Though I've known about them for quite some time, I've never read Darren Shan's Cirque du Freak series. I'd known about them from an interview with Rupert Grint (Harry Potter's Ron Weasley), who cited the series as one of his favorites. However, beyond that, I never even picked up a copy of any of the twelve books in the series, and had no real desire to.
I knew that there was to be a film adaptation, but other than that I didn't care enough to investigate further. In fact, I didn't even think about the movie until I saw an article featuring a glowing review for the trailer.
The trailer begins with the average disillusioned young boy, striving for something new, until he is mysteriously drawn in to a group of people he never new existed, and becomes the target of the group's rivals. It seems all very formulaic, very by-the-books.
It's heralded as a horror-comedy, but there's no real humor in the trailer (though there are lots of attempts). Not even John C. Reilly brings laughs in the two and a half minute trailer, even though he's usually riotous in films. Ken Watanabe's character brought forth a small chuckle, but couldn't redeem the shortcomings of the other "humorous" moments.
The only reason that I would even consider watching the film is the stylistic elements. The way the trailer is shot reminds me a little of Tim Burton's dark, otherworldly style, and the carnival freaks are very well done and interesting.
However, I don't think this will be a movie that I'll go see. From what the trailer showed, the storyline looks two-dimensional and boring, and the acting, even from John C. Reilly, looks phoned-in.
So what do you think? Will this be a movie to see or skip? Watch the trailer and let me know what you think.
