The gift of peculiar

MANILA, Philippines – Call it “gift of peculiar.” That’s what director Tim Burton displays in most of his memorable screen works. Viewers have seen and remember his distinct touch in such films as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Batman and even the colorful play of scenes in fantasy-adventures like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Alice in Wonderland.

Tim has this noted penchant for the dark, obnoxious, gross, gothic, strange, gruesome, creepy and even the grotesque in his films. His latest work, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, perhaps delivers just about everything.

The narrative is lifted from the young-adult novel of the same title written by Ransom Riggs (his best-selling literary debut) and released only in 2011. The setting takes viewers to the fictional island of Cairnholm, said to be in Wales.

British actor Asa Butterfield plays the 16-year-old Jake in the story. Asa was first seen onscreen as the young boy in Martin Scorsese’s 2011 fantasy, Hugo.

Jake and his dad Franklin (Chris O’Dowd) traveled from their home in Miami, Florida to Wales, after Jake’s grandfather (Terence Stamp) died. Jake discovered a letter sent by Alma Peregrine to his grandfather with the postmark in Cairnholm.

Upon their arrival in Wales, Jake explores the present-day town with a run-down house, once supposedly owned by Miss Peregrine. It was reduced to rubble after it was bombed by the Nazis. Jake travels back in time to 1943 to see the children’s house where his grandfather mysteriously lived.

Gorgeous Eva Green plays the title role and you bet she is the first “peculiar” character in the story. She turned into a peregrine falcon at the end of the film, though the bird made its appearance early on and was even identified by Jake and his dad while they were on the ferry to Cairnholm.

There’s a team of children who are all peculiar and they can do extraordinary things. Teenage girl Emma can instantly float at her whim, so she has to wear heavy, steel shoes to keep her on the ground. She can also spew gazillion gallons of water or blow strong air. Plus, she plays the love interest of Jake.

There’s Claire, who hides another mouth at the back of her head through her long tresses. Hugo has the bees at his beck and call. Millard has an invisible head, you can see his body and his bonnet. Fiona can make plants grow. Enoch can resurrect dead things and make them function again. Horace can prophesize about the future in his dreams. And there were the masked twin boys.

The young cast was certainly a come-on to the film. They’re essential characters in the story, though not one of them can be cited or remembered for memorable acting brilliance.

The film boasts a strong support of acting greats, although some of them were not fully utilized. Samuel Jackson played the villain role to the hilt. Given his immense acting background, his Mr. Barron is apparently the most dominant character in the story.

His two guises were Rupert Everett as the ornithologist (who studies everything about birds) and Allison Janney as Jake’s psychiatrist. Barron’s peculiar wont is to gouge out the eyes of his captives. Eyeballs are stable on his dining. No wonder, his lenses are also white and that allow him to form his disguises.

Award-winning actress Judi Dench had a very short role as the mysterious mentor Miss Avocet, but her strong screen presence was enough not to forget her in the cast of the film.

There’s a snow-covered carnival in the 1943 Cairnholm that is similar to a small Coney Island, with rides like merry-go-round, carousel, bump cars and Ferris wheel.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is undoubtedly a visual feast, littered with computer graphic images perfect for both the young and old. Riggs’ work is a trilogy, so viewers can expect a sequel.