Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I'm not a big fan of Tim Burton, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is the first film of his that I give an above average rating in 16 years. It has just the right magical, mysterious and fairytale aura that gets darker as it goes on. Eva Green is gorgeous, Samuel L. Jackson is amazing and the young Asa Butterfield is set to be an actor of the future. I liked the theme and the monsters, maybe it wouldn't have hurt to shorten the film slightly, but what the hell, I'm satisfied. More episodes are welcome. My only complaint might be the time loop, which is almost everywhere these days. 80% (2016-11-05)

Tim Burton has really grown stale to me in recent years. Yes, in this film, there are a few horror moments that made me rejoice, but it's just an echo of Burton's poetics. The characters in this film are completely underused, especially Eva Green, who is basically useless here. The others also have little space and their significance is relatively fleeting. I didn't enjoy the film. (2016-10-10)

If I hadn't read the book, I probably would not be so critical, but this way I have to say that I was severely underwhelmed. I didn't understand why the screenwriter switched Olive and Emma's abilities, why no one realized that a torpedoed ship usually has a hole in the side through which water usually leaks in, and I certainly don't understand why a decent mystery horror film had to be rehashed into a mediocre comedy/mystery. Oh well. (2017-08-24)

It's with a heavy heart that I rate as I do, because Danny Elfman's score is about the last thing Tim Burton's new film lacks. It's nice to look at, I was very pleased to see Eva Green finally playing something a little different, and the kids are also pleasantly weird, but it's SO boring, confusing towards the end, and the action is there just because, and so the special effects guys can make money... I haven't read the book, but I still want to read it – right now because I just believe it will be better. (2016-11-14)

The premise is interesting, but this time Burton didn't figure out very well what age group he wanted the final product to appeal to. There are some shots that twelve-year-olds would struggle to breathe through, but most of the narrative feels like a more civil version of the overwrought Alice. The first two acts cannot be denied a magical atmosphere and loving craftsmanship, but the ending falls into a generic and stale sterile phase, where everything is readable in advance and therefore uninteresting in relation to the fate of the characters. Eva Green gets a punishingly short leash, and Jackson as the villain is a lot of fun (which is also the result of an unnecessary attempt at modern insight). The biggest impression, apart from the traditionally beautiful visuals, will be left by the eye-catching Ella Purnell, this girl is definitely worth watching in the future... 65% (2017-01-29)