I have always gravitated toward Science Fiction/Fantasy books when I am reading for pleasure. I devoured each Harry Potter book, and anxiously waited for the next of JK Rowling’s wordsmithing magic to be published. I had seen the Miss Peregrine trilogy by Ransom Riggs when the first in the series came out, but for one reason or another it never made it to my nightstand until this summer. I became absorbed in the first book, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and could not wait to read Hollow City and Library of Souls after. When I heard the movie adaptation of the first book was due out September 30th, I was eager to see it; after seeing it today, I prefer my imagination’s version over Tim Burton’s.
The story includes teenage angst, family strife, time travel, coming of age, the ultimate battle of good vs evil, realizing self-worth and finding a path in life. The actor does a good job portraying the main character, Jake, with regard to the book’s representation of that part. The abilities of some of the other peculiar children of the story were exchanged in the movie version, and it made for a nice flow of storyline for Hollywood, but was a definite wide veer from the book. What works so well in a book apparently at times needs a more dramatic effect for visual pleasure that movie form strives for.
The Hollows were much created much differently than the picture drawn in my mind when I was reading the books. They struck an unclear memory that I have not been able to recall completely, but I felt instantly when they appeared that they were creatures used in another sci-fi movie. Another scene that felt borrowed from other movies was a battle scene where Enoch used his gifts to create an army to fight the Hollows. Although both seemed to align with Tim Burton’s movie directing ventures of the past, and included perhaps the largest portion of fantasy, I felt he could have created greater.
I did thoroughly enjoy the soundtrack; the music choice was a good complement to each of the acts, and New World Coming has been replaying in my mind long since the movie ended. The music truly set the tone for scenes, and seemed well matched to the actions implied or actual. The setting for the island the orphanage stood on, as well as the orphanage itself, were great visual delights. The casting of Eva Green for the part of Miss Peregrine was spectacular, and she played the part flawlessly.
There were pieces that were so well done, that if the parts that strayed far into fantasy and away from storyline had been as well done, this could have been THE sci-fi/fantasy film of the season. For me it will be difficult, if movies are made of the other two books, whether to decide to see them at the theater or not. The books pulled me in 100%; the movie version of the first book did not live up to the same level of enjoyment.
