Story drowning in special effects

Rating: Null/10 (18 December 2001)

This could be a great movie. The first half of the movie is clever with character interaction and development. Then the movie falls into the trap of displaying special effects for no reason and thinking this makes a good movie. Sorry, it doesn't. Viewers stop caring what is going on or to whom. Mr. Columbus, have trust in the characters and the story. Skip piling on the gizmos- they are really not interesting! The kids are cute, the adult actors are fantastic. The sets are enchanting. It is a movie that is a must-see for Christmas. It is a good movie that could have been great. You'll be able to overlook that fact because you'll have fun. But your kids will be bored shortly into the second half of the movie, and you can't blame them.