman who would do anything to care for the children. And Samuel L. Jackson played Barron, the villain of the story. Humorous but also creepy with his shocking white eyes and knife as a hand, Jackson portrayed his role well. The kids were a perfect balance of strange and cute. My personal favorite were the twins in creepy white masks and costumes.
The one criticism I have for the film was the so called “fight scene” between the skeletons and invisible monsters. Watching it in the theater, I was confused and also very disappointed. I don’t think it fit at all in the movie and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t even in the book! Tim Burton, although he added his personal flair, kept pretty straight on with the plot—but this was by far the worst scene.
Overall, movies based on books can be very controversial and tricky. Even though I read the book years ago, watching the film brought back a lot of memories and the love I have for the book. The fun and quirky characters are what really brings them together. I recommend that everyone watches the movie while it’s still in theaters!