Guardian Unlimited Film | Reviews | Bitter Lemony
From the scores of reviews of the Lemony Snicket film, this one by Philip French, in The Observer, stands out - its final paragraph a miniature masterclass in informative, critical evaluation.
Robert Gordon, who scripted the much underrated comedy Galaxy Quest, has adapted the novels with some skill, and visually the movie is a treat. The beautiful low-key lighting is by Mexican cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, who photographed the not dissimilar A Little Princess as well as Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, and its designers (Rick Heinrichs, Colleen Atwood) are regular Burton collaborators. The final animated credits, much influenced by Asian shadow plays, revive memories of the great days of designer Saul Bass.
