Product Description
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In Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, after
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire's parents perish in a
terrible fire, they are placed in the care of their uncle, Count
Olaf (Jim Carrey), an evil fiend who is plotting to kill them and
seize their fortune. The orphans travel from guardian to
guardian, including herpetologist Montgomery Montgomery (Billy
Connolly) and grammar-wise Aunt Josephine Anwhistle (Streep), but
the worst guardian of all is Count Olaf. Plotting to steal the
children’s fortune, Olaf disguises himself as his assistant
Stephano and ship captain Julio Sham and keeps popping up in the
strangest places. Just when the Baudelaires think things are
getting better, something unfortunate happens!
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If you spliced Charles Addams, Dr. Seuss, Charles Dickens,
Edward Gorey, and Roald Dahl into a Tim Burtonesque landscape,
you'd surely come up with something like Lemony Snicket's A
Series of Unfortunate Events. Many critics (in mostly mixed
reviews) wondered why Burton didn't direct this comically morbid
adaptation of the first three books in the popular series by
Daniel Handler (a.k.a. "Lemony Snicket," played here by Jude Law
and seen only in silhouette) instead of TV and Casper veteran
Brad Silberling, but there's still plenty to recommend the
playfully bleak scenario, in which three resourceful orphans
thwart their wicked, maliciously greedy relative Count Olaf (Jim
Carrey), who subjects them to... well, a series of unfortunate
events. Along the way they encounter a herpetologist uncle (Billy
Connolly), an anxious aunt (Meryl Streep) who's afraid of
everything, and a variety of fantastical hazards and mysterious
clues, some of which remain unresolved. Given endless wonders of
art direction, costume design, and cinematography, Silberling's
direction is surprisingly uninspired (in other words, the books
are better), but when you add a throwaway cameo by Dustin
Hoffman, Law's amusing narration, and Carrey's over-the-top
antics, the first Lemony movie suggests a promising franchise in
the making. --Jeff Shannon
A Message from Count Olaf
Dear Adoring Fan of Count Olaf,
Perhaps once every thousand years, a talent emerges that
completely changes the way movies are made, orphans are orphaned,
and heartthrobs throb. Often this talent has only one eyebrow, as
is the case with one of the most cherished and admired actors
scheming today. Surely you can you guess of whom I think.
No, you fool! I am referring to the One...the Only...the
Unbelievably Handsome Count Olaf!
Or, as I like to call him, Me.
If you've already seen my performance in Lemony Snicket's A
Series of Unfortunate Events, you must still be speechless. But
if you haven't, you are in serious danger. Just teasing. But you
could be after I send one of my gifted henchpersons to your home!
So why not get my movie on DVD? This major motion spectacle has
everything. Me, acting! Leeches, attacking! Orphans, almost
falling off a cliff! Of course, if you are familiar with books by
Lemony Snicket, you know that they include all of these things
too, but most of what he says is lies, and the rest is completely
boring.
There's never been a film that demands repeated viewing in quite
the same way, with a diabolical genius writing you a letter that
says, "I DEMAND REPEATED VIEWING!!!" Plus with DVD extras, you'll
get at least 20% more Olaf for your money. And... just for you,
for an unlimited time only, I'll throw in Aunt Josephine free
with purchase.*
So, noble ians, put down your hunting spears and exotic
headdresses, and prepare to bask in True Greatness. Or, as I like
to call it, Me.
Of course you may have my autograph!
Count Olaf
*Count Olaf will not be held liable or accept blame in any way
for any and all liability, loss, damage, or personal injury
(including death), without limit and without regard once Aunt
Josephine is thrown in, due to the unpredictable behavior of
hungry leeches.
Stills from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
(Click to )
All Things Snicket
See a complete list of all Lemony Snicket's creations, including
books from the Series of Unfortunate Events, s, and more.
The Essential Lemony Snicket Books
More from the Movie