Surprised

Rating: 9/10 (27 March 2010)

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this film. It was not the best thing in fantasy I have ever seen but it was really entertaining. A fairly original story well told with excellent special effects. It was a joy to see De Niro in a real departure for him and also thoroughly enjoying himself. Michelle Pfeiffer I love in anything she does and she too has fun with the part ( and a very passable accent too). Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughan have made a good job of the writing but I would have liked a little less modern idiom and something a little more classic in the way that characters speak. The humour is spot on appealing to children and adults alike. Mark Strong gives excellent value as a dark villain, brooding and menacing. I loved seeing all the British comic actors like Mark Williams, Ricky Gervais and David Walliams in small but effective parts, adding atmosphere and amusement to the movie. I have watched it twice now and enjoyed it more the second time. Well worth a viewing.