Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.
The stars would seem to be aligned: the director of the excellent Bridge To Terabithia, the splendid young Lyra from The Golden Compass (Dakota Blue Richards), and a potentially enchanting story about an orphan escorted to the decaying estate of an intimidating, Brontë-esque uncle (Ioan Gruffudd).
There, a magical book reveals that she is really a ‘moon princess’, destined to end the ancient feud between her family and the forest people.
The costumes are beautiful. The sets are impressive… But somehow the movie feels cheap and malnourished, as if the money ran out when they were only halfway there.
The pace is lethargic - it’s half an hour before there’s the first inkling of magic - and the performances are almost pantomime broad (Richards excepted).
Patchy CGI and mostly unfunny comic relief from a diminutive magical chef compound the problems.
Today’s pre-teen girls, all a-twitter over Twilight, will likely find Moonacre a bit dull.
Tom Charity
When making Kingdom Hearts, the "one thing" RPG icon Tetsuya Nomura "wasn't willing to budge on" was a non-Disney protagonist
The Witcher fans in shambles after a new book reveals just how old Geralt really is
Arcane writer shares where she wants to go with a new story in the League of Legends universe
