Yes, I can confirm that this film is, as the title suggests, quite peculiar.
Set in the early second world war in the plush lands of Wales, a forgotten fairy-tale is brought to life by none other than blockbusting tycoon and all round top notch director, Tim Burton.
This story is of course taken from a children’s novel and leaked onto the big screen with envious wit and larger than life, if not somewhat unconventional characters, as is the case with so many of Burton’s cinematic experiments.
With a plot as gripping in peculiarity as this one is, it is hard to find a dull moment through this films duration. However with a storyline as odd as this one finds itself comes a pairing of dark undertones which quite frankly make me question whether it should have ever been branded as a ‘family film’.
Because be it the unpleasant monsters that are hiding behind every corner or just the bizarrely scary characters themselves, one things for sure, this is not a children’s film; it will more than likely keep said children awake at night if you are foolish enough to entertain them with it. However, this being said, I think we can all agree that the majority of Burton’s creations are not exactly for the faint-hearted.
Though the characters play a huge role in the success of this film, it is the special effects and use of setting that truly makes this film spellbinding in its effect. In fact I cannot recall a single film that has ever made travelling back through the ages more satisfying to watch than this one has.
What is so gloriously different about the effects put onto the finished production is that they are not over the top, nor are they unnecessary. Instead, they do exactly what CGI was created and intended for; they complement the film, making it a scorching success in its own right.
The Cinematic Explorer 