I read this book to my son around Halloween time, and when I saw the movie's thumbnail, I thought we'd give it a try. Now, I enjoy lots of different kids shows and movies, especially ones I've grown up on. However, this one was TERRIBLE from the beginning: the graphics are mind-numbingly poor, the songs unnecessary and annoying, the voice acting nauseating, and the storyline too askew to make up. I don't know what went through the production team's heads to make this movie an awful idea, but I should've been making the decision to be close to book as possible; it REALLY would've made things palatable. Otherwise, I'd have thrown away their pitch.
The book is great at showing us that we all have a purpose, even if we can't picture what it is yet. It also emphasizes the "never judge a book by its cover" cliché, and that we ought to look at the heart of one another instead of how we look externally.
The movie spends its 95% out of its roughly 60 minute (ish) time with filler and deter from the book: there are no main or secondary characters with the bats, spiders, or scarecrow; there are no other vegetables or fruits as characters, no love interests, no olympics, no fires, etc. The farmer doesn't even do what the book's climax does: instead of taking Spookley's unique shape to harvest his seeds and plant new varieties of pumpkin resulting in a beautiful display that people love, he just turns him into a jack-o-lantern...that's it?!?! The only part that's matched to the book is how he got made fun of for his angled shape, but not in sing-song style.
If my son desires to watch this, I catch up on sleep or do something productive away from the TV...I honestly can't stand it...and please note, I LOVE most kids movies and shows, especially ones I've grown up on to pass down and reminisce with my little family. This movie can't be one of them...it's just one I cannot stomach or recommend to anyone...it's seriously THAT bad, but watch at your own risk...it's 60 min that I'll never get back :/
The book is great at showing us that we all have a purpose, even if we can't picture what it is yet. It also emphasizes the "never judge a book by its cover" cliché, and that we ought to look at the heart of one another instead of how we look externally.
The movie spends its 95% out of its roughly 60 minute (ish) time with filler and deter from the book: there are no main or secondary characters with the bats, spiders, or scarecrow; there are no other vegetables or fruits as characters, no love interests, no olympics, no fires, etc. The farmer doesn't even do what the book's climax does: instead of taking Spookley's unique shape to harvest his seeds and plant new varieties of pumpkin resulting in a beautiful display that people love, he just turns him into a jack-o-lantern...that's it?!?! The only part that's matched to the book is how he got made fun of for his angled shape, but not in sing-song style.
If my son desires to watch this, I catch up on sleep or do something productive away from the TV...I honestly can't stand it...and please note, I LOVE most kids movies and shows, especially ones I've grown up on to pass down and reminisce with my little family. This movie can't be one of them...it's just one I cannot stomach or recommend to anyone...it's seriously THAT bad, but watch at your own risk...it's 60 min that I'll never get back :/