# The Series of Unfortunate Events Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935 "2004-11-28T00:48:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/1 "2004-11-28T00:48:34Z")
There are, what, 14 of the Lemony Snicket _Series of Unfortunate Events_ books. Which of them is the upcoming movie supposed to tackle? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/2 "2004-11-28T00:50:37Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > There are, what, 14 of the Lemony Snicket _Series of Unfortunate Events_ books. > > Which of them is the upcoming movie supposed to tackle? There are only 11 books in the series so far, out of 13 planned. The movie is supposed to be based on the first three. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/3 "2004-11-28T00:50:52Z")
The first three. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/4 "2004-11-28T05:06:40Z")
Could somebody pretty please spoil them? I’ve never been able to decypher the alliterative Dickensspeak the blurbs are written in. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/5 "2004-11-28T08:36:25Z")
Sure thing, **don Jaime**. The series is about the Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. In the first chapter of the first book, they learn from an unsympathetic and unhelpful adult that their parents have died tragically in a horrible housefire while the children were at the beach. After that, things generally go downhill for them. You really shouldn’t read them; they’re horribly depressing. If you really want to read something, you should find something nicer. Wouldn’t you rather read about ponies? Having a party? Everybody loves a pony party! 😃 If you absolutely insist on knowing more, but are wise enough to avoid reading the books, I suggest [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=161824). ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/6 "2004-11-28T08:42:38Z")
If you follow that link, you should note that the OP changes his/her mind in post 21. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/7 "2004-11-28T14:08:20Z")
After hearing Tim Curry narrate an audiobook of one of the Lemony Snicket series, I fine myself incredulous that he wasn’t cast instead of Jim Carrey. I feel a little pissy about it, in fact. I haven’t read any of the books except the one on CD that I grabbed when every Audiobook on CD was checked out from the adult section of my local library. I looked in the kids’ section and voila. Curry did such a bang-up job. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/8 "2004-11-28T14:18:31Z")
> [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](#): > > After hearing Tim Curry narrate an audiobook of one of the Lemony Snicket series, I fine myself incredulous that he wasn’t cast instead of Jim Carrey. I feel a little pissy about it, in fact. I haven’t read any of the books except the one on CD that I grabbed when every Audiobook on CD was checked out from the adult section of my local library. I looked in the kids’ section and voila. Curry did such a bang-up job. **Doomtrain** and I started listening to one and had to turn it off, because Tim Curry did too good a job as Count Olaf. That hacking, wheezing cough was sickening. Otherwise it was great. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/9 "2004-11-28T21:55:45Z")
The books work great as books and I don’t see what good it will do to present the story in a different medium. Except to make a zillion dollars for the movie studios. I’ll admit that Jim Carrey can do serious roles (The Majestic, Eternal Sunshine…) but he’s treating this as another “Woo look at me, I’m Jim Carrey, I can do funny faces” role. And in a way, I suppose that works, but I think it should be more of a Professor Snape type. This one is already on my “Don’t need to spend $7.50 on THAT ticket” list. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/10 "2004-12-16T19:26:21Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > The books work great as books and I don’t see what good it will do to present the story in a different medium. Except to make a zillion dollars for the movie studios. I’ll admit that Jim Carrey can do serious roles (The Majestic, Eternal Sunshine…) but he’s treating this as another “Woo look at me, I’m Jim Carrey, I can do funny faces” role. And in a way, I suppose that works, but I think it should be more of a Professor Snape type. This one is already on my “Don’t need to spend $7.50 on THAT ticket” list. I’m bumping this thread rather than start a new one… the reviews are out in my local paper today. The “real” reviewer agrees with you, **Dude**. Of course it’s not clear from the review that he’s read the books, but my fear is/was that Carrey’s camp will destroy the series. But the reviewers biggest complaint seems to be the plot: > [@](#): > > _**[An unfortunate adaptation](http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/12/16/Weekend/Lemony_Snicket__An_un.shtml)** > by Steve Persall, St. Pete Times movie critic_ > > As clumsy as its title already is, the word “repetitive” should be placed somewhere in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Brad Silberling’s movie, based on three of 11 books in a popular series, leaves the impression that if you’ve read one, you’ve read 'em all. > > That isn’t a knock against novelist Daniel Handler. Judging from sales, his fans read them all anyway. But it’s revealing that three books were required to construct a single movie, because Hollywood typically can’t do one book at a time justice. When a film’s initial pleasures decline from one act to the next, it’s because enduring material isn’t there. The same happened with Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, another wonderful piece of children’s literature that wore out its welcome onscreen in 30 minutes. > > Coincidentally (or not), both films feature Jim Carrey given free rein to go absolutely bonkers, and a little of that from anyone, especially Carrey and Robin Williams, goes a long, long way. Carrey plays Count Olaf, deranged guardian of three orphans whose inheritance he covets. The count also leads a