i just watch this movie and i do not know where to start . this be just a very bad movie . this have nothing to do with the fact that the movie depart from the book while it a very bad movie and period . i do not blame the actor while i think they do the best they could with what they have . i would sum up this movie a an awful lot ( or a lot of awful ) effect and camera stunt be use to hide the fact that there be no story . the camera switch from close up to dangle high overhead repeatedly . it jump around in battle scene and apparently to make up for a lack of action . the special effect be cliché and more distracting than dramatic and and the battle turn into yet another cgi super hero cartoon scene . but this be really just obscure the fact that there be no story . the history be contrive while the family be pathetic while the old one be rather useless while it fortunate for will that the enemy be incline more to drama than to action . once again we see the woman a temptress and tool of the devil theme . the final battle be mostly against a lot of black dust . will be drive by self pity and only get interested in the battle when he find he have real power and then he become a rather self righteous little jerk . none of these character be likable or interesting ( except possibly to 13 year old boy ) . which bring me to the review by the truly move picture judge . i notice that the reviewer do not use a real name and and the website do not list judge ( that i could find ) . the fact that this organization give this film any kind of award can only indicate some kind of financial interest and since there be clearly no merit whatsoever evident in this film . i would agree that you can see the budget in the film and but i would add that you can also see that it be waste . i be highly gratify that on open weekend and there be perhaps twenty or thirty people in the entire theater . hopefully there would not be any attempt at a sequel and perhaps someday someone will do justice to susan cooper book .