I was actually dragged along to it, because my mother wouldn't let my ten year old sister see it unless she had a guardian with her, because it was supposed to be all dark. And she didn't want to go, so I was forced into seeing it. :lol: I think I enjoyed it more than her. I loved the acting (minus Jim Carrey, but I've only ever liked him in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and I was proud to see little Aussie Emily Browning up there. I couldn't even hear her accent, she hid it extremely well.
It's not that depressing...dark, yes, but not in a serious way. It's more overexaggerated, I found that humerous. The narrator is all "If you want to see something happy, go to cinema two now. Don't say I didn't warn you..." but it's a kids movie, so it's pretty much all bark, little bite. Although, yes, I jumped in one part. :look: When the snake jumped out, hmmm. I loved the Happy Littlest Elf gags and the intro, set the movie perfectly. But there are plenty of one-liners that detract from the darkness. I think it's a great holiday film that kids over nine and adults can both enjoy.
I think I might check out the books before university starts again. :lol: