Wonderful character development!

The Worst Film Ever

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Vacillating over scoring this 3 or less. A generally disappointing movie that one can only imagine genuinely respected actors such as Dustin Hoffman must have ended up feeling a bit embarrassed about being involved with. Potentially this could have been a much better film. One appreciates that it is fantasy, and essentially aimed at children, but this is no excuse for the overarching contrivances and heavy-handed sentimentality all aimed at achieving an emotional response. This film needed another half hour to flesh-out the characters and plot to make us 'care' about them and left too many things feeling flimsy and undeveloped. Children of a certain age may be momentarily amused by some of the 'special effects' for some of the time, but the screenplay, the constant use of emotional music and meme-like conversational gambits, and the rather 'bright'/made-for-TV feel of the production quality, combined with the essentially simplistic and facile 'big message' all leave one feeling bluntly dissatisfied and frustrated at having spent 90-odd minutes watching something that was ultimately 'less than the sum of its parts'.

Please excuse me. I like seeing this movie, Oliver's Ghost, Ice Dreams, Chariots of Fire and others. Yes, I watch them every time they come on. It whisks me away from a world of hell to some place else where something good happens. None of these movies are going to win academy awards. If you don't like the movie stow it me maties. For me this movie is a pleasant little movie that makes my life a little bit less of a hell.But this movie is special. If I was a child in a hospital facing the prospect of death I would like a visit from a cat or a dog snuggling up at my feet on the bed and watching Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. It is a special movie that always brings a smile to my face. What is wrong with that? If it is not your cup of tea then go drink something else. It never fails to lift my spirits.

U2 sings that "every artist is cannibal, every poet is a thief" as it's true that every creator found inspiration from previous works. Here, Tim Burton's touch is clear (especially, "Charlie and the chocolate factory" and underline factory) as well as the magic world of Miss Rowling and a little touch of "Toy Story". But a talented artist achieve to a personal twist that makes things new and shining. Unfortunately, it's not the case here as the movie pains to find a clear direction. Even the dreadful Desplat tries to sound like Danny but he isn't the little maestro either!Done to be a kid movie, the subject is particularly inappropriate as it's ultimately about the last days of an old magician. You can have all the magical powers you want, magic is nothing against death and death will never be something to welcome. So i'm really surprised that the movie is so heavy on death, mourning, black,... Honestly, mixing magic, toys and death is a very dumb choice ! The only good thing here is the cast: if Hoffman is one more time stuck in a crazy, fantastic character, Bateman is funny (especially as he pretends to be a fool) and Natalie is just kindness, sweetness, simplicity incarnated.

First off, the only thing I wish was different was that Eric didn't find any friends, but perhaps it's a good thing. Life's problems don't all wrap up neatly in one little package all at once.Other than that, I actually adore this film. It is not for those people who need backstory, violence, sex, action or language - but it is absolutely for those who still believe in magic and childlike innocence. A lot of details are left out, and if you focus on that, it will drive you crazy. If you can manage, however, to let it go and really just watch the movie for what it is, you'll find a beautiful story about the magic of every day life and believing in yourself. I would liken the attitude to the same of Anne of Green Gables, that fairies exist, blessings are alive and well, and magic is everywhere if you're just willing to see it. Somewhat emotional at times, but this movie makes me feel like a child again, with all a child's wonder at the world and its many joys and surprises. If you can sit down, forget about the real world, not care about who came when and why and where; just enjoy a simple experience for what it is, you will love this show.