sycophantic acting troupe, allowing him disguises as a mousy scientist and a peg-legged sailor while scheming against the Baudelaire children. But this review by a local twelve year old disagrees: > [@](#): > > _**[It’s dark, horrible, miserable – and great](http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/12/16/Weekend/Lemony_Snicket__It_s_.shtml)** > by Sarah Collins, St. Pete Times X-team member_ > > When you read the Lemony Snicket books, you get a picture in your mind of what the world looks like - at times dark and scary, and always full of unfortunate, icky scenes. > > So bringing Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events to life on the big screen is a tall order. Would it be as dark as intended? Would the Baudelaire children - Violet, Klaus and baby Sunny - be as put upon as they are in the books? And would Count Olaf be as mean and evil as he is to the wealthy, orphaned Baudelaires? > > The answer to all those questions is yes. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is true to the three books in the series it is based on. The series relates the horrible things that happen to the children and how they escape from one scrape after another just to be put into new unfortunate encounters. So it would seem that the film will be disappointing for adults, but still keep the kids happy. Looks like I’ll probably see it this weekend as a birthday treat for The Girl. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/11 "2004-12-16T20:45:26Z")
I just re-read the first two books and am reading (for the first time) the third book and I must say that I think Jim Carrey was born to play the role of Count Olaf. Olaf is manic, like Carrey. One minute he’s evil and the next he’s all grins in order to fool whatever clueless adult is with the kids. I hope the movie isn’t horrible. It’s bad enough that the “Harry Potter” movies are mediocre. From that article: > [@](#): > > The same happened with Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, another wonderful piece of children’s literature that wore out its welcome onscreen in 30 minutes. Yeah, but The Grinch was a short picture book, a book that only needed a 30-minute adaptation. The major problem with that movie was that they stretched a short book into 2 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/12 "2004-12-16T21:01:50Z")
> [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](#): > > After hearing Tim Curry narrate an audiobook of one of the Lemony Snicket series, I fine myself incredulous that he wasn’t cast instead of Jim Carrey. I feel a little pissy about it, in fact. I haven’t read any of the books except the one on CD that I grabbed when every Audiobook on CD was checked out from the adult section of my local library. I looked in the kids’ section and voila. Curry did such a bang-up job. Ditto. And as for the first three books being repetitive, well, they are. I was afraid that the whole series was going to be the same book over and over again, but they are getting better as they go. Sunny grows up and begins to walk and talk, more is discovered about an apparent conspiracy, etc. With great trepidation, I’m going to see the movie next week. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/13 "2004-12-16T22:55:30Z")
May I just say that “A Series of Unfortunate Events” was filmed about 10 miles from where I live? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/14 "2004-12-17T00:47:11Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > May I just say that “A Series of Unfortunate Events” was filmed about 10 miles from where I live? Near the Castle of Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/15 "2004-12-17T03:33:39Z")
I’m curious how or if they’re going to do the “vocabulary” portions of the books in the movie. I’ve only read the first two so I don’t know if it continued throughout the series, but in those there were constantly little “vocabulary is a word here used to describe the words a person uses when contructing a sentence” type references. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/16 "2004-12-17T04:00:30Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’m curious how or if they’re going to do the “vocabulary” portions of the books in the movie. I’ve only read the first two so I don’t know if it continued throughout the series, but in those there were constantly little “vocabulary is a word here used to describe the words a person uses when contructing a sentence” type references. Jude Law is narrating the film, so I imagine they’ll build it into the narration. It does continue throughout the series of book, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/17 "2004-12-17T16:21:38Z")
Disclaimer I work for the studio that is distributing this film. I have seen the movie and I am a fan of the books and I liked the film quite a bit. I was very worried that it would be a Jim Carrey film and not focus on the kids, who are, in fact, the main characters. However this was not the case. They stayed very faithful to the spirit or tone of the books and the movie is a lot of fun. The sets and art direction are fantastic and don’t you dare miss the opening of the film. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/18 "2004-12-17T16:56:46Z")
Ebert gave it 2 1/2 stars. He liked it, but said it’s main problem was that it was the first film in a possible series and the film makers are seeing what works and what doesn’t. [Review here](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041216/REVIEWS/41130004/-1/email_headlines). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/19 "2004-12-17T17:02:07Z")
The absence of Klaus’ glasses worries me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935/20 "2004-12-17T17:04:16Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > The absence of Klaus’ glasses worries me. My guess is that the film people did that to keep him from looking too much like Harry Potter. Although some nice rimless frames could have accomplished the same thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-series-of-unfortunate-events-movie/276935.md?page=2)